I have to take birth control pills for hormone replacement therapy- I have primary ovarian failure. I am on the lowest dose hormones possible. However, each month I go to get my prescription filled, it's always a different generic that's given to me at my pharmacy. The pharmacist says that they just get what they get, and that it's all the same medication/dosage, just different makers. However, my experience has been much different. Each time I get a different generic brand/maker, I react differently. This month, it's a different maker from last month- I'm gettig acne, breast tenderness, bloating, hair loss- none of which occurs on the other brand they give me from time to time.
Has anyone else noticed this different generic birth control pills? I am on the verge of dropping this pharmacy if they don't start getting the same brand in from month to month. They claim there should be no difference, but I'm not having this experience. This back and forth is driving me crazy!
My stepmother has the same problem with some of the generic birth control pills. The active meds may be the same, but it's likely the inactive meds that are causing the problem. Call your doctor and see if they can write the script for name brand ONLY. That should fix the problem. Will likely cost you more, but may be worth it if you know what to expect every single month.
I get the same generic all the time. If you find that you have weird symptoms, ask your doctor to write the prescription requesting either one generic only or the non-generic so you now what you are dealing with from refill to refill. Or go to a different pharmacy after you confirm that you will get the same medication from one refill to another.
I was on the same generic for years with no issues...
If you know you're having sensitivity to generics, why not just request the brand name when you get it filled? Or find a different pharmacy if they don't give you the choice.
That's crazy. Yes, generics are good and are basically the same as the name brand, but that does not mean you should just switch willy nilly every month! I agree with you, that is not okay. Have you talked to the pharmacy manager? My husband is a pharmacist and I can assure you that this practice is not normal (at least it sure wouldn't have been when he was in charge!). Each generic is slightly different (with the same active ingredients of course) and so yes, you can react differently to them just as you could react differently to different name brand medications designed to treat the same issue.
Can you swith your prescription to Walgreens? It's been a while since I've been on the pill but when I was I would get generic but it was always the same brand, from Walgreens.
I was on Ocella, which is generic for YAz, and then they switched it to Zarah. The best way would be to mail order your prescription for a 6-12 months. THat way you are going to to get the same generic prescription each month.
Thats horrible. Can you go to a different pharmacy??? Its very hard to have to have that going on with your body. They shouldn't be changing generics so often---I would go to a different pharmacy and specifically ask they put a note in your file that states they need to have X type of generic. GL
