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Brand Name Klonopin shortage?

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Paradox
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Brand Name Klonopin shortage? Empty Brand Name Klonopin shortage?

Post  Porsche Fan Tue 31 May 2011, 10:36 pm

Anyone take brand-name Klonopin? For the last 2 months, my pharmacists have been telling me brand is on backorder until the end of June making supplies very, very tight. Is anyone prescribed generic, specifically manufactured by a company called Mylan--if so, how well does it work?

Long time doc has always suggested that the brands are best especially dealing with benzos or anti-depressants. If my pharmacy can't get brand, I don't want to end up having to break in a new med last moment. Klonopin withdrawal is extremely nasty for me.

Thanks.
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Post  Paradox Wed 01 Jun 2011, 7:22 am

Sorry, Marc, I take generic Clonazepam by a company called Teva, through CVS.

I take an anti-depressant, Cymblata, also and both work well for me. I take them at night to help me sleep.

But, I have never taken the brand klonopin to compare it with.

Have you called different pharmacies? I know at one point Walgreens couldn't get oxycontin for quite awhile (claimed there was a shortage) but CVS had no problem getting it, hence the switch to CVS.

Good luck. Withdrawal is a nasty booger. Evil or Very Mad
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Post  Cluelesskitty Wed 01 Jun 2011, 2:15 pm

What would be the case of shortage?
People not ordering enough due to high costs, and so the production was stopped?

I hate when technical things like that happen and the patient suffers.
Hope you get it back soon, Marc. Maybe you should stockpile, then? and keep ordering well in advance?

These drugs usually have expiry date at least a year or two.
They can be stored away for a awhile in a dark, dry and cool place.

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Post  Porsche Fan Wed 01 Jun 2011, 4:44 pm

i'm going to make a few calls to other pharmacies. it may be due to my pharmacy's central purchasing.

i've been told it's a shortage from the mfg. they could have quality or mfg. problems, or shortage of whatever. this is a class IV controlled substance in the U.S. only with high levels of trust will a physician give you refills beyond 1. stockpiling is nearly impossible.

just have to manage inventories carefully.
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Post  Cluelesskitty Wed 01 Jun 2011, 5:07 pm

I see.
But how about if the dr changes your dosage to a tad higher amount?
This way you can have a bit of leftover every time, and save for unforeseen circumstances.

Hopefully it won't be necessary, but maybe talking to your dr about the matter won't hurt?
I am sure he would trust you.

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Post  Porsche Fan Wed 01 Jun 2011, 7:09 pm

.5, 1 mg, 2 mg doses are all backordered (those are the mg. dosages made by Roche). the doc needs to be careful on prescribing meds--he's not the problem. no one gives you a "back-up" or emergency supply especially of controlled substances.

theoretically someone could prescribe 1mg tabs taken 1-4x daily. however, there is risk for the prescriber. ultimately, the med itself is not perfect. it isn't the best long term medication, but it controls a few central nervous system problems from tremor to some heart stuff. if there was a good replacement, i'd be on it.

i'd love to get rid of it, but it works--but i haven't found a neurologist, cardiologist, or a couple other subspecialists that had a decent substitution. and i've been to a lot. i might just have to give them a call about a generic now and try it to see if it works. i'm guessing it may be 1/2 or less as effective as brand as my body is used to the chemical formulation in brand. by patent, and formulation i don't by anyone's stuff that generics have the same efficacy.

i take a lot of generics, but there are some (and this med is one) that i stick with brand.

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Post  Paradox Wed 01 Jun 2011, 7:16 pm

I think I'll try the brand if you think it makes that much difference. There are certain things I have to take brand of, usually things like my HRT patch. I break out from the cheaper adhesives.

I know two friends who did very well on topamax and then nose dived when they had to switch to the generic.

Good luck.
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Post  Greeneyes Sat 04 Jun 2011, 5:09 am

I've taken the generic form of it..was given it from the neurolgist..now, my PCP doesn't want me to take it any longer. So, I honestly don't know the answer just wanted to say hello..and so sorry that you are so ill PF.

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Post  Elen Fri 12 Aug 2011, 9:22 am

Hi Everyone,
I've been taking a low dose of Roche Klonopin for years. Yesterday I dropped my scrip at my usual pharmacy. When I went to pick it up the pharmacist said he'd been having difficulty getting the name brand for two months; mind you I had a scrip filled by him in July and yes it was name brand as opposed to generic. Anyway the pharmacist had only 10 klonopin which wasn't anywhere near the number my Dr. perscribed. I declined the ten and took the scrip tp CVS where it was filled. I asked about their order status with Roche and was told there has been a shortage but the pharmacist didn't know why. I take Wellbutrin and a number of years ago the generic became available which I refused to take. Well since then the generic Wellbutrin has turned out to be a nightmare for patients who switched from the name brand. I refuse to take generic drugs; there have been to many articles; Vanity Fair, The Wall Street journal are two that come to mind, as well as discussions on news TV about the manufacturing plants or "home" labs where generic drugs are being produced. Pretty scary. I hope all of you who take Klonopin have been able to continue using it and haven't been forced to take generics due to this shortage. I've never gone through Klonopin withdrawal but hear it's really AWFUL!

