Re: Generic Metformin
From: Valerie (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 14 Mar 2002 22:10:23 -0600 (CST)
Sonnet...
Sorry to hear you have been feeling so ill... generics and brand names
being the same is somewhat a myth I have come to expect too... and this
seems particularly true for anything related to hormones...
I had my thyroid removed in 1998, and must take synthetic thyroid
hormone... originally I was on the brand name version (Synthroid) and
my doctor came to believe my absorbtion rate was poor... I was switched
to a generic (Levoxyl) and though my absorbtion is still not so hot,
there is a noticeable differance... I talked to an old friend of mine
who is a Pharmacist and he said that hormone compounds are particularly
touchy, and it all depends on how your body responds to the binding
agents that are used to hold the substance together and trasport it
through you for absorbtion... according to my understading, the binding
agents are the only true difference... but that makes us a chemistry
experiment when we switch.
Best of luck honey... any way you could get Medi-Cal or some social aid
until your finances/insurance improve? We all (you included) paid/pay
taxes toward these things, it's high time they help you! I'd be willing
to help you... you know where to find me.
--
Valerie
At Thu, 14 Mar 2002, Barbra wrote:
>
>At Thu, 14 Mar 2002, Sonnet wrote:
>>
>Dear Sonnet,
>Read your post with sympathy.
>Remember,I had written to you that I had a prescription for met.I was
>taken off it in a matter of two weeks.
>I know the taste didn't bother me at all...but gastric disturbances were
>completly untolerable even at a low dose of 500mg.
>Heart palps were worse.....I was dizzier than ever(mind you,that is not
>unusual for me),I felt as if to faint every single time I got up from a
>sitting position.Symptoms just got worse.I can tolerate carbs as well
>without heart palps...but they were much worse on the met...and I had a
>cardio diary to prove it...still have it.Symtoms are not as bad since
>off the met...no more...:"oops,Ive done a booboo in my pants".No extreme
>heart palps either...just the normal after eating anything.
>
>Does your dad know if there can be some difference in the chemical
>compounds?
>Please let me know..as met or gluc was what I thought-going to be a god
>send for me.
>
>Take care Sonnet.....and please relax....when these near faint episodes
>occur...try and relax,although I know how difficult it is to remain calm
>when you have absolutely NO control...but getting frightened as I
>do...just makes it worse and you probably will faint from the anxiety
>related to the feelings.I know,,,I do that to myself.I feel faint....If
>only I would just sit down and let it pass...but NOOOO.,I start to
>panic....gets worse.Just try and relax.Get the old lavender out and
>smell,smell smell......if you want to talk.....don't hesitate to email
>me.
>
>(((hugs))))
>I am wondering if I can try the Glocophage instead.
>Maybe it was just the met that certainly didn't agree with me.
>I cannot understand why my doctor would give me met,rather than
>glucophage.
>My insurance covers 80% for prescriptions.I have not sent mine in yet.I
>wonder which one is covered here.
>
>>Okay guys, I got my refill in generic form on Friday, the 8th. If
>>you're considering or facing the switch, here's what I have experienced
>>so far:
>>
>>1) The price was not the savings I had pictured. I pay $180 for a month
>>(no insurance and a high dose) of Glucophage, and I paid $130 for
>>Metformin. My father, a pharmacy manager, says Met costs him now less
>>than half what Glucophage does, but each pharmacy sets their own price
>>to sell it on I guess.
>>
>>2) I read some of you guys thought it smelled worse - I think the Gluco
>>smelled like death and this one, in contrast, smells and tastes vaguely
>>like vanilla. Sweet and kinda creamy. Much better than rotting fish /
>>wet dog!
>>
>>3) By Sunday, I was noticing my hair was falling out again. And I don't
>>know, but I think I've gained a little weight, my tummy feels saggier!
>>(Saggy-er? I made up a word!) I was annoyed.
>>
>>4) Today, Wednesday, I took a PB&J sandwich to work because I haven't
>>gone grocery shopping in ages and that's what we have! Sugar, I know,
>>but I have eaten sugar before, pretty much daily, without problems. Well
>>about an hour after I ate, I was so sick I went home! I was nauseated,
>>dizzy, seeing things, heart pounding, flushed, and my heart felt like it
>>was quivering. I was sure I was going to pass out. I made it home in
>>about an hour (YAY California commutes!) and tested my blood sugar. I
>>was feeling MUCH better by then and it was still up over 150mg/dL. Mine
>>usually runs low, between 60 and 90. This is way out for me. I only
>>wonder how high it was earlier!
>>
>>So now, I am annoyed AND scared. I can't pass out at work. They'd send
>>me to the hospital, if nothing else, and we have no insurance!! I don't
>>want to be quasi-diabetic. Stupid Metformin. How can a drug that is
>>EXACTLY THE SAME MEDICATION causes such different symptoms????
>>
>>--
>>Email always welcome: sonnet@pcosupport.org
>>
>--
>Sincerely,
>Barbra Camara
>
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