Generic Medicine

[Mila]

Like a proper 20th century human I’m on meds that I need to take every day.
This is hard on my medical aid and have been looking into the generic for these meds. I found it rather disturbing that it seems like generic is inferior to the original. As I understand it the FDA has strict regulations when the generic meds come out and it is on the same standard as the original.
But then they do not regularly test these drugs and the suppliers start to cut cost. One example I have come across is that instead of one in 10 pills being tested the go to one in 1000.

More people are complaining about the side effects of the generic medicine on the market.

I have had that experience with Deselex. It is quiet expensive and asked for the generic. So I was given Loratadine. After a few weeks of seeing no results from the new drug, I compared the information sheet and found that the active ingredient is not the same, similar but not the same. But it is still said to be the generic of Deselex.

This makes the generic market a BS market milking consumers even more than the original pharmaceutical companies.

Do you use any generics and have you found that it’s the same or inferior to the original?

 

[HavocXphere]

Deselex. It is quiet expensive and asked for the generic. So I was given Loratadine. After a few weeks of seeing no results from the new drug, I compared the information sheet and found that the active ingredient is not the same, similar but not the same. But it is still said to be the generic of Deselex.

If its not the same active ingredient its not the generic. Sketchy pharmacist? Or you're reading the info sheet wrong.

 

[w1z4rd]

Yeah, the generic should be an exact chemical reproduction of the original. When I was in Manila, the pharmacies there only sell generics, its actually hard to get the originals.

 

[LithIX]

Using generics for my high blood pressure. Zero problems.
The only difference I noticed is the price

 

[killadoob]

Even the same content would not be the same exact same medication. The delivery is different, cheaper materials used.

Some generics are fine if they are pretty much an exact replica but most are not and don't work the same, some work better at times.

Generally if you start on generic you should be fine but going from original to generic can be an issue. If the price difference is not massive do your best to go original.

 

[murraybiscuit]

Bioequivalence, however, does not mean generic drugs must be exactly the same (“pharmaceutical equivalent”) as their innovator product counterparts, as chemical differences may exist (different salt or ester – a “pharmaceutical alternative”)

not all generics are pharmaceutical equivalents.

 

[murraybiscuit]

i use lenapain instead of syndol.
i don't think it's completely identical, but i can't discern any difference.

i generally have sinus issues in winter.
anything with pseudoephedrine in large enough doses works well.
i haven't noticed much difference between generics and listed brands and i've tried most of them.

 

[Sherbang]

Like a proper 20th century human I’m on meds that I need to take every day.
This is hard on my medical aid and have been looking into the generic for these meds. I found it rather disturbing that it seems like generic is inferior to the original. As I understand it the FDA has strict regulations when the generic meds come out and it is on the same standard as the original.
But then they do not regularly test these drugs and the suppliers start to cut cost. One example I have come across is that instead of one in 10 pills being tested the go to one in 1000.

More people are complaining about the side effects of the generic medicine on the market.

I have had that experience with Deselex. It is quiet expensive and asked for the generic. So I was given Loratadine. After a few weeks of seeing no results from the new drug, I compared the information sheet and found that the active ingredient is not the same, similar but not the same. But it is still said to be the generic of Deselex.

This makes the generic market a BS market milking consumers even more than the original pharmaceutical companies.

Do you use any generics and have you found that it’s the same or inferior to the original?

Why you still living in the 20th century?

Just got back from my dermatologist who told me that if the chemist tries to sell me a generic for the medication she has prescribed I must tell them "NO! My dermatologist will freak out if I use a generic!"
This could be because she's being paid by the pharmaceutical company to promote the brand name over the generic
or
it could be that she thinks the generic is inferior. I think this is the case.

Generics are supposed to be the same, but who knows?

 

[BrokenLink]

Unless its a new medication where the 5 year patent (if i remember correctly) still applies, then they can make exact duplicates. I dont think there is that much cost in making medicine, the expensive thing is the research to create it. So cant see them cutting too much costs to make the generics cheaper. I would just take the generics, unless maybe if its something life threatening.

 

[zeridine]

bio equivalent studies - to put a generic on the market you need to show that your plasma concentration doesnt dip below 80% of the originator's or go over 125% in about 20 young healthy adults. thus they are the same but also not the same. so lets say originator's levels are at 100%; generic A lies at 82%; and generic B lies at 123%. do you think it is fair to compare product A to B?
(a clone would be the ideal thing to get - tareg and diovan, micardis and pritor, coversyl and prexum, spiriva and forvent.)

