I've never cared for time-release versions of medications--I like having the control that an immediate-release provides. I take two 10 mg. generic Dexedrine twice daily. Since moving, my Dr. will not prescribe me 240 tablets monthly of brand name Dexedrine (the brand name comes in 5 mg. tablets ONLY), so I have had to make do with the generics, which I found to be FAR less effective along with having unpleasant side-effects. I KNOW that it is the same drug and should have the same effect as the brand, but I swear it doesn't! And, from reading on this forum and many others, many other people feel the same way. My last Doctor, in fact, had heard the same from several of his patients so he didn't hesitate to give me 240 tabs each month of the brand.

The first generic Rx I had filled was for the Barr generic version of Dextroampetamine/Dexedrine 10 mg. I could tell a HUGE difference (not for the better) in these round, pink pills and had stomach problems as well as a feeling that this was just a "dirty" drug and not clean like the brand-name Dexedrine. Then, the next time I went to get an Rx filled, my usual pharmacy did not have enough tabs to fill the prescription so I went to another across the street. The generic they carried was made by a different manufacturer (Ethex), the pills were orange and quite a bit larger than the ones from Barr. These were relatively smooth feeling and not terrible, but felt very weak. I didn't feel anything taking the normal dosage, and only a little bit taking TWICE the normal.

Finally, I did some research to see if there were any other manufacturers besides Ethex and Barr. I found there was one, Mallinckrodt, which, I discovered in my research, actually was in an agreement with SmithKline Beecham (manufacturer of BRAND Dexedrine) to promote Dextroampetamine for ADHD. I figured if they were working together, then the Mallinckrodt generic would probably be closest to the real-deal brand name. I called around to several pharmacies in the area to see if they stocked the Mallinckrodt version but none did. I then went to Mallinckrodt's website and e-mailed them asking where this product would be available. They wrote back quickly and said that Costco and Osco pharmacies did (neither of which have locations in my state) so I wrote back explaining this and she sent me back a list of pharmacies in my city that DO carry it.

Two weeks ago I filled my first Rx for the Mallinckrodt dexies and WOW...they are VERY, VERY close to the brand. Very smooth and none of those yucky side effects. Plus, they are the only dextroampetamine tablets out there (brand name included) that don't have any artificial color added. The tabs are white and diamond-shaped. These are by FAR the best generics available (in my opinion) and I think those that have had problems with the other generics, as I did, might want to give them and try and see if they help you out.

Thanks for the great information!

good to know.. thanks Downing2Dexies

Cheers! Ian.

Wow! What great info, d2Dexies! Pity I found it a tad too late! See, I'd just filled my first scrip for generic dex, and after reading your review of Barr's generic, I quickly checked my pills. A feeling of misgiving came over me when I noticed the large "B" imprinted on the back of one. I checked the label on the bottle. Sure enough, it said Dextroamphetamine 5mg tab by Barr.

So THAT's why the stuff, although it worked, required twice the prescribed amount, and the effects, although positive, lasted all of two hours or so and I'd have to take more! Taking your tip, I called Mallinckrodt headquarters in St. Louis to ask if anyone in my area carried their stuff. And it seems no one does. Buggers!

Now the good news. I asked the Walgreen pharmacist if he had DextroStat, which is generic Dexedrine too, right. Yes, he said, we DO have it, but you've got it exactly backwards: Dextro-Stat is the original brand and Dexedrine is generic Dextro-Stat!!!!

I said, "You're kidding!" but he acted as sure as he could be. Even better, DextroStat at Walgreens he quoted me as $20.39 for 30 10mg tabs! Just a few bucks more than what I'd paid for the 60 (5mg) tabs of the Barr generic garbage at Osco! Then I called Wal-Mart, who said they could order me Dexedrine 5mg from the warehouse and have it for me in a day or two. And that 60 tabs would be a mere $21.54.

Am I dreaming? I thought Dexedrine was really expensive. And is it really true that DextroStat is the original, and Dexedrine the generic? Or maybe I've been taking too much meds!

Can someone enlighten me please? D2Dex? You there? I'm new to this ADHD business. But at least one other poster on another board agrees with you about Barr dexies
(from RemedyFind.com):

"SFHiker (15) [San Francisco, CA - United States]
4/29/2004 6:14:04 PM
Dexedrine Good - Stick with the BRAND
Update: recently began taking Brand spansules and feel like things are beginning to imrpove again. An interesting thing happened at the pharmacy when I went to get this script filled. They asked if I wanted generic and I asked who manuf. the generic, they said BARR, and I said, no way, I want the Brand. The pharmacists response was surprising as she said, "yeah, a lot of people say they won't take BARR generics." Interesting, I thought.