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Brand Name Klonopin shortage? Empty My experience with getting BRAND NAME Klonopin

Post  Trudijane Sat 22 Oct 2011, 4:14 pm

Maybe someone can tell me who to call...

I've been taking Brand Name Klonopin (small dose) for many years and don't intend to discontinue it. I tried the generic because it was less expensive, and found that it created all the symptoms that the Brand Name alleviated. So it became a "medical necessity" for me to always take the brand and my Dr. always put on the script - Brand Only.

About 3 months ago, I too had a problem with obtaining Brand Name Klonopin from my usual pharmacy (Walgreens), however, it turned out that another Walgreens way across town had enough Klonopin so I filled it there. My pharmacy told me that there was a problem with getting brand name from the manufacturer. I decided to call the manufacturer (I remember it being Genentech) and asking about what the problem was with Brand name klonopin. They told me that they were just very back-ordered and it had to do with the distribution of some of the chemicals in the drug. He told me it should resolve in a month or 2 which was alright because I get 90 every 3 months. They told me that the brand was NOT being discontinued but for now there would be a delay which would resolve. By the next time I had to pick up my prescription, I got my brand name Klonopin, as usual.

Today, ,I just went into the same pharmacy to pick up my next perscription, and they told me that brand name klonopin has been discontinued. I don't think they know what they're talking about as what they said the last time differed with what the manufacturer told me. So I wound up not picking it up and they said they would recheck with "Roche" on Monday. I'm very nervous because I get bad side effects from taking generic klonopin - otherwise I would be taking them! So, who is the company that now manufacturers Brand Name Klonopin? They told me Roche today, BUT last time I remember calling Genentech. Did they change manufacturers? I don't know what I'm going to do if I can't get this medication in Brand.

Please advise.
Thanks.

Trudijane
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Post  Cluelesskitty Sat 22 Oct 2011, 4:38 pm

Welcome to the forum Ellen and Trudijane,

I looked a bit online and I think your pharmacist is right, looks like the company producing the Klonopin now is indeed Roche:
Distributed by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
Nutley, New Jersey 07110-1199.

Manufactured by Roche Pharma, Inc.
Manati, Puerto Rico 00674.


http://www.druginfonet.com/index.php?pageID=klonopin.htm

Perhaps it is a standard practice for companies not to disclose the full information to the public as indeed it wasn't a lie
when the Genentech told you the Klonopin wasn't discontinued it wasn't, but also they didn't tell you the whole truth -
- that the companies manufacturing the drug were changing, which takes time.
It all, of course, might be inside political stuff, and also a trade market, so maybe that's why.

Anyhoo, now it's Roche who does it, and my best bet would be patiently wait for the back orders to get back on track
and meantime try for best generic Klonopin to avoid even worse withdrawal side effects.
I found also online that there is a number of generic Klonopin:
http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/klonopin/generic-klonopin.html

and you may wish to try out a number of them to see if all of these give you unpleasant s/e alike.
Sometimes one generic is better than the other, depending what is their ingredient.

I hope you'll find something that is acceptable for you.
Good luck :]

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Brand Name Klonopin shortage? Empty Some pharmacies STILL have brand or can order them

Post  Trudijane Sat 22 Oct 2011, 5:30 pm

Risa,

I called another Pharmacy (CVS) to see if they had brand klonopin in stock - and they did. So, if for some reason my W/G doesn't have it, I'll just have to ask my Dr to recall the script in to CVS instead. My next prescription won't be for 3 months and i hope by that time, Roche will be distributing more of it.

When I looked up "Roche" online, they actually gave me the telephone of Genentech, which is where I called to see what the problem was last time. I only hope CVS takes my insurance


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Post  Cluelesskitty Mon 24 Oct 2011, 3:27 pm

Good to know Trudijane, thanks :]

Fingers crossed your insurance will be covered!

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Post  Porsche Fan Mon 24 Oct 2011, 5:27 pm

this is an old thread that got kicked back up. here's what's gone on since then.

1mg tabs brand are back-ordered or extremely short supply. my pharmacist got 2 month supply in for me during the summer.

2mg tabs brand are in stock. since my dose was 2mg, it's working fine.

.5mg is also in stock from when i last asked.
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Brand Name Klonopin shortage? Empty Just picked up 90 1 mg tablets

Post  Trudijane Mon 24 Oct 2011, 6:24 pm

Hi,

1 mg may be in short supply but they are still available. I just picked up 90 1 mg brand name from CVS today OR they can be ordered for you if they don't have them.

If you are on 1 mg, it would be easy to change to 2 mg and just break them in half to meet the needs of your prescription. If you have to get .5, you can always get twice as many and take two or reduce the dosage to 0.5 mg which I have been wanting to do anyway.

In any event, things may change in 3 months when I will be getting my next prescription.

Trudijane


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Post  Cluelesskitty Mon 24 Oct 2011, 8:01 pm

Oh you picked it up, that's great Trudi,
I suppose any amount in the times of shortage is good.

Thanks for the tips!

Do you suffer from migraines as well, or do you take Klonopin for something else?

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