Please help lyrica

[sinead10]

The chemist picks my prescriptions up from doctors and my daughter collects it of them, but today I noticed my lyrica has been changed for a cheaper version called pregablin teva. Has this ever happened anyone, or is anyone on this brand. I'm worried it won't work as well as the lyrica brand. Plus on the information list it says it's used for, General anxiety disorders and epilepsy, but the lyrica list treats both of the plus neuropathy pain. Please help

[Hidden]

Hi I had this happen to me once I took them back to the chemist and demanded the correct ones.

[sinead10 in reply to Hidden]

Dilly1 thanks for getting back to me, so do you think it's been the chemist that has changed it rather than the doctors because that's what's confused me, I'm going to ring doctors to see if it was them, but I didn't stop to think that it could of well been the chemist themselves

[Hidden in reply to sinead10]

It was the chemist with me they told me they were the same I said ok I will have my original ones then. Xxxx

[sinead10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks dilly1 you've sent me on a mission now! Xx

[Hidden]

Hi Sinead 10 let me know how you get on. X

[Mrs_allen]

I thought they were the same. Pregablin is the drug, lyrica is the brand name

[Fibrofoggiest]

Hi there Sinead, I have recently found that a lot of the meds I have been on for ages have been changed but essentially they are exactly the same medication and for you it will have been the same Lyrica/pregabalin but a cheaper brand. many of the local PCTs are putting pressure on GPs to prescribe the cheaper brands as a cost saving exercise, so please don't be put off just by the name. The thing you need to check is that the strength of the generic drug, pregabalin, is listed on the box at the correct level your GP has prescribed.

Positive vibes coming your way 😀

Foggy x

[NWBM]

If you're on pregabalin for neuro pain then I think technically the GP should be prescribing lycria due to a high court ruling about the licenced use.

Not overly convinced there is any difference but the patent means that GP 'should as far as reasonable possible' only prescribe lycria for neuropathic pain and not generic pregab.

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinic...

[Lottieonline]

I have a great big issue with my doctors using generic medicines instead of the original ones first prescribed to me.

I was prescribed Seroxat recently for depression, an old fashioned drug which for some unknown reason requests I have an ECG every month? Does anyone know why?

Anyway the 1st box that was delivered wasn't Seroxat because my mum is on this medication, she told me it's a generic type.

I went back to the chemist but they couldn't change it without the GP changing the actual prescription. I insisted it was the correct one, mainly because I felt so unwell and this was used as a second antidepressant, plus I was to be on this for a long time so I insisted they changed it.

After a big 'To Do' they did!

It's definitely worth complaining!

[RayB in reply to Lottieonline]

Both, Prozac and Seroxat, can cause heart rhythm abnormalities.

That will be the reason!

[Lottieonline in reply to RayB]

Thank you RayB,

I never knew they never told me, I've asked so many times and still they don't tell me.

I know lots of friends on Prozac none of which have ECG?

[RayB]

They are the same drug. If the Dr wrote Lyrica on the script then the Chemist is obliged to give you the brand name drug, if the Dr wrote pregabalin then he is not obliged to give you brand name Lyrica as the government would not pay the extra cost involved for the brand name if it were not on the script.

I didn't see any difference between the two to be honest, but I would look at the script to see what it says. It could be the chemist trying to penny pinch!

[Telynores]

The patent on Lyrica for pain does not expire until 2017. My Dr and I were discussing this on Friday. I have just checked and this is easily found o the www

[glochessum]

Mine have been changed to Lecaent it has pregabalin written in small letters underneath, they are made by Caduceus. I will look into the information on them now.

[Sniffer8]

Prescribing generic rather than brand name is nothing new. Generic is cheaper but is exactly the same. Use of generic standardises and avoids confusion.

[rowantree]

Branded drugs are much much more expensive. If you agree to have the non branded ones you will be saving the nhs money. They can use it for other people too then.