FORMER REVIEW I recently started taking 5mg tablets of the generic for dexedrine manufactured by BARR Labs and have found it to be far less effective than the dexedrine spansules I used to take. I would not recommend the tabs over the Spansules and really question if the generic is of the same caliber as the brand name. Anyway, that aside, of the three psychostimulant meds, I've had the most success with dexedrine. Ritalin gave me the jitters, and Adderall seemed to loose it's punch after a while. I also take EffexorXR for depression and that seems to help with the ADD. The interesting paradox of stimulant meds and folks with ADD is that these actually create a feeling of calm and quiet and serenity. Dexedrine has definitely been the most effective in quieting the storm that had existed inside my head for most of my life. I was diagnosed when I was 33, I'm now 39 and feel like my life would still be in stuck in neutral, were it not for Dexedrine/Stimulant meds and a psychiatrist that understood the issues of Adult ADD. Dosage: 15 mg. SR Spansule
Frequency: 1-3 tablets 3 x day
Total Length: one year
Brand: Dexedrine Spansule "

Well, I've talked enough. Any comments out there?

Dexedrine is the brand name for dextroamphetamine sulfate, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

Other trade names for dextroamphetamine sulfate include Biphetamine and Dextrostat.

Wow! What great info, d2Dexies! Pity I found it a tad too late! See, I'd just filled my first scrip for generic dex, and after reading your review of Barr's generic, I quickly checked my pills. A feeling of misgiving came over me when I noticed the large "B" imprinted on the back of one. I checked the label on the bottle. Sure enough, it said Dextroamphetamine 5mg tab by Barr.

So THAT's why the stuff, although it worked, required twice the prescribed amount, and the effects, although positive, lasted all of two hours or so and I'd have to take more! Taking your tip, I called Mallinckrodt headquarters in St. Louis to ask if anyone in my area carried their stuff. And it seems no one does. Buggers!

Now the good news. I asked the Walgreen pharmacist if he had DextroStat, which is generic Dexedrine too, right. Yes, he said, we DO have it, but you've got it exactly backwards: Dextro-Stat is the original brand and Dexedrine is generic Dextro-Stat!!!!

I said, "You're kidding!" but he acted as sure as he could be. Even better, DextroStat at Walgreens he quoted me as $20.39 for 30 10mg tabs! Just a few bucks more than what I'd paid for the 60 (5mg) tabs of the Barr generic garbage at Osco! Then I called Wal-Mart, who said they could order me Dexedrine 5mg from the warehouse and have it for me in a day or two. And that 60 tabs would be a mere $21.54. is that the total cost, or just what you would pay after insurance chipped in? just wondering. i also could not find the mallinckrodt dex anywhere; i called all the pharmacies near me and none carried anything but BARR. one pharmacy told me they could order the mallinckrodt for me, but then when i got there i was told that no, that's not possible! but luckilly they were able to order me dextrostat. the pharmacist told me he would call to let me know how much it would be, because it might be "a lot more" than the barr generics. well i just got a call today, and turns out i only have to pay a $10 copay for a huge bottle of dex, whereas i had to pay $20 for 120 adderall generics, or $35 for 12 brand name adderall. i hope this works out better for me.

Heh I take dexadrine 10 mg 2x's a day too....Im always asking for generic...No insurance sucks...But ya right about the effect...PPl say it the same but I beg to differ. Thanks fer info:D

Will talk 2 me doc about that...But me hasta wery about...is it about de same?

Yes put me on the list of the drug effects of the generic brand , i take 15mgs 2x daily. I feel like taking 3 at a time!. UNreal, esp after taking 60-90mg of adderall, but due to the fact that 2 doses wasnt cutting the whole day, i asked my doc and he agreed to put me on dexedrine spanuals. Now this leaves me with 10mg of a dose left, due to he told me 40mg is the max. Well, I already took 3 , not at a time, but did not make a difference.
Now, I do have a tolerance, like i posted a ways above, but i guess several factors are making the drug like nothing. From 90mg of adderall to 30mg of Dex, Generic Dex possibly 1/2 as potent, Long acting stuff, which only releases 7.5mg every 5 hrs, which im used to take 30mg of adderall every 5-6 hrs, so .
I have a few choices untill 25 more days untill my appointment. I dont know if i call him , and tell him that the drug is not working at all, and actually take him the left over, and have him write me another script of adderall and ill have to pay fo rXR.
Another possibly is adding another supplement with it. LIke Welbutrin, but I dont want any NR meds, because they make my heart pound, and they cause my head and limbs to tingle bad, esp wieh working out. Plus im sick with an infection.

