Prescriptions: Generic vs Brand

[M4P]

Hey Guys

This is the first time I've posted in this forum so I apologize in advance if this has been discussed before

I've been on a med since August. The first prescription I was given a generic drug. I went through the initial side effects and eventually the drug kicked in and started doing the job it was supposed to

When it came time for a refill I asked for the brand. My insurance will pay so what did I care. The first day I felt side effects like I did when I first went on the drug

I just refilled again last week. The pharmacy was out of brand so I got generic again. You guessed - side effects for a couple of days again

Is this normal? Anyone else gone through this?

I asked my doctor if there was a difference and he told me I shouldn't notice anything. He did say he has some patients who insist they cannot ingest generics but they're few and far between

 

[Luka]

I am a pharmacy tech. and in my training I was told that generics are the same exact thing as brand and if the patient notices a difference it is actually all mental. Don't know how true that is, I guess I'll find out I'm starting school to be a pharmacist next month.

 

[M4P]

Could be true

When I was prescribed my drug I started feeling better before I even swallowed a pill

I believe it was pysochological - there was a feeling of hope

 

[dunno260]

There aren't supposed to be any differences at all. The generic manufacturers have to prove their drug acts the same. Not only does the active ingredient have to be identical, but its release into the system has to have same timing as well. I don't know if they are allowed to change other things like the binders and such, if they are allowed to do, it might cause some minor things.

My moms a pharmacist and from her point of view they are exactly the same thing and I always go for the generics (in the US, copays with insurance are much cheaper if its generic).

 

[Commander Vimes]

If you want the Brand, ask your Doctor to prescribe it by the brand name rather than the generic name. If your prescription states the brand then the pharmacist has to dispense that drug, if the prescription states the generic name then you get what the pharmacist has.

 

[Luka]

In Maine we have to dispense generics unless told not to by the doctor, its actually a law here.

 

[M4P]

Here in Alberta the drug is prescribed under the brand name. The pharmacy will dispense brand or generic depending on the patient's request or what his/her insurance plan will cover

Beginning in January 2008 I have to take the generic unless it isn't available to reduce costs to my insurer

Thank you all for your responses both in the thread and via PM. I learned a lot

It just seemed odd that I'd feel side effects the first couple of days when going between brand and generic. I've been back on the generic since Thursday and the side effects have gone away again

For the record, the drug I'm on is Effexor

 

[blankslate]

From what I learned working as a pharmacy tech, a generic drug is the exact same chemical as the brand, but they didn't have to do any of the rigorous absorption tests that the brand name did. They keep costs low by imitating a patented chemical, as well as cutting corners in other studies- assuming that their preparation of the drug is just as effective as the studied one.

In your case, Effexor and its generic Venlafaxine are both very popular drugs, and I've never heard of anyone having a problem with the generic. It is very odd that the side effects would only reappear when switching between the two, since they are the same chemical. It is also odd that your pharmacy would constantly change the drug you've been prescribed. Try and get the same one for a few months and see how that goes... best of luck.

 

[drhladnjak]

They're the same drug in the same dosage, but the manufacturing process and the composition of the pill itself may in fact be different. A friend of mine was on a brand prescription pain killer which worked well but was then switched to the generic and found it didn't seem to work for his pain. Perhaps it was psychological, but your brain can be a pretty powerful force. If you looked at the statistics from clinical trials on depression drugs, you'd probably be surprised. I recall seeing something once like 50% of patients on placebo having their depression improve while 65% on the actual drug improve.