HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

generic colazal

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/23/2008 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was just wondering if anyone has had any problems after taking generic colazal.  I had my first flare in 2006 and started taking colazal to treat it and within a few days I was better.  I had been on 3x3 daily since then.  about 2 mos or so ago my pharmacy offered me the generic script, so I decided why not, I've never had any problems with generic drugs before so I took it, and then within a few weeks I had a flare...a bad one.  I'm also pregnant and under a lot of stress so that could have also contributed to the flare, but I was just wondering if anyone else had had this experience.  I just find it odd b/c I started taking (amongst other things) the name brand form of colazal again on Wednesday and last night was the first night I've slept over 6 hours in a row without having to wake up to run to the bathroom.  Coincidence?
Posted 5/23/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Someone mentioned problems with generic colazal in another post, but didn't specify what he/she didn't like. I'd love to know the answer to this question. My pharmacy gave me generic colazal on Monday. I've had the big D (going 5-8 times/day) for the past 3 days. It doesn't make sense that the generic would be any different, but it might!
Posted 5/23/2008 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I was switched to generic colazal a few months ago. It made me constipated. Now was it all in my head? Not sure. But I went ahead and had my doctor put me back on label colazal. Things are back to normal now.
Posted 5/23/2008 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
The active drug in the generic is the same as the brand name. What can vary is the inactive ingredients - the various starch powders, etc. used to carry the active ingredient, the constitution of the capsule, colorings. There's a small chance of reacting to these. I haven't had any trouble with the generic, but my generic looks identical to the branded capsules, down to the number on the cap, so I think it's really the same preparation, but sold under a generic name.
Posted 5/23/2008 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
mine don't look the same at all, different color, different numbers.  I had a friend that had problems with generic drugs and I know with some anti-seizure meds that most docs won't put their patients on generic.  I was just wondering.  I may never know, but I'm staying on the brand from now on.
Posted 5/23/2008 10:46 PM (GMT 0)

I experienced the same problem with colazal in generic form.  After about two weeks on the gneric I started a bad flare.  My doctor switched me back to the brand name and things improved fairly quickly (about two weeks).  I do believe something in the generic formulation was affecting me negatively, although I have not had problems in the past with other generic medications.

CD

Posted 5/23/2008 11:59 PM (GMT 0)

I'm really glad to hear that that happened to someone else (not happy, but happy that it isn't in my head.)  I'm back on it now for a few days and it's been getting progressively better!  Thanks for the response!!!

Posted 5/24/2008 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I went on the generic form of colazal about 6 weeks ago. Luckily I found no difference at all. But lets not forget that we all are different. If I'm not mistaken there are 3 companies now making the generic form. One is made in China and the other two are made here in the US. I seem to recall in an earlier thread some had problems depending on which co. made the drug.

Posted 5/24/2008 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, we did a thread on generic Colazal in January, I think. The "official" generic supplied by Watson pharma has the blessing of Salix, maker of original Colazal. The capsules look identical to original Colazal. The other 2 generic forms are made by Mylan & Roxene. If anyone knows specifics of a generic made in China PLEASE let us know! Considering what has happened with Chinese-made Heparin, I wouln't want to take any drug imported from there. Period. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)
Posted 5/28/2008 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
I took the generic colazal for about 10 days and am in a massisve flare. I asked my GI to specify "brand" so I can get the name brand stuff, and it's $35! The generic was $5. I'm irritated about the cost difference and the fact that the generic doesn't do it's job on me! (Judy's right. My doc also told me that it's a different formulation.)
Posted 5/29/2008 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
I was switched to the generic too and when I first started it, I had my initial headaches, fatigue and overall feeling of unwellness like I did when I first started Colazal. I stuck with it for 2 weeks and the side effects started going away. Some people just can't do the generic because of the "fillers". I'm glad that switching back has got things back under control for you.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply