I started to take generic Adderall xr 10mg and I felt very good. One day, my pill was changed to a different manufacturer’s ones and I started to feel terrible. I have a dull headache and I lost motivation and focus. My food craving is back. I feel like I don’t want to do anything but I want to stay in bed all day.
Does anyone experience the same symptoms?
My dr said he could not get another prescription for another month. My pharmacy said they no longer carry generic Adderall from the manufacture that I prefer. I don’t know what to do…
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Leomypup
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Unfortunately, the lack of effectiveness is getting more and more common with generic drugs of all types. You can find another pharmacy that stocks the generic you prefer. Your doctor can write on your prescription to only fill with a certain generic but that means if you cannot find that genetic. You cannot get your prescription filled. You do need to file a complaint with FDA Med Watch.
I believe every manufacturer has to 'Tweek' the formula slightly to stay away from Patent rights. I have this problem with generic Ambien for sleep. Most of the generics for Ambien don't work for me, and of course, the insurance companies don't want to pay for name brand Rx. Keep trying and find what works for you. You'll need to ask the pharmacy which drug maker supplies them for your generic Rx. Otherwise you could go to a different drug store and end up getting your Rx from the same manufacture that doesn't work for you. This may take a while. Hang in there.
TEVA is usually the manufacturer i get for my Generic Adderall. I'm lucky that I had a good response from this since may 1st prescription. And along with what you said, several of my Rx's were delayed because of 'Out of Stock.' And of course there's been times when there was a delay in getting my Rx because the Dr made a mistake when writing the script, The DEA kept changing the rules about how the script needed to be written, whether or not you had to have a hand written script or it could be sent electronically submitted, could only get a 1 months supply or could get a 3 month mail order. And of course there's the aggravation that the insurance co causes. Ok, I've got to stop now.
When was the last time you Took TEVA? They changed their formula this year I heard and alot of people are complaining saying its not nearly like it used to be.
Sorry for their delay, as I had to look this up. My last (6) Rx were of D-Amphetamine Salt Combo and all of the same mg's. I don't have another formula to compare it to. Does it have the same effect as in the past? I'm going to have to say yes. Does it work 100% of the time,,, no-because? I've never really thought about it loosing its effectiveness until reading this Post. If it doesn't seem to work as well, I can see where there are other factors that play a part in my response to it. If I'm terribly stressed out, then the Rx is no help at all. In fact I have to cut back or stop taking it for a while because instead of helping, it makes my anxiety worse (is this effect that people without ADHD, experience if they take Adderall?) Other things that can affect it from working as usual are things such as quality/quantity of sleep. As well as insomnia (throwing that dose of Hell into any equation is bad enough by itself). Over the summer I had to work a lot of overtime. So sleep and a regular schedule of anything was all questionable. But as I type this, I remembered that I was taking it more often this summer. And it was not performing as well. Again, I just thought this had to do with work and lack of sleep. So, I can't give you an answer that I'm comfortable with as to what the true story is. The last several Rx were all delayed for several weeks(?) due to the shortage. I'll try to be more aware of the response I get from it and see what I notice. To be honest with you, it's a little uncomfortable even thinking that they've messed with the formula. But it is what it is, - and so II'll make an effort to keep a better track of what my response to it is now.
Thank you so much for your response. I am just looking for relief. I see my doctor today but I think I have to ask for another stimulant for relief. I also suffer from Bipolar and anxiety but the stimulant HELPS RELIEVE the anxiety SO MUCH and HAS for years! I don't have an answer either I am so dumbfounded and scared because I applied for FMLA and I'm out of work because of this. I'm afraid I might not make it back....I know it sounds disheartening it is just how I feel right now. I will try to keep you posted when I find out what happens at the appointment today.
Don't worry about feeling or sounding disheartening. I understand that very well. I have a friend who is Bi-Polar, and that's a lot more to deal try to deal with. I was 47 before I was accidentally diagnosed with ADHD. My life is much better, but I have 47 years of bad memories that I can't remove. From doing research into ADHD, it explains a lot of my family's dysfunction-yet none of them want to change, which is truly sad. We (family members) could have been allies for one another, instead of the regular stupid, crazy, family BS- what a F'n circus I grew up in. Adderall is a great Anti-Anxiety and Anti-Depressant for me,,,, until it wears off. You mentioned that it helps relieve your Anxiety also. To me, that's the main goal I'm looking for is relief. Even if it's only for a little while until I have to take my next dose. When I 1st started Adderall, and the relief I felt, the change was so great,,, I don't know - is this how most of the Non-Adders experience as more the rule than the exception? I thought this what people are looking for, but can't get any relief so they turn to alcohol, drugs, etc. How far will any of us go to get some kind of peace of mind (relief). Not to mention the time and money I've spent to finally get properly diagnosed. Ok, I've got to stop now. I As a side note, Coca-Cola would also give a short bit of relief. I've never heard anyone else mention that.
Hang in there. You deserve good things. Despite us trying, most on this website have already had to endure way too much crap just to get to this point.