Maybe switching over to dex 5mg, which come in 100 tabs of 5mg, take them like 15mg, every 5 hrs, 3 days. This way, ill get 3 doses of 15 the drug, but taking my dose now, even 2x daily, it comes out to like 7.5mg every 5 hrs, 4x daily so, its better to takke the first option. Unless he could add another 15 mg 2x , but i know the top dos eis 40mg , but if he is allowed to do so, somehow, I dont even think 3 pill of 15mg spanuals wll help,but i tell you im going ot short my self, but i can always get ritalin to help me out at the end. I dont see a problem with that, because, unless i can order a good dopamine drug, im very outof it.

Some DA drugs which i found which seem to be very good which are not like welbutrin, but stronger are, AMantadine, Bromocriptine, Cabergoline, Hydergine, L-Dopa ( which you can just buy Mucuna Prurriens from a health store, which has 15% L-Dopa and increases levels at high doses), Mizindol, Medifoxamine, Milnacipran, Minaprine, etc. Im going to post a nice long , ok semi long on Dopamine drugs and Natural drugs, for some who may need to add or take a natrual supplement.

Well, I looked at my bottle and it said BARR and I almost fell off the Bar LOL
MIND RESearch

I take 5mg dex 8 times a day... and plan on upping the dose. first three doses are 10mg last two are 5mg. So for a months supply i need 240 pills. My dr is cool with it. Do u see a phsyc or reg dr?? I started seeing a phsyciatrist about a month ago. Its been great!! He specializes in ADD and also has ADD. So he understands that i know what i need. Its damn expensive!!! $140 a visit + plus $40 for my dex = $180/month!!! Its worth it. Mine is 140 because my ****ty insurance wont cover my dr. If the pharmacy has troulbe filling your prescription, have your dr call in and let them know that you will be needing this product every month. He cant call the prescription in, but can inform them of your needs. Most pharmacies wont carry ADD meds in bulk because of people robbing them. I also stopped going to big name pharmacies for my ADD meds. Mom and pops are the best pharmacies!! They usually always have good #'s of ADD meds.... good luck

I went from Methylin (Mallinkrodt Ritalin) to the Mall version of dexedrine. I get it from Rite Aid here in California. I asked for it by name on the advice of the person who started this thread. I had previous experience with brand dex, and even though it's been almost ten years, I believe the Mall version is identical to brand Dexedrine. The Methylin was almost "buzzier" than CIBA Ritalin. They definitely make a generic that has the same or better feel or potency to the brands. They also make a version of adderall in both regular and XR doses.

anyone know what the NDC # is for the Mallinkrodt product is?? my pharmacy can get it for me but they must have that number, they do not know how to oder by specific manufacturer. PLEAS HELP.

never mind i found it on their website.

I have taken both Dexedrine and Mallinkrodt dex. You shouldn't have to know information like that, that's why they're a pharmacy and you're a patient.

Might interest you to know that where I live, brand Dexedrine and Mall Dex are exactly the same price. Have you checked the price?

Only the Barr Lab dex is cheaper, like 45 cents a pill, whereas brand Dexedrine and the Mall version are both 60 cents. That's for the 5mg tab.

i dunno, they said they could not order it by manuf. . I wil get it Friday and try it out. I still am not sure how to take it or when? Currently i take one 30mg Adderall XR and another 15 mg about 6 hrs later.

Hi I'm bizzy, 23 Male with ADHD.

I've been on dex (generic by Barr) for a few weeks. It started out fine but in a few days I was getting these pounding, spillitting, ridiculous headaches. I came to his forum and read this thread and tried the name brand dex.

It's like a night and day difference. Headaches are COMPLETELY GONE. There's not high peak or crash...really smooth throughout the day.

DON'T USE GENERIC FOR THE DEX.

I've had the generic dex by Mallinkrodt and it's the same as the brand in quality, but it's also just as expensive. So why bother. The Mallinkrodt version of Ritalin is a better deal because it's almost half the price and just as good.

Mallinkrodt makes versions of Adderall as well. If there is a price break, go for it, because their quality control is right on.

Greetings, Dooog. Hope this tip is as helpful to you (and everybody else) as yours have been to me.

There's an outfit called ICA/SMART that offers a free Rx discount card to anybody who wants one.

This card has saved me many pesos since I got it some 8 months ago. How much? One hundred 10mg D-AMPH tabs (Mallincrodt) at Osco is 48.69 here in Kansas City. With the card: $26.50. Eckerd Drug is reg. 61.90. With the card: $26.50. Again. Two other pharmacies, $50-60, $26.50 w. card (!)

What's the catch? None. What's their game then? As near as I can figure, this outfit represents a group of generic drug manufacturers who are eagar that people should buy generic Rxs and to ask their docs to write them scripts with that option.

