Withdrawal caused by Qualitest, Sandoz (Generic) and Klonopin (Brand)

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I had been on TEVA's Clonazepam since I was started on it in 2010. I found out the hard way that there is substantial variation between generics from different manufacturers; I was forced to take Qualitest, Sandoz, and Klonopin for over a month before I could finally get TEVA again. During this time I went into withdrawal, and at one time had to increase my dose for about 3 days to get the s/x under control. I take it 3 times a day, and increased only my morning dose by ~50%

However, now on my third day on TEVA's Clonazepam, and back to original dose, my symptoms have not improved as much as I had hoped. My question is whether:

I am already too deep into withdrawal to have the reinstatement of right drug to be effective?

Or

Can the symptoms be expected to stabilize in a week or so?

 

Perhaps only time will tell.

I am contemplating whether to updose on my BP drug or Clonazepam if symptoms continue.

I appreciate any comment, or experiences you could share.

Thanks!

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I think constency should be the rule of thumb. If you are getting less of the drug with one brand, then switch to another brand with more of the drug, that  can give you the ups and downs. More, less, more, less. I have been using the Teva generic brand since I began my taper, and have never switched. So Teva has been a suspect of using less of the actual drug, as is Mylan. But as long as I get a constant dose every time, it doesn't bother me or my CNS. In fact, if indeed I am taking less of the drug than I am supposed to, in the end I will have less to get off. Bets 

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I was forced to switch from brand name Klonopin(Roche) to TEVA back in 2010 due to the cost of brand, and I had really bad side effects and went to my doctor on the third day of switching and told him and he just wrote me another prescription for the brand name.

 

Fast forward to April or so of this year, and after being on the brand name K for 5 years, they stopped manufacturing it completely; not a single pharmacy in my area had it, or could order it, because it was on manufacturing backorder. I called the company and they said it wouldn't be back in stores until at least October...so I switched to TEVA, again.

 

This time it wasn't nearly as bad for some reason, I was worrying so much that I'd have w/d's and what not, but after a week passed and I was the same more or less, I concluded that it was all in my head. I don't want to tell you it's all in your head, because some generics really are better than others, but there isn't as much of a difference as you think there is. Try not to think about it as much as possible.

 

The brand name is usually always the strongest, so if in doubt, switch to that. I can actually order the brand name again, but after being on the TEVA generic for 4-5 months now, I don't see the point. Maybe it's a bit less effective, but it's 5$ a month, as opposed to 180$ a month for brand.

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Benzogirl,

Thanks so much for your advice. I agree consistency is extremely important, because the ups and downs to adjust to drug amounts in each generic one gets switched to damages the CNS. I think it says somewhere in the Ashton Manual, that it also makes harder to taper down again each time one updoses .

TEVA has mixed reviews, but they are more positive than any other generic. Also being adjusted on TEVA should compensate for any lack of drug compared to Klonopin (brand), as you have said. I am glad that you were able to get a constant supply of TEVA at a great price. Unfortunately that has not been the case for me. Strange though, because there is no shortage of TEVA as of Klonopin (brand). Thanks again. I appreciate your input.

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Ntt,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and insights. Having been forced to switch from one manufacturer to another myself, I think I have some idea of what it might have been like for you. For the sake of brevity, I did not mention in my original post, but I did not find klonopin lacking in strength at all. It was perhaps stronger than TEVA; but, and this is what prevented my staying on it, is that it has a shorter half-life compared to TEVA; it wears off in 5 hours, when it should last for at least 6. And the fact that Genentech, the division of Roche might not resume Klonopin production October 2014 as you mentioned. I am glad that you have access to steady supply of TEVA and that it works for you now.

Perhaps you could share how and where best to get TEVA at retail. It was very difficult for me.