Comments on: Generic Imitrex (Sumatriptan) – Is it as Effective as Brand Name Imitrex?

By: Jessica L

Jessica L — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:07:49 +0000

I’ve taken Imitrex since they were approved and never had a problem. However, since the generic sumatriptan (by Mylan here in QC, Canada) I have noticed that I need to take SO many tablets each attack! I used to be fine with one, max two 100mg Imitrex at the start of an attack however nowadays I often max the dosage (2*100mg) three days in a row.

It seems that the generic sumatriptan simply doesn’t give the same relief as the regular Imitrex and I am really bothered by it as my migraines really affect my life (I get them 1-3 times / month).

By: ChristenB.

ChristenB. — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:51:53 +0000

Fortunately, Dr. Reddy’s 100mg pills work for me (cut in half for each migraine occurrence.) I switched to the generic when my insurance said it was making me meet a $500 deductible for name brand. I have no/zero deductible for generic. That part I think is ridiculous. But I am one of the lucky sufferers that gets perfect relief, 1+ year(s) or so now, from Dr. Reddy’s tablets. Now the bad news, my insur. co. just told me that they are removing Dr. Reddy’s from their generic category and moving it to Formulary/Brand category. So I will have to pay that $500 deduct. first before getting another prescription for the $15 co-pay as I previously paid. I stocked up as much Dr. Reddy’s as I could before the change…so I’m good for the year. But after that, I will need an alternative. The search begins…

By: Mar

Mar — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:21:03 +0000

We should all take some action and write to our Congress, Senate, Insurance Companies, The FDA, etc and express our concerns as we are on this website. Glaxo should be ashamed of itself….pure greed.

I too tried the generic…it’s a joke.

By: Mar

Mar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:04:08 +0000

To all fellow migraine suffers, reading these comments is so upsetting. The companies that make these meds are all about greed. Making money off of people suffering. So very sad and despicable.

By: Kara

Kara — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:08:43 +0000

I’ve been on Imitrex since before the pills came out and it was only available in injection form. I was livid when Glaxo “changed the formula” to extend their patent and have also been eagerly awaiting the generic. I tried them once and got absolutely no headache relief. I’m now trying it again because of an insurance snafu and the only pills the insurance would cover for an emergency supply were the generic. Its a new pack so its not an issue of expired medication or the batch. Yet again I have had absolutely no relief and I’m starting to wonder if they didn’t just charge me a couple hundred (being reimbursed by Medco) for a batch of sugar pills/placebos.

By: Jen Franklin

Jen Franklin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:38:38 +0000

I have had a similar experience with generic Imitrex. It is no where near as effective for me and it is just as expensive now (1/10) as the brand name was. It is very disappointing.

By: Nicole D.

Nicole D. — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:00:07 +0000

I had a horrific experience with Dr. Reddy’s pills that lasted for over a month, until I finally figured out that it was the pills that were making me so sick! I was diagnosed with a “statis” migraine and made three separate trips to the ER, had an MRI, a CT scan, three IVs, had about 5 different presciptions filled, including two for narcotics and ALL OF IT was because I was having an allergic reaction to something that was in the Dr. Reddy pills. I kept taking them to get rid of a migraine, and it would trigger a series of terrible headaches that I couldn’t get any relief from. I ended up costing my insurance company almost $10,000 (like I care!) in ER trips and tests because of those GD generic pills!!! From now on, I ONLY use brand name pills, including the Topamax I take for my migraines and I have vowed that I will NEVER take generic drugs for any reason. Unless I absolutely cannot afford it, I will go brand. The FDA is lying to all of us when they tell us generics are the same. And I’m not rich by any means–but that’s how strongly I feel about it. I would pay $26 a headache to get relief rather than ever use another Dr. Reddy’s pill.

By: Kaye S.

Kaye S. — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:50:35 +0000

My migraines began a year ago and I was prescribed Imitrex. The imitrex worked well for me … so well that I only had to take a half of a 50 mil tablet for results in about 15 minutes. This was great for me since my headaches are hormonally related and they usually come and go for a period of about 3 days. So for the three days every month I took Imitrex with very little side effects. But now that the generic is out and I was forced to try it because my pharmacy doesn’t carry the real Imitrex any longer. Yesterday my migraine started and I tried the generic with no relief from one 50 tablet … no relief from the second taken an hour and a half later … and no relief at all until I was taken to the emergency room for an injection. Last night I almost fell twice while trying to get to my bathroom and today I feel awful from having this “crap ” in my system.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:39:48 +0000

I have been taking Imitrex since about 1993 with great results. I now take the generic version, and I have to say that I do not get the great results as I previously did with the Imitrex. Within the past 2 months, I have suffered from 2 extreme migraines that were not relieved with the generic version. As a result, I was extremely ill, (vomiting, fever, diarrhea, restlessness, inability to sleep, sensitivity to light and sound) for 2 days with each migraine. The generic version is not the same as the brand Imitrex!

By: Ann Bennett

Ann Bennett — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:56:47 +0000

I have been dealing with migraines for 20 years and imitrex has always been my life saver, allowing me to lead a normal life. When the generics first came out I felt they were working, but they keep changing brands every month. This past month I was given Ranbaxy. I keep feeling like my migraines are so much worst this past month. I see my doctor on Monday so did a google search tonight to see if the difference is the generic I am now taking. After reading the other notes, I am going to ask my doctor to put no substitutes and just go back to the imitrex. I was suspicious that it may be the new generic and now I’m convinced. If the pharmacies keep switching, it sounds like I won’t have a choice on which generic I receive, so I want the imitrex that has always worked.