Protonix works...can't get it!

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JLorenzo77

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Hi all, I am a 31 year old male and back in the fall of 2006, I had the upper endoscopy which didn't reveal GERD, but I was prescribed protonix anyway and wow, did it work! 20 minutes after the indigestion came on, it vanished once I took the pill. Anyway, over the last year, I only used it sparingly (once a month or so), but as my last refill was running out, I called the doctor and he called in a prescription refill. I picked it up yesterday and much to my dismay, I was prescribed a generic version and the supposedly cheaper version still cost me $50! What is worse is that it didn't help last night. 5 hours later, I took one of my last original protonix and the indigestion was gone.

What gives? Why can't I get Protonix and what is the deal with this generic piece of junk? I have never heard of the company who makes, caraco?!

Can anyone shed light on this situation?
 
what is the deal with this generic piece of junk? I have never heard of the company who makes, caraco?!

I also went generic in June with this "same as brand name" Caraco generic Protonix. It whacked my digestive system out of shape, to say the least. I am having an EGD tomorrow and hopefully the gastritis is all it shows. I am back on the Brand name Protonix but it costs me my $30 copay plus a $34 'penalty' since there is a generic available.

David
 
you can call the pharmacy and see if they have the real thing. i think if there is a generic of any drug, they give you that instead, so you save $$. just call them
 
I also had a problem with generic protonix. I also wasn't told about the change. I had to (sorta) fight my insurance to get the real thing. So, now that I am back on it, I am back to "normal" which means only moderate reflux as opposed to fire in throat.
 
I also got the generic when I refilled my prescription. They didn't even tell me about it when I picked them up. I took the pill for two days and I felt dizzy, looked at the bottle and saw they were generic. I was upset and called the Pharmacy and they told me to bring it back and they exchanged them with the real one.
My refill cost $90. (for 60 pills)
After that, everytime I order the refill, I have to tell them No generic.
 
Thanks everyone. It is nice to know I am not alone. I spoke with the pharmacy this morning and they agreed to the exchange...turns out the generic only saved me 6$ anyway! So instead of paying $48 for pills that didn't work, I get the brand name for $54 and they do work.

What is the deal with US health insurance. I'd move to Canada if it weren't so dang cold!!!
 
I am glad you can change the generic to the real Protonix.
I am trying to take the pill every other day for the past two months instead of every day. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, I think it depenRAB on my diet, but I will keep trying. I am afraid of the long term side effects.
 
I was also doing that for a bit-it made my reflux go through the roof. I am actually only mostly helped by this and not completely. There are days and times where I still have fire coming into my throat. I am also worried about using this long term and would actually prefer a surgical intervention so that I can reduce my drug dependence as I already take a nuraber of meRAB. I hate to think I have to take this for life. In addition, I think reducing stomach acid also reduces nutrient absorption and that it has been a partial reason for my anemia. What a mess! I think that drs. are a little too "script happy" and not nearly enough "test ready" or "find the cause and fix it" ready, IMO.
 
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