generic meds

Hi Anice.

I've found when dealing with my Pm over the years that I air on the side of caution and alert them to changes before I make them. There are times like when my pharmacy is out and I don't have any choice about going elsewhere that's not possible to do.

Im a believer in that all generics are not created equal. If one works better for you try to get that one.

I would think your alright. I would definitely call Monday to alert them of the pharmacy change and let them know itwas due the form of medicine the previous pharmacy stocked. You had problems with it not working as well.

I don't imagine there would be anything that would be a problem. Most Drs understand about generic differences as I've had some warn me.

The problem is I don't know the specific one to ask for. I just know they were yellow oval. This last rx was white oval ones and just didn't work near as well. I stay in constant pain, so any form of help is much appreciated.
I will try calling a few other pharmacies and ask. But times I have asked about pain meds, it seems they get an attitude about it. I am not a drug seeker or junkie but any stretch of the imagination. But it's like you hear it in their voice, what they are thinking.

Here is information from the FDA that I think is important to read/know and I encourage people to take a look as there is a lot of misinformation out there about generics.

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/QuestionsAnswers/ucm100100.htm

Here is just a part of the info from the site:

Are generic drugs as effective as brand-name drugs?

Yes. A generic drug is the same as a brand-name drug in dosage, safety, strength, quality, the way it works, the way it is taken and the way it should be used.

FDA requires generic drugs have the same high quality, strength, purity and stability as brand-name drugs

The part that makes some Drs. or Pharmacists wary about someone asking about a brand name of medication stating that it works better, is unfortunately that is what many addicts or those who sell the medications say because they have greater "street value". Obviously this is NOT what I think you are doing of course...Just explaining why a Pharmacist reacts this way if a customer they have never met calls/comes in asking for a specific med.

There have also been studies that people's perception can affect the way a medication works. For example, it has been shown that people think a larger pill is stronger or more effective than a smaller one of the same medication.

The "fillers", or inactive ingredient of a medication can vary which affect some folks. My Sam's club just switched their Morphine Sulfate ER medication to another generic and I had a bit of nausea for the first few days but it helps my pain just the same as I have used generics for the last 12 years.

The great part is it is $40 less than the other generic so I am doing the happy dance!!

It could be extremely dangerous if generics were not the same in the active ingredients for people on heart or cancer meds for example. That is why there are very strict laws/guidelines in place to require that they be identical in strength, dosage, quality, and safety.

If you feel that a med is truly not working for you, or I even know that some people can be allergic or sensitive to certain fillers like sulfa, these are things to be discussed with one's Dr. to try and find a good solution.

 

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 5/11/2013 10:52:47 AM (GMT-6)

From what I read in many of the articles about this change for Walgreens is because they found a better contract deal with AmerisourceBergen. Since Walgreens distributes close to 80% of their own drugs now, they wanted to find a cheaper and more efficient way to get more products at better prices and will shift to AmerisourceBergen over the next 10 years. It's definitely a "win" for AmerisourceBergen as it's a contract worth $28 BILLION:)

This will also allow Walgreens to receive daily shipments instead of weekly and have access to a larger assortment of generics.

Here is the link to the Reuter's article if people want to read

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/19/us-amerisourcebergen-walgreens-idUSBRE92I0EP20130319

I don't read anything in this article or others about any "bad" generics or problems with generics not meeting FDA standards by Cardinal...This looks to be a purely financial move by Walgreens to cut costs, and make more money in the long run by broadening their product line like providing specialized cancer, RA, and MS meds that are harder to find.

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 5/11/2013 12:08:57 PM (GMT-6)

I agree, PBL, at first I thought there was a diff but after six years and at least 5 different types of oxycodone30's I can't tell them apart. They all seem to reduce the same amount of pain. The combos are probably another story though . . . Q

Just wanted to pipe in real quick.

Cardinal does not manafacture drugs they are a distibutor. I know this because my husband worked for Bindley Western that was bought out by Cardinal Health.

There are 2 major distibutors for the pharmacy's being Cardinal and Amerisource. And I'm sure lots of little companies. Cardinal does do sales to the pharmacies but mainly is the suppliers for doctors offices and hospitals where as Amerisource does more with the pharmacies than hospitals and such.

Cardinal does deliver to the pharamcies that they supply on a Mon- Friday basis. If a pharacy is only getting shipments once a week that is the way the pharmacy set it up.

Cardinal at one point had their license suspended from supplying pharm's with narcotics in Florida.
www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/03/us-cardinalhealth-idUSTRE8121L420120203

Anyway on the FDA site it states that a survey from 1996 to 2007 they found a 3.5% differewnce in absorbtion between brand name and generic. However you can also have that slight difference in brand name from batch to batch.


www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/understandinggenericdrugs/ucm167991.htm

As SB stated and provided the link they are required to duplicate the active ingredients, however many times the inactive or fillers cause problems.

Many use talc,glucose, various dyes that don't always agree with some individuals. Leaving them with a sense that something is off.

Back years ago Methadose a brand name form of Dolophine and generic methadone was 5 times larger per milligram then its methadone counterpart. It was causing profound problems and turned out that 5he talc used in large quantity was high in glucose and therefore causing hyperglycemia in predisposed patients who were taking high doses.

I recall seeing back then a private lab analysis that also reported 8.1mgs of active Med in the supposedly 10mg dose and 5. In the 40 mg wafer. That was like losing an entire dose of 10 mgs a day for someone on 60mgs a day.

Shortly after this they did away with the methadose form and the new one came out smaller like its methadone counterpart but shaped more concave.

I'm not sure about other states but here in FL(naturally) the pharmacy wont tell you anything via phone concerning a controlled substance.

They wont say yes or no they have it so asking about a certain brand is a moot point. Occasionally you may get a tech who will say "bring it in" if your asking if they stock a certain Med or if they have enough to fill yours. They're not supposed to.

Makes it very difficult and frustrating for someone like me who relies on public transportation. I've actually had to bus all over town for 2 days to find a pharmacy that has enough or any at all.

Luckily when this occurred last month the RPH working knew me and my transportation problem and she called another store and paved the way.

They wont even tell you when the truck may arrive so you can possibly leave it and come back on that day.

At the height of closing all the pill mills here the pharmacy robberies heightened as well causing many pharmacies like those inside groceries and department stores to stop stocking class II meds altogether.

They reported those pharmacies were the easiest to rob and get away. Many other free standing pharmacy's in outlying lower traffic areas as well as those close to interstate access limited their controlled stock and lessened their hours of operation.

Almost every 24 hr one I've been in has a private security guard on duty. I also noticed a sheriff in attendance twice when a delivery was being made.

Needless to say all of those things make getting meds every month on time difficult. I certainly understand the need to implement all of those things but it's frustrating being a patient that follows all the
rules and getting lumped into a class of folks with addiction and diversion issues.

Wondering when and if it will ever change or get increasingly worse?

One thing you can do is discuss this with your Dr and sometimes they will write for brand only and then you wont be suspicious asking a pharmacy if they carry it. Also prevents insurance from refusing to cover it.

Recently my daughter was told by her Obgyn that generics can have up to a 10% variation on the active ingredient per pill that is rarely seen in non generics. He gave her a new script for hormones to prevent the problems she was having. I am not saying that he was correct or incorrect, but repeating what we were told by the physician. Btw, she's only 13, so I can't imagine she would make up some sort of excuse why one generic worked differently than another with control of monthly cramps and bleeding issues when generic changes were made....so I doubt she was "drug seeking". Lol