After you download the card, you can get a list of pharms in your stomping grounds that honor it. eg

K MART PHARMACY Phone: 6192989924
8730 RIO SAN DIEGO Distance: 2.39 mi.
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108 [map]

LONGS DRUG STORE Phone: 6192983655
5644 MISSION CENTER RD #201 Distance: 2.39 mi.
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108 [map]

SAV-ON DRUGS Phone: 6195846211
5826 MISSION GORGE RD Distance: 3.82 mi.
SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 [map]

I use Osco. They're Sav-On on the W. coast. Call and ask them to special order you some Mallincrodt dexies. Takes a day or two. And they're always glad to do it. Same at K-mart.

I'm still a little new here to be posting web addresses, but if you Google for "Pharmacy Reward Card" (don't forget the quotes!), you just might blunder upon their webpage!)
Best,
Kostics
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I can't believe you have so much choice. Here there is only one dex and that's dexamphetamine sulfate (no brand name). Ritalin is too expensive for most.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

You have more selection than you realize. There are only two brands of d-amphetamine sulfate that i know of in the USA: Dexedrine® and Dextrostat®. The latter, by the way, tends to be about half the cost of Dexedrine. It has a slightly different "feel" somehow, but it's just as strong and I don't mind the difference. It's MANUFACTURER is called Shire Pharmaceuticals. The name of the MANUFACTURER of your generic Rx drug you will often find printed inconspicuously on the bottle eg.
"CLONAZEPAM 2MG TABLET TEV"

TEV? That's short for TEVA, an Rx maker. Their clonazepam is as good as the brand (Klonopin®). I ask---no, insist on their generic "Klonopin".

Don't believe what the FDA and many pharmacists tell you when they say generic drugs are "just as good" as the original brand. Often they ARE. But there are some notable exceptions. Any p-doc who's pscribed a lot of Ritalin, for example, knows that when uninsured patients ask if they can switch junior to a generic substitute to save a buck, the complaints start pouring in.

Sure, the generics have the same amount of the active medication (methylphenidate). The law requires it. It's just the other stuff they add, those "inactive" ingredients that can cause problems.

It’s these little extras (supposedly added as binders or coloring agents) that can make you sick (if you’re allergic to it) make the pill dissolve incompletely or alter the "bioavailablity" of the active ingredient. Some even "gunk up" their pills with acids and irritants to discourage people who like to grind and snort them up their noses like cocaine.

Same applies to store brands of OTC meds. Wal-Mart’s Equal rand of Metamucil costs less, but I find it doesn’t dissolve as well. No big complaint; most Wal-Mart knock-offs of name brand OTC drugs are just as good if not better.

People are brand loyal. They keep buying Clorox cause that’s the name they grew up with, when Target chlorine bleach is probably just as good, and a lot less.

OK, enough blather for one day.

I just received my first prescription of dextroamphetamine, 5mg. unfortunately, the manufacturer is barr and per your suggestions, I'd like to try this Mallinckrodt manufacturer. I just emailed them to see what pharmacies in my area carry their products, how long does it take them to respond?

- stan

Ok, so do the tablets or the capsules ("spansules") have the bad rap with Barr? I'm on the spansules, and got a bit miffed when I looked at the bottle after reading postings from this section and seeing "Barr" listed as the manufacturer. So I called up Walgreens, and the pharmacist said that he's never heard anything bad about the spansules from Barr, but that he was interested in it and wanted to look it up on the web when he got home (not much help.) So then I called my doc and explained it, and he said he's never noticed any problem or difference, and several of his patients who are on it get the generic spansules from Walgreens (and Barr is the manufacturer of spansules obtained at Walgreens--at least here.)

But then, I'm looking at a posting that says it just doesn't work as well. And I gotta say, I've only been on this stuff since Tuesday, but I'm not noticing much difference in ability to concentrate...maybe I was expecting a magic change or something. Just lack of appetite and insomnia so far, and a little more energy.

Started on 5 on Tues., upped it to 10 on Fri., figured the doubling would cause some sort of heightened change, but haven't really noticed anything...how long does this stuff take to kick in for most people? Is this just a tiny dose, even for a little girl? My doc called it a "Mickey Mouse Dose." Do you think it's 'cause I'm on other meds for seizures? Lamictal and Klonopin are the primary meds for that issue. My doc just said to wait it out and keep increasing it on schedule...what do y'all think? Lots of you are, like, veterans of this medicine.

Thanks

Chrys

in my expierience, I've had barr 7.5mg dextramphetamine and a 15mg spansule of dextramphetamine.

the difference was very very distinct. I could go into the details, but it was all about the level of focus I had to myself. the barr tablets are fairly unsatisfactory and I will try to do my best and get a hold of another brand or dexedrine all together.

Yeah, I know, but my insurance is kind of wacky, and is happy to allow me to pay $5 across-the-board for any generic in any dose in any quantity per bottle. I just got a big @$$ bottle of this stuff, and since it's a schedule three drug and I live in the meth capital of the central time zone, people are a little leery of prescriptions of this sort anyway.

