I have been taking Protonix for 4 yrs but recently when I refilled my prescription, without asking me or telling me the Pharmacist gave me the generic instead.
This Protonix generic just came out to the market recently.

I didn't know that the Pharmacist gave me the generic until 2 weeks later, my voice became so hoarse that it was difficult for me to communicate with others.
One day, when I was going to swallow the generic pill, I just noticed that even though the size is the same, the color is yellowish. (Protonix pill is white). Then I realized I have been taking the generic pills. I stopped it right away and got the real Protonix and now my voice is almost back to normal again.

If you got generic Protonix and your voice is getting hoarse, stop right away and demand to get the real Protonix with your Pharmacist.
They always say that generic is the same with the real one, but everybody has different reaction with certain drugs. So watch out!

I am very intrigued by your statement about generic Protonix. I was diagnosed with LPR in May of 2007 and have taken "real Protonix" since that time, (well sometimes I didn't take anything since I only would have symptoms every few months) but then I decided I better take it and stick with it so I wouldn't have these symptoms every few months. Well, I have been doing fine until February 12th and still almost a month later am having symptoms every day, only a few good days in there. I even had my GP tell me to double up on them for a couple of weeks to see if that helped. I just realized after reading your post that my Protonix that I have gotten filled since January 24th have been generic. I started taking them at the very end of January, so that makes sense that they would be out of my system by February 12th. I really think this is what my problem is. I am going to the ENT on Friday and see what he says about it, but I am almost 100% convinced that this is why I have had symptoms everyday.

Thank You for taking the time to post your concern about the Protonix, otherwise I would have never throught of this. I am really hoping that this is my problem and can get back on "real Protonix" and get back to normal.

Again Thanks.

My doc told me there will be no generic Protonix until June of this year, when the patent is over

but about a month ago, my Protonix stopped working as well

got the hoarseness and phlegm back again

going to see a GI doc on the 26th

for now, I'm trying AciPhex, NOT WORKING at all

next, I'm to try Nexium

That is what I heard also about the generic Protonix, but I did an internet search and found an article by the Wall Street Journal ( I think it was) and this corporation called TEVA was already dispersing the generic while Wyeth was trying to get it stopped.

I looked on my pill bottle prescription and sure enough it says TEVA on the prescription label.

Yeahzach3:
I am glad that my posting may have made the difference.
Like you at that time, I had doubled my "Protonix" since my voice was horse then, not knowing that they were generic Pronix pills. If I didn't find out about it, I might have lost my voice completely.
Please keep me posted after you went to your GP. I am curious what he would say to you.

Lynn,

Just wanted to let you know that I ran out of my generic Protonix on Tuesday night, so I called in a refill. When I went to the Pharmacy they said it was too soon, they couldn't fill it until the 15th. I told them if they hadn't switched me to generic I would have never had to take 2 a day and I would still have some left. They faxed something to the Dr. to make sure it was okay, that I take 2 a day and I told them I probably wont have to take 2 a day if I get the brand meds. and that I had no meds left and needed something. So in turn, they say I can pay cash for 4 pills which should last me thru the 15th, which I did do. I paid $28 for 4 "real Protonix" and only took one last night, and today I can tell a difference, I still have some symptoms but I don't seem to have as much mucus and the prickly feeling I get sometimes by my vocal chords where you feel like your voice will crack is a lot better today. Hopefully tomorrow it will be even better. I do go to my ENT tomorrow morning. I will keep you posted.

P.S. I can't thank you enough for your original post, I really think that is what my problem has been for the last month. This just goes to show you that no matter how trivial a post may seem to you, you never know who it is going to open a door to.

Thanks Again! Will talk to you tomorrow. :)

Yeahzach3:
I am sorry to hear that you have to pay that much, good thing it was only for a few days.
My doctor told me to take Protonix when I get up in the morning, half hour before I eat my breakfast. When the symptom get worse, he told me to take two a day, another one, half an hour before dinner.
Right now I am only taking one in the morning and at night if I have a problem I take Zantac occasionally.
How do you take yours?

Lynn,

Normally I just take one 30 mins. before dinner, and it has worked okay. But on the generic when I started 2x a day I took one 30 mins. before breakfast and one 30 mins. before dinner. I am going to be sure and ask my ENT tomorrow if I can take 2 a day if needed. I'm sure he wont care, its just the pharmacy and my insurance. The pharmacy says they don't think my ins. will pay for Brand Protonix 2x a day. I guess the insurance company thinks they know better than the prescribing doctor.

I haven't tried any over the counter at all, but do you just take the Zantac at night if needed or at any time? And can you take it close to the Protonix or should you space it out?

Lynn,

Went back to the ENT today, and my allergies were acting up a little bit, it's been windy here. He said my left sinus is very allergic looking (bad by the way he said it) and that the throat pain and all is caused by a combination of the allergies and the LPR. When I told him about the generic Protonix, he didn't realize that it was out already, he is like a lot of other people who thought they had to wait until the patent ran out. I saw some websites about that too. Anyway, I told him that the generic just doesn't work, and he said that was fine he would prescribe the "Brand Only".

I already feel better today and I have only taken 1 each night before dinner for 2 days, I can't believe the difference it has made.

Oh Yeah, he did the tube in the nose, down the throat thing again, but I am glad he did so that he could get a better look and put my mind at ease.

Have a wonderful spring break. :cool:

yeahzach:

I don't have a problem with my insurance, they approved it everytime I have a refill on twice/day for Protonix as long as the doctor ordered it.

Even though my prescription is for twice/day, I only take one in the morning.
About Zantac I only take it when I need it badly before I go to sleep. This week I only took once. I think it depends on my diet.

If you take Protonix before dinner and before you sleep, you have the acid reflux, then you can take it before you go to bed.

Thanks very much for this posting. My reflux started acting up again sometime in mid January. I looked at my prescription bottle and that was the same time I was given the generic pill. My voarse got hoarse also.

I have some brand name sample packets in the closet that my ENT gave me. I'll start taking them tonight and tell you if it makes a difference.

Please let us know how it turns out. I bet that you will get better pretty quick once you start taking the brand Protonix again.

Best of luck.

Within 2 days my acid reflux was under complete control again. That generic pill sure is a waste.

I have enough brand prontinix for the next 3 days. I called my GIs office this morning and left a message with his secretary. If he doesn't agree to call in brand protonix for me then I'll just call my ENT. He's much more cooperative and doesn't deny that LPR exist. I only went to this GI to get my esophagus dilated and a stomach ulcer pulled.

Thanks again for this posting:)