Evoxac vs Generic

[upquark]

I have a question regarding Evoxac. I get my medicine from Safeway. They used to give me pills with Evoxac printed on them. I always assumed it was the brand medicine. Today, I went by to pick my new month and they gave me pills that have the numbers 54 190 on them. The pharmacist told me that they are the same thing from different manufacturers and although the pills had the Evoxac on them, they were generic too. I have my concerns, how can a generic have the brand name on them? I wouldn't be so upset, but I got a couple of pills already and they do not seem to work as well as my previous ones.
Any insight from the people taking Evoxac?

[ohiolady]

My tablets say Evoxac.  My doctor writes on a script name brand only.  The generic does not work for me. I would tell your doctor they do not work for you and ask him to change your prescription.

Good luck.

Anna

[kimberly64]

My pills say Evoxac but they are generic.  The pharmacist confirmed that some manufacturers will print name on the pill.  They work very well. If new ones are not working as well you can tell the pharmacy to fill only from original manufacturer.  They will do this for you.
Kim

[bjnc]

When I first changed from the brand Evoxac to the generic, the first month of generic worked well.  The second month, however, did not.  I talked with the pharmacist and found out that I had gotten generics from two different companies.  After checking on it, she found out that one brand of generic (the one that did work) was made by the same company that made the brand name Evoxac.  So she started ordering that one only for me, and it works well.  If you would like me to call the pharmacist and check on the brand, let me know, and I will.  I don't know how insurance companies are about Evoxac, but with some drugs they are making it very hard to get prior authorization for the brand name drugs.

[upquark]

Thank you to everyone who responded.
Bjnc, please if you could ask your pharmacist I would appreciate it.
I did some more research today. I realized that I was actually taking a generic all along although it had the word Evoxac printed on it. That one worked very well. I have been taking it now for almost a year and it is working. The new one with the numbers is just useless. I only took it for one day and my mouth got so dry it hurts me.  I also talked with the pharmacist and she told me my insurance does not cover the brand name because it is so expensive 811 dollars. Wow, I didn't realize how expensive it was. I don't really care about taking the brand name since the generic worked so well for me. I just need to understand why there was a shortage of the good generic medicine.

[SunshineDaydream]

upquark, your post is timely as it is time for me to renew my prescription, and I also had the Evoxac vs. numbers on capsule experience which partially involved Safeway.

I initially got my prescription filled at Safeway and received the capsules that had Evoxac printed on them. They worked really well and brought great relief. I described it as feeling like my mouth was taking a bath. I could tell within half an hour that the med was working, and it would work for 4 hours. Overnight while sleeping sometimes I would even drool or have a big swallow of saliva. My insurance company quickly noted I started a maintenance med and offered more pills for less money if I mail ordered through them with prescriptions for 90 day supply. So I got a 90 day prescription from my rheumatologist and I noticed immediately upon receipt that the insurance company sent me capsules with numbers rather than Evoxac printed on them. Before taking the first one, I thought the change wouldn't be a big deal. But wow, the numbered capsules are pretty useless. There's no marked differenced in saliva production like I had before. Forgetting about the switch, I was concerned Evoxac wasn't working for me anymore until I saw your post.

Time to renew my prescription this week, so in light of your post, I went to Safeway today to see if Evoxac is printed on the capsules they have in stock. What a relief that's what they have so I'm getting my refill from Safeway instead of through my insurance company. It may cost a little more, but at least med will be effective. It's not just a comfort level thing; I'm concerned about my dental health as saliva contains important teeth cleaning enzymes. The pharmacist confirmed they are both types of capsules are generic and said the Evoxac printed capsule is the grocery store's preferred manufacturer.

If I were you, I would check back with your Safeway pharmacy and see what type they have in stock before refilling. Maybe their stock of numbered capsules was temporary. If they still have the numbered capsules, perhaps you can request that they order the Evoxac printed brand or bring it in from a different store. I will tell you the name of the manufacturer after I get my prescription if bjnc doesn't post it first.

Here's what the good capsule I had looks like:  http://www.drugs.com/evoxac-images.html   I can ask about manufacturer name tomorrow after I pick up my prescription if bjnc doesn't post it first.

[upquark]

Thank you for your post sunshinedaydream. Our experiences are really very similar. The original pills help me so much and the new ones make absolutely no difference. Like you I worry about my dental health. I have had already many gum problems and using Evoxac has made a difference.
I am happy my post made you realize the difference. My insurance company also has sent me offers to get my medication for 90 days through them and I briefly considered it. Now I will know better!

[SunshineDaydream]

I got my refill from Safeway last night and what a relief - it worked as I was used to during pre-bedtime routine and overnight sleep.

upquark, per my pharmacist, Ranbaxy is the brand of generic Evoxac (called Cevimeline) we prefer that looks like this http://www.drugs.com/evoxac-images.html

Insurance company mail order meds are not all bad. For years, the plaquenil I got from a prior insurance company that used Medco for mail order prescription service was fine. I guess the lesson learned here is if a med is working for you, before using insurance mail order script service ask the insurance company if your effective brand is provided through the service. If not, request the brand be provided or stick with a pharmacy that provides what you want.

I hope you are able to find Ranbaxy Cevimeline again soon, upquark.

[upquark]

 Thank you for posting, Sunshine! Yes, that is the one that works for me. I had a bad fatigue flare that took me down, but I was able to go to the pharmacy and she gave me a few pills she had leftover in the original packaging and it was the same brand. At least, I have now a few to make it through the month. I researched it a bit and it appers that Ranbaxy has a deal with the Evoxac manufacturer to produce the generic pills for the United States. Maybe that is way they work better than the other generic pills. I am surprised that you were able to find them through Safeway and my pharmacist couldn't order them through their system. I guess maybe different states or different parts of the US? I live in California.
Anyway, thank you again!

[bjnc]

The name of the generic that I get is Ranbaxy also.  Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but I've had a difficult time with health issues the last couple of weeks.  I see that someone else already helped you with that, though, so I'm glad. 

[SunshineDaydream]

Glad we were able to help each other and your pharmacist could give you enough of the good stuff to last the month, upquark. I'm on the east coast.

[kimberly64]

Hello All,
I haven't been here in a long time but wanted to know if the issue with the generic Evoxac with numbers on the pill are still ineffective. Recently my pharmacy has tried to give that one to me and I refused and ask them order  the other generic from Ranbaxy. My question is was this reported to the manufacturer that the generic was not effective and the have they since fixed the issue? I see several people saying their experience was the same and the generic was ineffective. Certainly by now they have fixed this! One pharmacy here only fills the pill with numbers on it and will not even order the other from Ranbaxy. I left Rite Aid due to this . I saw this post years ago and was scared to risk going backwards in what took a long time to get to a good comfort level starting Evoxac. Do you think this generic has been fixed? Maybe no one really knows. If someone is taking that generic with numbers in 2023 with great success please chime in!
Take care
Kimberly

[Spring]

Mine have only numbers twice. P657 P657. I looked it up on pill identifier and it says Pack Pharmaceuticals, LLC.

They seem to be working ok for me. I  have taken generic ever since it became available years ago due to big price difference. The bottle it came in has a logo and says distributed by Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc.

Any of you have that one?

Spring

[Nomad]

30 mgs of Cevemeline.
Brand name: Evoxac
(This is what it says on bottle)


White, oblong shaped capsule. Numbers on them.

1 tab at night fir very dry mouth.

Unusual dosing right now due to problems with saliva.

It's been very helpful. No side effects.