So I'm thinkin', it's not like I bought a toaster, then found a better one on sale, and can return the inferior one to the department store. I already had the script filled when I saw the thing about Barr. I doubt that they'll just "exchange" the pills I haven't taken for a new bottle of the brand name, which I probably couldn't afford, and I seriously doubt they'll just give me my money back so I can go to a different pharmacy that offers that good generic version from the manufacturer that starts with an "M". Am I right, here? This isn't just like another drug. They take this crap very, very seriously here; I'm sure they do everywhere, or it wouldn't be so tightly regulated, but it seems in Iowa that pharmacists and other assorted people get kind of creepy about it, to be honest.

I'm just saying...my Lamictal, even after insurance, slams our budget every month, and the brand name might just zoink me entirely (monetarily speaking.) Don't know. I have another appt with the doc in a couple of weeks...maybe I'll see if he'll go along with coming up with some way of working it out, but my crazy insurance company might look at the fact that I got a substantial quantity of it on Tuesday, then got more of it at a different pharmacy a couple of weeks later, and think something dark and suspicious is going on...

I guess I'll wait and see.

Did you say those Barr ones you took were tablets or the spansules? I think my doc said there would be a difference in quality if there was a difference at all, and he really didn't think it was a problem, as far as he knew, to get the Barr generic in general.

Chrys

from what I have heard all together, coupled with my experience and everyone else's, I will not ever prescribe barr branded dextramphetamine tablets ever again. it's just not gonna happen.

I'd advise the same and follow the same instructions as everyone else.

Well, in the meantime, I guess I'm just sort of stuck with what I've got until I run out of it, unless, as I said, my doc comes up with some strategy, though he doesn't seem to be too motivated to do so, since he's apparently never noticed any difference between generics over the 40-odd years he's practiced, and it's his preferred drug to prescribe to his ADD cases. Perhaps I'm just screwed (hopefully that word won't be edited or something--at least I didn't say f*#!ed) until this bottle is empty, and I'll just have to wait to try to get a batch of the stuff you guys are saying is better then.

Did I mention that he takes it, too, along with two of his kids? Don't know who he gets the script from--can't write it for himself, obviously, since it's a controlled substance, but he told me he's taken it since the 80's or something. Apparently, he's a big fan of this stuff. Doesn't think much of Strattera, I know that. There's an ADD/ADHD phenomenon in that household, apparently. It seems a bit odd, but I don't think he's abusing it, I think he's truly using it legitimately, and I've been acquainted with him for quite some time now...

Chrys

Upped the meds 5 mg again on Fri to 15 mg. Before, it was like, "Well, maybe it's working, I don't know...could be, what do you think?" Anyway, I took the 15, and it was like *whooosh.* Cleaned and organized and read and actually remembered what I read and completed a complicated knitting stitch pattern I'd never been able to do because I always get lost somewhere in there. (It's got, like, 19 steps to it. It's insane, but beautiful.) Even knew exactly how much money I owed the Daycare center (292.50) and calculated the forecasted next months' charges in my head within seconds.

Now, my husband truly says he's noticed there's a difference. We compared my brain to a computer: it's like I was sluggish, and files had sort of gone dormant or disappeared entirely, but then I got an upgrade, and now everything's zooming, files are easily retrieved and things are more clear and organized. Freaky.

You know, we joked that after all of this--all the meds, all the assuming that my brain damage and my seizures were the cause of my memory problems and it would take some major work and time to figure out how to fix it--if this dex stuff worked, it'd be pathetic, because then it would be like, "Oh, my God, she just had ADD the whole time. What a waste of time. So obvious." And yet, here it is. Perhaps I do, after all, have ADD. Pathetic waste of time? Yes. Years and years and thousands upon thousands of dollars spent trying to solve a puzzle with an answer that was right under our noses--we just hadn't considered that I could have ADD comorbidly with the neurobiological junk. So many people have ADD. My biological father has it. But we went, "No...it can't be that simple."

But here I am, on 15 mg of what I've heard is the crappiest generic form of Dex, suddenly feeling as though my brain is "awake" (maybe you guys, who have had ADD and gotten on meds know what I mean.) I never knew that could happen. I just thought I'd be confused and bummed and frustrated forever. If this cognitive functioning level and organizational energy remains in stasis, I will be so happy...and I'll try to forget about the fact that my credit is ruined because of an endless and expensive journey with a series of doctors and hospitals and tests and experiments and meds that we weren't even sure would work but were desperate thus willing to try...

My husband and I agreed that we'd still go to Osco Drug (that's what it was, wasn't it?) and get the Mallinkrodt version when this bottle runs out anyway, but we're pretty happy with this sudden shift in function and memory retrieval. The difference is just sort of trippy...

