Sinemet shortage and change to Kinson

[Cleo16]

Hi all,

Has anyone had to switch to Kinson because of the Sinemet shortage. (IR 25/100)

How's it going? Am a little worried.

[M-o-ggy]

Hi. I’ve been changed to Madapor because the supplier can’t get Sinemet but Parkinson UK infer that there shouldn’t be.

I am also a little anxious.

[Cleo16 in reply to M-o-ggy]

Take care and thanks for getting back to me

[Buckholt in reply to M-o-ggy]

How are you finding Madopar? I never understand why some people are prescribed Sinemet and others Madopar, for essentially the same condition. After 50 years, you'd have thought one would have emerged as the winner!

[Astra7 in reply to Buckholt]

My neurologist said he chose madapor as it can be easily broken into quarters.

I reckon they just give him better kick backs!

[LAJ12345]

Yes, in New Zealand.

[Cleo16 in reply to LAJ12345]

I'm in Wellington. I'm very sensitive to all medication and had finally settled on the very small dose of sinemet. Now starting all over again! Where are you in NZ?

[LAJ12345 in reply to Cleo16]

We’re in Christchurch. I’m not sure how long hubby was on sinemet. The bottle for the previous few times had only kns? I think on it. I don’t recall if the original 18 months ago was sinemet or the kns. Now it says kinson so I’m not sure if it changed again or if kns was kinson. He reacts strongly to any medication too and only takes 1 in the morning. He tried various amounts and none made much difference.

[Cleo16 in reply to LAJ12345]

Thanks for replying to my question. I've also restarted B1 fingers crossed 😊Take care you and yours

[Rlp1]

I use the generic version.

[nanster]

I have had to change from Sinemet to Kinsen, I had a few problems at first with nausea but all is fine now.

[sharoncrayn]

Kinson, with an "o", is manufactured in Australia by Alphapharm as a generic equivalent to one specific dose of Sinemet.i.e. 100/25....for PD patients in Australia and NZ. I have never heard of it prescribed in the US because Sinemet availability has never been a problem in the US to my knowledge.

As almost always, generics are seldom exact equivalents of the brand/patented drugs in order to reduce costs or to differentiate. As an example, Kinson contains some Povidone, a synthetic disperant and binder which Sinemet does not contain. Sinemet contains Crospovidone. Is this a critical difference? IMO no, it is actually trivial, but it is a difference.

In my experience, in general, the major difference between generic company drugs in relation to their brand equivalents is due to their somewhat inferior quality control standards in comparison to the big pharmas. Some will obviously disagree, but it is my opinion over many years.

Sharon

[Cleo16 in reply to sharoncrayn]

Thanks Sharon that's helpful