Northstar Rx
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Has anyone had problems with lamotrigine (generic Lamictal) manufactured by Northstar Rx

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I'm glad it's not just me! I switched pharmacies and in doing so, generic brands. The drug levels in my system have varied widely since going on Northstar and I'm lucky to not have had any breakthrough seizures. I'm working with my doctor now to find something else. I've heard good things about Teva and Taro and can find both near me.

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I use my neighborhood pharmacy for all meds, but they only carry Northstar Lamotrigine. I have to go to a pharmacy an hour away to get the Taro brand. Driving 2 hours is worth the trip, though, to have the medication that works best and doesn't have any horrible side effects, and they always keep it in stock, as well as other brands.

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Now I get my Doctor to write the prescription "Dispense as written" and then to specify TARO BRAND which is the generic Lamotrigine that I haven't reacted badly to. The side effects I have had from others - especially North Star - have been horrible. Having my Doctor specify a manufacturer to the pharmacy has worked well for me. Lots of pharmacies carry particular manufacturers for certain drugs because they are getting the best price from that one, and otherwise cant or won't special order.

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My pharmacy switched from Dr. Reddy to another generic, and I started to itch. It took awhile to figure out the problem. I had no idea of the differences among generics of the same drug. Now, the pharmacy switched to Northstar. The itching is back, and I have mild chills, mild aches in the joints, mild headaches... sort of like when I have a slightly elevated temperature. I'm switching pharmacies, and the new one has ordered Teva. I start that in two days, and I hope to feel good again.

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I was switched from Teva to Northstar by the pharmacy and had a breakthrough seizure at week 3. I take 400mg/day for seizures and mood stabilizers. I am back to Teva now and things are back to normal. I contacted my neurological about this and I am concerned that he will report me to the DMV and I will have my license suspended. I put the pharmacist on notice about this and will insist on the Teva brand from now on.

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Terrible reaction to Northstar. Gastro-intestional issues, bad. Switched back to Taro, problems went away.
All my blood test came back normal as I believe my colonoscopy will. Doctors need to take their patients more seriously.

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Yay! Finally found people who have had problems with North Star. I take it for generalized epilepsy, and I started to experience myoclonic jerks, increasing in intensity and frequency throughout the few months I was taking it. I've been taking generics for years, with no problems and I've temporarily switched to brand name ... and the jerks went away. So glad to know that one generic brand can be so different from the rest - I've just been lumping them all together.

Has anyone had a problem with myoclonic jerks after switching generics?? I am trying to figure out whether North Star has more or less of lamotrigine than others. I'm inclined to think it has MORE just because I haven't had a seizure, and Lamotrigine has been found to increase myoclonic jerks... and I can't imagine that any fillers would be a trigger.

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Different manufacturers also use different fillers which can be problematic.

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There can be differences in generic medications. Under federal law, they are allowed to differ in the amount of the active ingredient, by as much as plus or minus 20%.

This is considered to be an acceptable therapeutic window and, for most people, it is and doesn't cause problems. However, when you have been taking something for a long period of time, or are sensitive to any fluctuation in your medication, it can cause problems, because you may not be getting as much of the active ingredient that you were, or in some cases you may be getting more.

http://www.prescriptiondrug-info.com/drug_details.asp?title=Lamotrigine&ad=true

http://www.prescriptiondrug-info.com/drug_details.asp?title=Losartan&ad=true

In most cases, your body will adjust, in a few weeks, however, if it is causing you severe problems, you might want to see if your pharmacy can order in the one manufactured by the other company.

Are there any other questions or comments?

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Yes, I have been on the Taro generic, which worked well. My local pharmacy's supplier switched to the NorthStar generic, which I got three weeks ago. The longer I take the NorthStar, the worse I am - muscle stiffness, feeling like my mind is flying apart, and horrible, horrible hunger attacks. I take it for bipolar, along with Lexapro and Topamax and was doing great, until this NorthStar junk. Now I feel like I'm back at the beginning. It's terrible!!!

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My pharmacy switched from TARO to Northstar Lamotrigine which I take for seizures. In the two months that I was taking it I started having really intense joint pain and not sleeping as well - lots of anxiety dreams. I returned to the pharmacy and they had about two weeks worth of TARO on the shelf which I bought and used. The joint pain symptoms ceased and the dreams changed. After two weeks switched back to what I had (Northstar) and the negative symptoms are back.

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I have taken several different types of lamotrigine such as Taro, and Dr Redy, this is the first that has caused an adverse reaction. I was having double vision, chills, loss of balance, excessive tiredness and headaches. I take it for epilepsy and was terrified it could cause a seizure.

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My original Hyzaar was refilled by mail with Losartan Hctz 100 by Northstar and I think I'm having serious side effects that I just now attribute to the bp med. My legs are cramping; hip joints hurt; panting with little exertion and rapid resting heart beat. The bill is oblong yellow. Sound right to you?

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Yes. I take lamotrigine for bi-polar depression. I have found that the Northstar version of the drug doesn't work. I took it and my mood crashed. Then I got back on the Teva made lamotrigine, and my mood stabilized. I believe the Northstar product in effective. Try to get your prescribing physician to write "Teva - DAW" on your script.

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My pharmacy changed my Teva brand of Lamotrigine to North Star brand. Has anyone noticed a difference with the difference switching brands?

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