Maybe you more experienced ADDers understand what I'm experiencing right now. After all this time of being so utterly dysfunctional, it's sort of euphoric just to be able to think pretty clearly.

Chrys

p.s. How do you guys remember to eat? I just don't even get hungry anymore, and only get a hint when I get a little dizzy and my mild problem with hypoglycemia starts to kick up...don't get me wrong, it'll kick @$$ to lose a couple pounds, but...

...the Mallinkrodt version must be popular--and more people know about it than I would think. Osco plum ran out of it. They have BARR ones, too, but the thing is that when I called them, they said they only had 20 of the Mallinkrodt but a ton of the BARR. I thought, eh, maybe just get the 20 and get the rest later? But since this is such a controlled drug, thought I might as well go get it all at the same time...they're ordering it, said it'd be here in a few days (that was yesterday, so I figure Sunday or Monday, I'll call and check)...kinda rediculous to whine about it--I'm not totally out of the BARR; I'm just an impatient person in general! Bad personality trait.

This whole BARR vs. Mallinkrodt issue must be pretty well known, huh? I'm naive (how the heck is that spelled--doesn't look right), though.

Thanks for tipping me off on this whole thing to begin with...obviously, I wouldn't have known to try an alternate manufacturer--usually don't bother, and just say f*** it if something doesn't work. My dad always scoffs at the idea that a brand name is definitely better than a generic, anyway--but he's never taken the pharm version of Ibuprofen vs. the brand you buy OTC. My father-in-law has the pharmaceutical, and I thought my husband was full of sh** when he said it worked much better than plain old Advil or Motrin, but one day I threw my shoulder out (old injury from when I worked in a factory--keeps coming back once in a while) @ their house, and his dad gave me a couple of those pharm ones, and damn...they've got to be more pure, or something, 'cause it's like double the pain relief and longer lasting than the OTCs. Dad still won't believe me on that, though. Oh, well. My neuro sort of just shrugs at this whole BARR vs. Mallinkrodt concept, but he doesn't completely discard the potential superiority or think it's bullsh**. He's kind of like, "Well, try it if you want, and if there's a big difference, maybe I can tell my other patients. It could help both of us, and other people too, so I suppose if you want to get this other generic, and it really is better, it could be a good thing...and then you could tell these people in that chatroom thing I said thanks."

Chrys

I'm just impatient in nature. Called this morning to see if the Mallinkrodt ones had gotten there, and no, they hadn't. Apparently there's no shipping on the weekends, anyway. Can't remember if I was there on Thurs. or Fri. when they said they'd order more for me, since my script is written for a lot more than 20 (and that's all they had.) They said the order should get there on Mon. or Tues. In the meantime, I was gonna wait and try the M's before I raised the dose from 20, but I got p*ssed today and just threw in an extra 5 mg. (Completely permissible--was supposed to increase every week by 5 mg. until I figured out what was the best; just not supposed to go over 35.) I've been on 20 and not raised it for, like 3 weeks or something, and whatever's wrong, I don't know, but screw it, I'm all fuzzy and confused and forgetful again, so...

Chrys

I've had problems with Barr. It feels harsher. It always felt like it "sticks with me", at least the bad side-effects long after it should've been gone. After reading this and realizing I've been taking Barr, I'll try to get a new prescription.

To be honest I can imagine how a difference might occur. Age. We know nothing about the manufacturers handle and ship their product. If Barr has warehouse after warehouse full of the stuff, it might be sitting there for years before it gets shipped out to pharmacies. More respectable manufacturers might have better turnaround.

An accidental experience with badly (years) expired dex illustrated that age does matter. At the time, I thought I was going to have a heart attack; I had a variety of cardiac symptoms. I went to the doctor the next day and an ECG and (ultimately) an echocardiogram showed no physical problems, and they never recurred, so I know it was the meds.

It is also possible that there are chemical impurities. The only obvious example I can think of is when distilling alcohol. A distiller will have a certain amount of "fusel oils" show up, particularly on the ends of a batch. Called oils because of their appearance, they are actually other alcohols, better known as poisons. Isopropyl, methanol - stuff that makes you go blind. Any reasonably skilled distiller can separate these out, but a certian amount will always get into the finished product, and this is part of the reason that better quality alcohol (along with clear spirits) typically give less of a hangover - since better distilling cuts more of these. In fact, truely amatuer efforts at making moonshine can be downright dangerous.

One could certainly imagine something like this happening with dex, with other chemically similar but distinct compounds entering the mix.

that's precisely what happened to me w/ the barr medication, a VERY uncomfortable/straining feeling in my chest.

I'll shell out the extra $$ for brand name dexedrine. 'nuff said.

