Fed Up

Anonymous

Hi everyone, it's been a few weeks since I've been around here with you all.  Just went thru a difficult move. But settling in now.  I'm exhausted from the whole stressful experience and at first I thought it was the stress of moving, but upon thinking about it, I really really feel just so exhausted and extra achy in my bones and am suddenly getting a lot of hot flashes and sweats, which I have not had at all on the Effexor.  But now I'm wondering if this is all related to the pharmacist switching me to generic Effexor and Arimidex.  I get so upset when they do that to me.   I just get used to these drugs and know what to expect with the SE's, then they go ahead and switch both drugs on me to a generic.  The generic Arimidex is "anastrozole",  but I really want to call my onc up and rant to him about how I'm feeling now.  Is anyone else going thru this generic switch reaction?  I'm so fed up with just dealing with all the new extra SE's and right now I'm not too good about change.

Barb

AnacortesGirl

I'm not so sure that it's the generics.  What I've noticed is that after surgery, until I was completely healed, I had a huge increase in the hot flashes.  Then as I progressed through rads and the damage to my skin increased I went through the same thing where the hot flashes increased.  I'm still healing so I'm still getting them.  Had a nasty one last night.  So I kind of wonder if it isn't the exhaustion and stress.  Or a combination??

karen1956

Barb....I'm so sorry that your having a hard time....wish I had some light to shed regarding the generics....Many of my meds are generic, but I think I've only taken the generic brand.....didn't like effexor so stopped a few years ago and right now taken a break from AI's....was on Aromasin most recently...thinking that if I go back I would go back to Arimidex as for me, I rather deal with horrid joint pain that cognitive issues...

Regarding hot flashes....gabapentin has been great for me....it helps with the hot flashes and night sweats....l cut my dose the past week to stretch out my Rx as I was running out till the new Rx arrives....and boy have my hot flashes increased!!!!  can't tolerate the heat at all...face, neck, hair all drip if Im outside for any length of time.....also not sleeping as well....

I'm soooo tired of taking ALL meds and what they done to my body....I'm just about ready to stop everything (anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, stimulant etc).....I want my emotional functional back!!!!! tired of being flat and not feeling, not being able to cry....

Sorry for high jacking your thread.....I would call your onc and see what he/she says....also call the pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist....and maybe the company who manufactures the generics.....not all generics are equal....I know with the generic wellbutrin, my doc prefers one to the others....

HUGS....and hope things get better....

OneBadBoob

Yup, all generics are not equal!!! 

I am one of those who believe that the generics are not equal to the name brands.  I believe they only need to be "substantially similar" for FDA approval, and can have many other additives than the name brands do.

When I take a generic Xanax, I might as well take a piece of candy.  I hear Dilantin is one of the worst--people whose seizures were under control with name brand Dilantini often have seizures with the generic.

Part of why I believe this is because of friend of ours used to own a generic drug distributing company, and you would never see him taking a generic drug!!

Buy some Heintz ketchup, and a store brand, do a taste test, and see the difference.

Okay, through the veggies, but as long as I am able, I will continue with the brand drugs.

Anonymous

I agree, about all generics are not equal.  It's like trying to get used to Dr. Pepper when you've had Coke and Pepsi all the time.  I just don't like them screwing with my meds.  I've taken Effexor for so many years anyway and was initially taking it for severe depression PTSD, and now only taking 75 mg and to find out they've slipped me a generic instead.  But the overwhelming fatique i've had anyway from the Arimidex along with the bone and joint pain, just seems so much worse now that they've switched to the generic Anastrozole.  Is that the same as Aromasin and Femara?

Barb

pupfoster1

Hi Barb,

I've been off the boards for a while too and just saw your post.  I didn't think the pharmacy could switch your meds to generic without asking your permission first.  Is it your insurance will only pay for generics now????  If not I would insist on going back on the name brands just to cover all your bases, but definitely ask your onc what they think.

All in all your body is overtaxed right now.  It's hard to remind ourselves we are different now and have to do things differently than we did before.  So, where before the move might have been no big deal, now it is.  Now I just have to practice what I preach!!:::)))

Take care,

Sharon