Zolpidem Generic (Page 4)

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ALL CVS pharmacies just changed the zolpidem from MYLAN manufacturer (out of PA) to TORRENT in India. Because generics can certain behave differently, I am nervous about taking the (10 mg) oblong peach Torrent brand one after reading some things online. I also don't like the idea of CVS using from out of the country manufacturer which HAS to be due to a better price because MYLAN brand is still very readily available. Any comments?

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61

I feel you 100% on torrent. That one is simply bad. There are generics that just aren't very effective, and then there are generics like Torrent which you sick and feel crazy. That one caused me just dramatic effects like nightmares and sickness, etc. Anyway Ive done pretty much the most research on these Ambien generics of anyone on here, just out of trial and error, and just as an FYI, when we say Torrent is a crappy Indian cheap generic, that's not just an opinion. If you look at per tablet costs of each of the generic Ambiens, Torrent's is so much cheaper that its shocking. Its half the price of the next cheapest generic and there are 12 or so generics on my list. It is so cut rate that I just can't imagine what they put in there, and am not surprised its of such low quality. The cheapness by the way is why all the pharmacies like Rite Aid are switching to Torrent. Bad bad news, but you can always request generic brands and more consumers should be aware and do just that.

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62

I've been taking 10mg peach torrent ambien for five years. By far it is the best. Teva, qualitest and every other brand I tried did not work like torrent

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63

I've have ben using ambien (zolpodium for over ten years now. I'm a shift worker so since age 40 my sleep is screwed. I can tell you there is a BIG difference in the Brand ambien , brand ambien CR versus the generic zolopdiums. The brand ones are excellant quality, work perfect. BUT you pay about $#50 for 30 tabs, in Hawaii anyways, btw thats with CVS Caremark insurance.

So I have been trying different generic zolpodiums for quite a while. There is a BIG difference here. This meds comes in several strenghts. 5 mg, 10 mg and the CR is 12.5 mg.. Mylan generic works the best for me. 2nd choice is Teva, third is Sandoz. STAY AWAY from Forrest, Dr. Reddys and and Northstar. To me these pills are junk. I take and they have absolutly NO effect.

The pharmacy, including CVS can and will special order any brand you want. If they give you and argument take up the issue with their regional pharmacy manager or right to their corporate office. Also try another pharmacy if it's easier.

You have to experiment which brand works best for you. The CR version works by giving you immediately 8 mg to go to sleep then releases the rest over the remaining 7 hours. The immeidate release are 5 mg and 10 mg. What I have done for a few years is have your doctor write a 10mg to get to sleep then a 5 mg for when you wake up 4 hours later. Or try two 10 mg at sleeptime. The upper limit the doctor will give you is 20 mg per night. More than that is not a good idea for you health wise.

You really just have to experiment which brand works best for you, and in what combination, thats the bottom line.

One thing I do is about every 6 months I stop the ambien and go to either Halcion or Restoril for a month or so. These are benzos so they have a little hangover effect in the morning. But that i NOTHING compaired to not sleeping.

I have tried a lot of different sleep meds, please feel free to ask me any questions.

RickHawaii

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64

I have to disagree, torrent is the most euphoric generic for me. I fall asleep within 20min but I also take valium 10mg w it. Qualitest did nothing for had to return it to the pharmacy. My experience w generics is Watson makes the best. I don't think they make zolpidem though. There valium is just like the Roche though.

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65

I have read so many of these reviews about how great the name brand works and people paying so much more when you can get the generic for a few dollars with a RX . I have tried at least a dozen kinds including the highly rated gador from south america and have this to say . No ambien or generic will work right if you have a full stomach . Not eating a few hours before does the trick for me . Next name brand ambien works no different then a good generic ,the problem is it's hard to find what is good till you trial by error . So far Qualtiest works the best for me and I think release the med a little quicker then the name brand . Nothing on the market makes me sleep for 8 hours without adding a benzo which I do for anxiety and even then I have never gotten 8 straight hours of sleep . Ambien Cr does not do a thing to put me to sleep or keep me sleeping unless I combine it with another 10mg of regular zolpidem .