Jimbo I think was bang-on about possible differences between Brand X Rxs and the brand. The fact is that the government has been less than candid about just how strict they are in checking out generics.

People will say,"You should listen to the experts." Darn right. So when somebody who is NOT an expert makes a statement like that, I want to see the money. I suggest you take a look at what crazymeds (http://www.crazymeds.org/BvsG.html) has to say on the matter. (PG-13 for language).

And check out his links to Medline showing at least one study indicating that there is a big difference in "bioavailablily" between some generics and brands.
I can vouch for the difference with clonazapam. I only get the generic made by TEVA. There may be others as good, but I've been burned by weak Klonopin clones.

Interesting sidelight. When I told a pharmacist that I had to call all over town to find Mallincrodt dex,because my usual pharmacy had screwed up the order, he told me that many people who claim such differences exist when its a controlled substance are often abusers. (He assured me that he didnt think I was.)

I said it's probably more accurate to say that people on psych-meds have emotional problems that can make them highly suggestable. So many DO imagine there's a difference, when, usually, there isn't.

eg. I always get the store brand of dyphenhydramine, never Benedryl for my sniffles.

And check to make SURE you got the right generic. I got burned at an Osco when they gave me the wrong one, and when I returned it after opening it in the car, they wouldn't take it back. I had to go get another Rx. 49.50 down the drain.

Phil

Really? Mine (the Klonopin) are PurePac mfg., and they don't seem horrid. Took the brand name for a while before switching to generic--doc wanted to make sure the generic worked as well as the brand name, so I had to do it that way to properly evaluate the difference.

Chrys


And check out his links to Medline showing at least one study indicating that there is a big difference in "bioavailablily" between some generics and brands.
I can vouch for the difference with clonazapam. I only get the generic made by TEVA. There may be others as good, but I've been burned by weak Klonopin clones.

I find the Mallinckrodt to work just fine.

A check of my records shows I started with a generic Klonopin (procured expensively by mail). Curacao, I think was the maker. And it was fine. Then got some brand thru the grey market, (Rivotril, which is Klonopin's alias outside the U.S.).

When I finally got a p-doc willing to prescribe a longtime drunk a benzo, I tried the Purepac, but found it weaker. I had to take about 1/4 more to get the same (great) effect. Or was I just imagining it?

Someone on some other board told me "NO, Purepac's Klonopin clone IS weaker. Try TEVA's." I did. And I've never gone back.

By the way, TEVA Klonopin is NOT hard to find, unlike Mallincrodt dex. Wal-Mart, I seem to recall, carries it, as do many other places. Give it a try next time. See if you agree.

By the way, I'm not changing the subject, but dexedrine and clonazepam are a great combination for social phobia, let me tell you. (I have that on top of the ADD). The one did wonders for my social "stage fright", the dex gave me the extra confidence and motivation to get out and audition (literally, in one case). [QUOTE]All the world's a stage, as someone said.

Phil

The generic they carried was made by a different manufacturer (Ethex), the pills were orange and quite a bit larger than the ones from Barr. These were relatively smooth feeling and not terrible, but felt very weak. I didn't feel anything taking the normal dosage, and only a little bit taking TWICE the normal.
This is my first day on Ethex, so far they seem identical to the Mallinkcrodt pills in effect. I will update you if my experience and opinion changes.

[B]My experience with the generics:

Brand Dexedrine: Predictable but expensive. Over 60 cents per 5mg tablet.

Barr dextroamphetamine: Cheap but slow to come on, tho chewing them seem to bring them up to Brand level.

Ethex dextroamphetamine: similar to Barr but somehow better. Only 33 cents per 5mg tablet. What I take. I have no insurance so price is an issue. Take 10 mg 3 times a day. Always chew one and take the other swallowed whole.

Mallinkrodt dex: Tablets identical to SmithKline brand, but cost the same, so who cares!!! The have time release caps that are kind of slow acting, sluggish, like you're on nothing. What good is quality without value? Their tabs cost the same as SmithKline, so what's the hook here? I don't get it.

[B]
Barr dextroamphetamine: Cheap but slow to come on
Some may prefer both of those attributes. I wonder if scoring the tablet in halves or quarters and swallowing them thusly would speed up absorption, if you prefer a faster effect.

