Hi,
I'm a new boy so be gentle with me, please! I have signed up because I have been taking Mirapexin for ten years with great success to control my Restless Legs Syndrome, Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome and hold back the onset of PD. In my case my symptoms started after I was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease and had my pituitary gland removed. The old symptoms have very recently returned and other symptoms have started. As it happens my pharmacy have started prescibing me with new formulations of pramipexole. The second replacement is called Glepark and I wondered if anyone else is having problems with this cheaper alternative? Better still can anyone tell me what my position is with asking to go back to Mirapexin?
Hoping someone can help. Thanks,
Pav

Generic drugs are very similar, but not identical. So it is possible that you do less well on them. If you have had clearly much better results on a branded drug (Mirapexin) than on the generic form (Glepark), you are within your rights to ask for the original drug. I cannot recall where I read this or it could have been a pharmacist stating this, so cannot give you a reference.

Hi Pav

You have my sympathy. I also take Mirapexin, and Madopar was added recently to alleviate several symptoms which had started to return. I found that combination to be excellent but my last prescription substituted the Madopar for a generic version, which is definitely not working as well as the brand.

I will certainly be asking for the real McCoy when I ring for my next batch!

Thanks for the support. I have been back to see my GP and she has agreed to stipulate that I get Mirapexin, for now, and review the situation. She has ordered some blood tests to check if all is well otherwise. As soon as I started back on Mirapexin my toes started tingling (in a nice way) and I feel better already after four days.
Ironically I saw an Endocrinologist the next day and she proposed a change to a cheaper form of replacement hormone to help my GP practice! I insisted on time to consider my options once the RLS problem is definitely sorted. I think this is the way it is going to be from now on!
Thanks,
Pav.

Hi Pav,
I, too, have been taking Mirapexin, for about 4 years.
Last year my local NHS practice asked me to try Glepark instead - there's a big cost-saving with generic medication. I reluctantly agreed to give it a try, but quickly found that Glepark ceased to be effective after about 3-4 hours, compared with around 6 hours for Mirapexin. I also didn't feel at all well, and tired easily.
At the end of the trial I asked to return to Mirapexin, and my GP promptly agreed; he could see a physical difference, I think.
It took me about 4 months to recover from this disastrous change in prescription.
Despite the cost, my GP is only too happy to give me the best of attention.
Generics may be worth a try, but be alert to the danger signals.
Best regards,
Haltonapp

I too am convinced that changing me from Mirapexin to Glepack has had a detrimental effect, but no-one is listening. Its reassuring to hear that I am not alone and will now camp out at the GP until I am changed back.

Can I assume that this is a cost issue?

I was given Gleepark in place of Mirapexin and found them to be worse than useless.
They made me ill and did not address the PD symptoms.
My GP replaced the Gleepark with Mirapexin and it took me three weeks to get back on track.
Gleepark are indeed less expensive than Mirapexin.
Arsene