Here in the UK, items on a prescription are generally specified in terms of the generic name. This is so for most of my meds, except for Tegretol. I have Tegretol Prolonged Release (as it is called here in the UK) 400mg and Tegretol 100mg and against the item is the maker's name (Novartis pharmaceuticals). I always get Tegreol by Novartis products, but not always from the same source. The UK labelled boxes of Tegretol products come in a blue and white box, in foil strips of 14, four strips to a box. But mostly, I get what is meant to be Tegretol Prolonged Release from the pharmacy, but manufactured and labelled for other European Union countries, (which could be France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, etc). These are called parallel imports. So they could be manufactured in several places in Europe. These are imported into the UK (which is allowed here and across the EU) and relabelled in English with an English language information sheet in the box. The boxes are mainly yellow (the older Novartis colours) strips of 10, three strips to a box. These may be called Tegretol LT, or CR, but the pharmacy label will be as per the prescription.
Some people claim they notice a difference between these and they get more seizures or side effects, or both compared with original UK produce. But I find no difference (and the pills look identical – split line, markings, colour etc.). The other AEDs I take are on the prescription as the generic. With Primidone I only ever get Mysoline as that is the only source of Primidone. Even the occasional parallel imports were made here! It is not the same manufacturer as Mysoline in the US. This I know as back in the early 2000s, the then UK manufacturer of Mysoline were going to withdraw it from sale with little notice. I looked online then to see that US Mysoline was different in appearance and manufacturer and was only available in the US and Canada (I think). A campaign stopped the UK withdrawal occurring thank goodness, even though not too many people remain on it. The other AED is clonazepam. Always get generics of that.
The Epilepsy charities recognise the importance of always having meds from the same manufacturer. But if generics, these can come from a multitude of sources. So yes Millie, in my round about way, I agree with you entirely!!
Robert
From: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com [mailto:epilepsy@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Millie Myers
Sent: 19 September 2013 08:02
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [epilepsy] Minnesota coach Kill hospitalized after seizure
I had been on the generic-- then I had a sz and my Dr put me on the regular Dilantin.
I've been on that for over 20 years now. That seems to work better. The Pharmacy
should give you what the Dr. orders-- don't you think?
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