Well I have read and contributed to this thread for a while now, and it was started by somebody who claimed that Ethex and Barr generics had virtually no effect, compared to SmithKline, and that Mallindrodt was identical to the Brand and therefore the only same second choice. I don't want say what I think, but that just sounds a little farfetched. I have taken them all, and I do mean ALL of them. Onset is the only variable that I can detect. I don't care who makes the tablet, with me I just like the tablet better than the time release caps because I sort of take em for specific tasks rather than adhering to a diurnal bio-rhythm. And the tabs are good for that. They come on relatively fast and they wear off in 4 hours. I'm a non-hyper ADDer and as soon as Dex goes below some serum blood threshold, which isn't going far, I fall asleep like a rock. I take no other med in combo with it, to counteract a side effect I don't like. I am happy to say that me and Dex are a good fit and the benefit is measureable and ongoing. All the stimulants work for me, but Dex I like best because of that funny intangible we are always questing for: it makes me feel like myself.

Some may prefer both of those attributes. I wonder if scoring the tablet in halves or quarters and swallowing them thusly would speed up absorption, if you prefer a faster effect.chewing the tabs is like crushing them. The more you break them up the more surface area is imidiatly avalable and thus the faster the reaction.

^ That factor -- surface area -- may explain why people prefer the Mallinckrodt . I compared it with the Ethex, and the Mall dissolves almost immediately in my mouth (leaving a very fine powder) whereas the Ethex just sits there for up a half an hour, gradually disintegrating to fine sandy gunk. Could that mean the Mall is more bioavailable? Maybe. The Ethex is so full of gunk I'm not sure it ever dissolves homogeneously and releases all its medicine.

Subjectively, I really couldn't tell a difference between Mall and Ethex. But on mornings when I'm tired and sleep-deprived, and decide to engage in a little "parenteral discretion", as it were, Mall's solubility makes it a great choice for sublingual. Chewing it along with a minty Tums enhances absorption even more by converting the dex salt to the freebase. I hold the solution and swish it around for a few minutes and swallow. Faster onset, within 10-15 minutes, but otherwise the effects and duration feel about the same as if I just swallowed the pill.

does anyone have experience with adderall?

Look, I tried the Barr: weak and vaguely nauseating. But hell, I don't care if you get Flintstones dex, if it does the job (and who's to say it's all imagined? Effective dosages, varied metabolisms, are all over the lot. One size does NOT fit all.

One thing. A pharmacist locally, who I found in a desparate search for some Mallincrodts, said, on the QT, that anyone who demand dex by BRAND is immediately suspect in his book (he told me this because he judged me to be legit) I later understood why: because it's such a piece of cake for your home meth chemist to change DAMPH to pure snortable M-amph, many makers do indeed add adulterants (aka. "gunk")to make the process tougher for them: hence, brand DOES make a difference if you're into that game, if only for that reason.

BUT NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENt. Has anyone found a convenient way to make the stuff last? Urinary pH makes a big difference, it seems, as far as the rate of excretion. Bicarb works fine, but the sodium! Not good for hypertensives. I tried acetazolamide, a drug now used for mountain sickness. (My doc is open to any reasonable proposal.) Didn't notice much difference. I just started on Vit C again after months of avoiding it because it acidifies the system so much it can send much of your dex straight to your bladder, in half the normal time. But that's with ascorbic acid: C taken as sodium ascorbate (Ester C) will not. But it costs double. Still, you gotta get your C somehow. Scurvy's no fun.

Always take citrus juices at least one hour before or two hours after a dose of d-amph. (Easier said....) In fact, pure lemon juice, taken in this way will supposedly DE-acidify your UT---better than almost anything.

Got that? Would you explain it to me? (Urology must be a fun specialty.)

Phil

i hate the barr tabs too but where i live there is one pharmacy that carries dexedrine and i hate long acting versions but i am okay with 15 mg spansules(the mallinckrodt) as opposed to the barr labs version of the short acting and my pharmacy said 10 mg only comes as a generic... my doctor will be definitely be writing 5 mg short acting rather than those nasty pink 10 mg barr labs tabs that sit in my cupboard as i ramble on and accept my temporary underdosage... they are an effective laxative though..

Hi there-
I am new to this great forum and found it because I was doing research into the difference between the generic dex 5 mg and the original dex made by smithkline.


Very good information here I must say.

a note to all users of the smithkline Dexedrine it will not be produced by them until sometime in September.


I was told by my pharmacist here in ny that it was on back order with no fulfillment date, so I called smith kline and was told directly from them that it is not being manufactured currently, no reason given, but they expect to have it back by sept. And the "expect" did not sound promising to me!

I was given this month the generic made by SHIRE, I found it definitely different than the smithkline original and was very unhappy about this since I have been on that for 7 years and to now to start with something different was not something I really wanted to do. I have tried the spansules by smithkline and did not love them but guess if nothing else works its all I got till the others are back on the shelf….

I see many endorse the Dexedrine made by Mallinckrodt so I am going to see if my pharmacist can order that and will try that.


I have called around to a bunch of places to see if they have any stock on the original and have found one place with like 200 so hopefully I can snag those next week as well. What a pain...

Any one know why this is going on at smith kline??