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66

Sorry I've got to partially disagree. I do think Qualitest is by far the best of the generics, but I find a vast discernible difference between any generic and the Sanofi brand. Yeah Qualitest puts you to sleep with no drama better than like Torrent which makes you insane or Teva which doesnt do anything, but even Qualitest doesnt give you that warm relaxation thing that happens before brand Ambien kicks in. None of em.

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67

Cara, I wrote that message kinda fast so i do apologize for thinking I know everything . It's been a long time since I have had the name brand (I wish I felt what you felt) My wife takes them as well and we just did not get the same feeling that we did with the Qualtiest . But everyone is different. Plus no insurance I know will cover them. But yes there definitely the best generic we can get at least for the moment . I have been getting the ER/CR generic as well and Winthrop I would say is the best for that since it's made by Sanofi . While it does not do much for me because of my tolerance I would guess . Certain CVS will special order anything they can get there hands on . It's strange one CVS said no way and another said what ever you want . So you just have to call around or build a relationship with you pharm and they will help you get what you need . Discount cards do come in handy in situations like this when it's the Name brand or getting sugar pills but there still expensive . Walgreens charged me once $55 for 90 count of generics , I hate to see what they want for real Ambien . and Ambien CR must cost a fortune . I wonder why other countries get much better genreics then the usa :( .

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68

Watson is not made anymore , has not been in a long time . I wish it was.

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69

To answer your question about why certain countries get the better generics, it's because in some countries Authorized Generics of Ambien are still made there. If you dont know what Authorized Generics are, I highly recommend a quick Google crash course on generic meds. Authorized Generics are different from regular generics in that they are the exact same formula (including fillers) as the brand name. AGs are usually produced by the same company that produces the brand name, but with the company's generic brand. So for example Pfizer makes Zithromax, and Greenstone which is a Pfizer owned generic company makes an Azithromycin Authorized Generic which is identical to brand. 100 other companies also make Azithromycin, but none of the rest are authorized generics so were approved by the FDA based on equivalency and not the way authorized generics are approved. AGs are fast tracked and approved almost immediately because they are identical. Sanofi still has a lot of Authorized Generics in various Sanofi generic brands in other countries and those are usually the ones which have awesome ratings. For some inexplicable reason, Sanofi used to have an authorized generic in the US introduced around the time when Ambien went generic in the mid 2000s but pulled it from the market. Im almost positive that the reason they pulled it is because generic Zolpidem had become so dirt cheap with the cheap Indian garbage brands flooding the market that it just wasnt worth the effort to sell the AG. Especially cause like in America in most consumers minds Zolpidem is Zolpidem is Zolpidem. They have no great interest in knowing there are various brands and they just take whatever generic is given to them. So its a hard sell to market an AG. But those of us who know about AGs can greatly benefit because we can request the specific brand and pay only generic co pay rates. Same as what we'd pay for any generic. Anyway I've written to Sanofi to reintroduce an Authorized Generic for Ambien.

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70

My CVS orders whatever I ask . Ask around , It's bad business if they refuse.

to the last reply thank you for the info . There is a great Zolpidem ER made by sanofi Winthrop . I get that special ordered from CVS as well . Getting tired of the Qualtiest 10mg zolpidem .(any suggestions for that? ) not the junk mylan,torrent,teva,northstar,dr reddy,aubindo,apotex, thanks

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71

Hi Chris,

Your message about generics is almost true. A good friend of mine, for many years, has worked as a researched scientist. He owns, operates his own company based near San Francisco. He does a lot of research work on HIV virus, certain cancers, however his main line of business, is to design, and build the actual "machines" the pharmaceutical companies use to make tablets, capsules, or whatever the end product.

He has SO MUCH information about medications it's scary. For example one major Drug manufacturer gave him a $10 mil contract to develop a machine with a new process to evaluate certain levels of impurities from certain antibiotics. (Apparently the FDA regulations allow all sorts of contaminants in every pill sold. The manufacturer can of course set higher standards, but do they? THAT is the Question. This company paid Steve for this new processor but then due to cost factor, it decreased their profit margin from 338% per tablet down to 312%. So they paid his contract, took the plans, thanked him, and said we will let you know when and how many new machines to build. Well they NEVER DID.

