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Advice on generic cymbalta needed…
I have been on the name brand of Cymbalta for 17 years. When the generic first came out my insurance dictated that I use it. I usually have no issues with using generic meds. Switching to duloxetine was a terrible experience. It was like I had stopped Cymbalta cold turkey. The pharmacist told me to only use name brand and that’s what I did. Now, I have no choice but switch.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS SWITCHED FROM NAME BRAND TO A SPECIFIC GENERIC BRAND WITH SUCCESS?
The list of US generic brands is huge and I would like some suggestions as to which brand to start with. Thanks.
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@annitab63
I have switched from Cymbalta to duloxetine and my understanding is the main ingredient of the generic should be the same but there may be some differences in fillers. Quality Control issues when manufacturing the drug may be an issue depending on where sourced/manufactured (amount of the actual drug vs fillers and dosage may vary). I do believe some generics are good but you need to check with your pharmacist to see if they have any information about the generic and patients’ issues/reactions and ways to find a generic that works for you. Pharmacists may be able to tell you how other patients transitioned to the generic successfully. They can also work with your doctor to suggest adjusting dosage if needed.
I take duloxetine, but I never really checked who the generic mfr was as I didn't have an experience like you did. Not sure where you reside, but it's been my experience in the US that you cannot choose the generic mfr of a drug. Pharmacies generally have contracts with specific suppliers. If they were able to provide you a different generic, the cost would likely be more as they wouldn't be getting a bulk discount. That being said, you could call around and check different pharmacies, which would likely be very time-consuming.