I'm just scared im going to be considered high risk if this doesn't work out. Bipolar comorbid adhd is not uncommon. I'm medicated for BP and depression for 7 years now. Those aren't the problem. They're managed. But the anxiety and scatter brain currently is so tough. I have to write things down for the doctor today. And the guilt from depression and anxiety makes it 10× more amplified. Idk I'm trying to keep moving forward sorry. I appreciate the advice though.
No need to apologize-I get it. The guilt, the job/money worries, I get that also. I was thinking about how bad, actually terrible, a lot of my life was - especially in my younger years. I wish I could erase a lot of my past memories, especially the many past hurts. I was,,, in a really dark place a lot of the time, with no one to give me any direction, or even common sense. My opinion is that Doctors and Mental Health Pro's are better today, but they've got A LOT more to figure this all out. Especially figuring out the connection with and how to deal with ADHD and Emotions. But there are more resources such as Health Unlocked, CHADD, etc. You telling/sharing your story is why we're here. A lot of us try to keep it all inside us because we've been taught in some way by a lot of people that we're wrong or bad (family, teachers, Bosses/co-workers, Doctors, Therapists, and the list continues). But all of this crap multiplies and intensifies if I/we keep it locked up. Sometimes we just need to vent.
The IR formula change was years ago in December 2013 as far as I can tell for the name brand. Their generic, which is the same formulary as their current name brand, is the same from August 2007. Seems like people have been getting a tolerance for generic Adderall and when they hear someone mention a Teva change, they think back to when their meds were more effective for them and assume the rhetoric about a formulary change is correct.
Yep — brand name Adderall is terrible for me and only certain generic manufacturers are helpful for me. It can feel like a minefield.
Do you know how to locate the manufacturer on your Rx bottle? Dakotakane is right, there’s huge shortage of adderall from Teva but there many other manufacturers out there. What you might be able to do to not have to go a whole month wo your meds, is ask your dr to prescribe you another dosage (up/down 5mg or switch from ir to xr or whatever you both decide is safe/makes sense). Substance control & insurance limits will see this as a different Rx and should be able to fill it. Bc different pharmacies carry different generics you can call around and see if you can find your old manufacturer or new one you can try.
Heads up: There’s a newly approved manufacturer that I’ve heard lots of people having trouble with. Cambria maybe? going to double check the name. Apparently they contain a higher level of salts which is what can cause dehydration (headaches) and gi symptoms. (All adderall brand & generics are a mixture of active & varying inactive ingredients with no single formula—this is why the manufacturer can have such a big impact on effectiveness. I compare it to cocktails—like a margarita is one thing, but every place makes it a little different)
This is pretty common, what you are describing. Most likely it is an additive this generic company uses for their generic medication that the other company didn't. I'm surprised how many pharmacists and doctors don't know about this. Many do but not enough. Very high level and roughly, the only thing the various other companies that sell a generic version have to do is make sure the active ingredient is the same. Sometime it isn't even in the exact same form but they've shown that it will still give the patient the same benefit.
Few things...
You can try to determine what is the difference of inactive ingredients between the two generic companies and figure out what it is your body doesn't like.
Once you do, the doctor / pharmacist can help research what companies sell a generic version that probably won't bother your system.
The most likely next issue you'll run into is that your pharmacy most likely doesn't contract with that generic company. There are a handful of them out there. For example, CVS may use Company X for supply of generic Adderall, but Walgreens uses Company Z for their supply of generic Adderall. Which means you would need to call a few local pharmacies (different store chains) and see if they carry any of the generic versions that won't bother you.
An issue you will run into? This is obviously a controlled substance. So your current pharmacy won't be able to transfer your prescription.
Meaning you will also need to talk to your prescriber. Unfortunately, there is a 50% chance you'll need to show them the research you've done to get them to consider re-sending the prescription to a different pharmacy chain. Many doctors still don't believe or understand about how their patients can be sensitive to additives in medications. But it is a very real and very common thing.
Finally, this isn't like a side effect of your medication where eventually your body will adjust to it. (If this is, indeed, a sensitivity), then more likely your body is not responding well to one of the additives. Even if you have no history of allergies of any type, etc., this can still happen and does happen to tons of people all the time.
The stories I've heard are more often people don't start to feel better again until they are put on a different brand of that generic. Either they figured it out (or they did with their doctor) and basically did what I described above. The other common thing that happens is eventually the pharmacy once again changes their contracts and begin using a company that does not use the additive that bothers them.
Hope this helps. Sorry for the long response but it is a lot of information and couldn't figure out how to cut down the words.
Don't give up hope. Most people I know have found a generic company that makes their med in a way that doesn't bother them. An additive that irritates your system may not another person. And that person may not feel well on the version of generic that you had no issue with! There are options out there. It is just going to take a bit of work.
I don't bother with electronic scripts for adderall. I get the 3 months of hand written scripts from my doctor. Then go to the pharmacy, ask what brand they have. If it's one I don't like, I go to a different pharmacy. Sometimes I call pharmacies and ask but they don't always give you an answer. Better chance if you have been there before and they can look up your name. Sometimes they just lie to you in case your an addict who might jack them up or something LOL.
When they have a brand I haven't tried, I research it on line and make a decision. Which is usually no.
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