So those of you who get sick from antibiotics it may well be due to the levels of impurities allowed in them. The technology exists to make much better products, but They DON'T!

So it's the same with zolpidem. Certain brands, like the Forrest, torrent have much more impurities and cheaper binders. Think about who owns who when a generic company makes a brand drug, who owns this generic company. Is it the company who made the original patent or a third world competitor?

The Indian companies do not have too bad of a reputation, nor due to the Ukraine companies, but once again if these companies are sold to someone else the watch the quality change. So please be careful when you suggest one generic over another, the same "Active ingredient" does not necessarily mean you body will absorb all of it nor suffer some adverse reaction from a cheaper filler. Thanks, RickHawaii.

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72

I stopped taking Zolpidem 25 days ago after being on and off it for 15 months. I'm currently experiencing excessive saliva and dry mouth and I'm wondering if this is a normal withdrawal side affect, if it is, how long will it last, or do I need to see my doctor?

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73

Silver script just denied ambien refill after 3 years of using as needed .05 mg to switch to rozerene which will cost me co pay of $129.00 from $1.50 per 30 pills. My rx store and I concluded that I could buy ambien myself for $15.00 per 30. Sounds like a scam with insurance, drug company and as ordered by medicare wonder how they figure into equation. Others over 60 must have same problem. What are you doing?

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74

I have been on Generic Ambien for years. I was on it for 3 years prior to moving home to Tennessee and had no issues. They were the 10mg long white pills. Now, every pharmacy close to me carries TEVA generic Ambien. It is TERRIBLE!!! It doesn't work at all. Definitely avoid this generic brand.

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75

Try and get one of them to order you Qualtiest . it's cheap for them to do . So one store has to be willing or have your doctor right out must have name brand and get a pre-authorization from your insurance . Between my Pharmacy (walgreens) and my Doctor they got it done for me . Or there is one CVS that will special order any brand , Some will not at all . call around . Hope you get some better stuff to help you .

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76

Hi I've just recieved Mylan oblong white with zm 10 on one side and G on the other. I took one as soon as they came to test them and they seemed to work very well. The reason I am posting is that ,I haven't heard of any body else with these particular type of Zolpidem tablets. So has anyone had these ones?

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77

Which pharmaceutical do you work for? My wife went into convulsions after taking TEVA made zolpidem located, guess where? The filthy country of India!!! Thanks corrupt American FDA!!!

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78

As a habitual Ambien user I see a big difference in sleep/going to sleep with some of these generic brands. Torrent is the worst. I felt nothing! After a week of terrible sleep I switched pharmacies and found Qualitest to be one of three made here in the U.S. ! India has the market now because they're simply cheaper and who knows what goes into the filler part. I simply don't trust them to make anything close to name brand Ambien. That means Teva, Torrent, Ubinda or whatever. They simply DO NOT WORK the same. I've taken Ambien for 20+ years with few side effects. If it's not something produced in the USA be wary! I had to have multiple prescriptions of the generic cheap stuff to get the effects of one Ambien although Qualitest made here is good. I hear that is getting booted out too. Try to get your doctor to say "brand name necessary" on your prescription. It may cost less that way, the only way to go if you're an insomniac as I am.

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79

I agree on all that . As for the Zolpidem ER , Winthrop is awesome made by Sanofi (Blue just like brand with same fillers )followed by the very quick release of Activis which is great but too much gets released sooner . Another decent one Sandoz , but it does not work for me . a lot of people like this one . I was able to get 10mg Ambien fill with my doctor writing must have brand . Have not tired for CR yet that way . One note not that is off topic. For Xanax ..Greenstone the must have from this news board is verrrry over rated . Activis (watson) is just fine !!!

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80

Zolpidem Tartrate

Torrent is manufactured in India.

Mylan is manufactured in PA

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