(desloratadine) deselex's generics include desaway and dazit, not a loratadine product.

and no, when the dermatologist prescribes roaccutane and tells you do not switch, it is NOT for some elusive kickback, but because acnetane and oratane doesnt behave 100% like roaccutane would.

 

[Azbubu]

My dermatogist told me to take Roaccutane and not a generic. The pharmacist said that I could take either since the generic (Oratane) is exactly the same. I took the Oratane. Roche actually discontinued Roaccutane because the generics have a larger market share.

Roche stopped producing and dispensing Accutane in the United States on June 29, 2009, citing poor market share and rising costs of defending lawsuits filed by people who had been affected by certain side effects after taking the medication.

 

[killadoob]

Pharmacists will tell you the generic is exactly the same, then you look at the generic and you look the original and it is totally different.

Pharmacists don't know that some generics are not an exact replica so i would not listen to a pharmacist. Listen to your doctor. It's not just the content that differs, the delivery system is often different. That is pretty important if you go from original to generic. Some generics are pretty much the exact same thing but pharmacists will tell you every single generic is exactly the same as the original.

 

[w1z4rd]

Pharmacists will tell you the generic is exactly the same, then you look at the generic and you look the original and it is totally different.

Pharmacists don't know that some generics are not an exact replica so i would not listen to a pharmacist. Listen to your doctor. It's not just the content that differs, the delivery system is often different. That is pretty important if you go from original to generic. Some generics are pretty much the exact same thing but pharmacists will tell you every single generic is exactly the same as the original.

A pharmacist will know more about the chemical properties of a generic and its original than a doctor would. I just asked my wife and she confirmed it.

 

[Milano]

Generalisation there. Many pharmacists know more about the composition etc of medications than doctors. Doctors are not always right. Hear both, then do your own research. Sometimes both your doctor and pharmacist will be wrong. True story.

 

[killadoob]

Generalisation there. Many pharmacists know more about the composition etc of medications than doctors. Doctors are not always right. Hear both, then do your own research. Sometimes both your doctor and pharmacist will be wrong. True story.

I have never heard a pharmacist say generics are different, the reply is always the same. There is no difference, yet you look at the side effects and they are different. You look at the actually drug and it looks different and the contents differ slightly.

So it might be a generalization but the ones that know are few and far between.

I agree about doctor not knowing either which makes you wonder HTF they can hand out meds without knowing what they are doing.

 

[Milano]

I agree about doctor not knowing either which makes you wonder HTF they can hand out meds without knowing what they are doing.

Some doctors are too lazy to keep up. Or maybe they can see more patients in an hour if they don't look up data. On a related note, when a patient arrives with an ailment, one of the first questions the doctor should ask is the names and dosages of all the medications the patient is currently using. Notice how few doctors ask that.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

If its not the same active ingredient its not the generic. Sketchy pharmacist? Or you're reading the info sheet wrong.

+1

Sadly there are still many working in pharmacies in this country that still do not understand what generics are all about - usually the assistants with standard 5.

My neighbour is a pharmacist and pointed out my chronic medication is generic but I complained about a particular substitute brand recommended by my local pharmacist not being as effective and she pointed out that it was not the generic version of what I was suppose to use.

 

[bwana]

I have had that experience with Deselex. It is quiet expensive and asked for the generic. So I was given Loratadine. After a few weeks of seeing no results from the new drug, I compared the information sheet and found that the active ingredient is not the same, similar but not the same. But it is still said to be the generic of Deselex.

AFAIK there are generics for Deselex (Desloratadine) but Loratadine isn't one of them - it is very similar though. However I'm happy with Pollentyme (Loratadine) so it doesn't really phase me much at all.

 

[rodga]

how much can one actually save using generics?
I was prescribed a dose of antibiotics a while back, I asked for the generic and it worked out about R20 cheaper.
I thought it would be more - doesnt seem worth it to use the generic, unless its for chronic meds?

 

[killadoob]

how much can one actually save using generics?
I was prescribed a dose of antibiotics a while back, I asked for the generic and it worked out about R20 cheaper.
I thought it would be more - doesnt seem worth it to use the generic, unless its for chronic meds?

Well with ritalin for instance the difference is close on half the price. Ghoti i heard can get it for free at government hospitals i think.

Myprodol vs mybulen / gen pain is about 40 rand more. Depends on the drug obviously but the difference can be very high. Depression drugs the difference is very high.