FDA recalls generic Wellbutrin - it never tested it in the first place.

[PrincessMommy]

I was waiting for someone to post this... did I miss it??

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmaris/2012/10/10/fda-recall-points-to-serious-problems-at-the-fda/#2ce7bacc67cb

 

 

 

The FDA apparently approved this drug – and others like it – without testing it. The FDA just assumed if one dosage strength the drug companies submitted for approval works, then the other higher dosages work fine also. With this generic, American consumers became the FDA’s guinea pigs to see if the FDA's assumption was right. It wasn't.

 

This is something important to me because my daughter, who is on different medication, noticed her meds were not working as they should.  She was really struggling this semester with her ADD and anxiety.   Over spring break she was able to go see her Psych. and was told that meds had indeed changed doses, ever so slightly.  The only difference she noticed is that the pills changed colors.   For instance it went from 10mg to 8mg.   She's now on a higher dose

 

edited to add:  it was actually daughter's depression meds not anxiety meds.

 

 

Edited March 23, 2017 by PrincessMommy

[melmichigan]

The ruling on Wellbutrin is actually old, but maybe your speaking generally because this is an ongoing issue with generics?  I had trouble back in the day, years before this was even discussed.  For me, the ruling was vindication of my experience.

Edited March 23, 2017 by melmichigan

[maize]

I'm guessing it hasn't been posted because the article is from 2012.

 

I do hear anecdotally about quite a few instances where generics don't in fact seem to work as well as/ the same as brand names. It's definitely something I would like to see more careful testing and oversight on.

[PrincessMommy]

Gosh I had no idea that was from 2012. A friend posted it and talked about it on her FB page and I read it.  I didn't even think to look at the date (ooops).  

 

[JFSinIL]

Yeah, when my one son was on Depakote, the neuro wanted him to use brand name, but insurance only covered generic.  His blood levels went up and down depending on who the manufacturer was each month.

[Noreen Claire]

Yeah, when my one son was on Depakote, the neuro wanted him to use brand name, but insurance only covered generic.  His blood levels went up and down depending on who the manufacturer was each month.

 

Same issue here. DS21 is on depakote for seizures. We get it through the mail, so he gets 90 days at a time but, from every once in a while, they are a different manufacturer that the last delivery. I used to try to mix the bottles together to mitigate the problem. 

[Lady Florida.]

When my son first started ADHD meds his doctor insisted on brand name and wrote it on the prescription. Our insurance covered it but at a higher co-pay. That was a different ins. company and our current one doesn't cover brand name if there's a generic. He's on generic meds now but fortunately hasn't had any problem.

[Carol in Cal.]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I know someone who jumped in front of a train and died the day after his first Wellbutrin dose.  That was bad enough; but I hate to think he might not have gotten what the doctor actually prescribed on top of that)