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Name Brand Vs. Generic

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 3/17/2009 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, hope you all have been well. I was sitting in the drs. office today when another patient told me not to generic pills that they do not work as well as name brand. So due to the oxycodone shortage, I was given dilaudid in its place. CVS only had the name brand so I said that was fine. The last time I had dilaudid I had generic with no luck, this time I have to say I have been sleepy all day. Of course I am also taking my zanaflex muscle relaxer with it as well (which may have some effect on my grogginess). But I am about to try one without the muscle relaxer to see what happens. What do you guys think? I had always assumed they had to have the same chemical compound, but this other patient had told me a dr & a pharmacist had both told him that was not true. Any thoughts? -Shannon
Posted 3/17/2009 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Kttn,
Generics have to have the same major chemical components (the active ingredient) but not necessarily in the same strength. There's a leeway; they can have 20% plus or minus the amount required as standard in the name brand. So you can get anywhere between 80-120% of the active ingredient in the generic. And that may differ between generic manufacturers. Plus the inactive components can be different - like the extended release formulation, and ingredients that bind the chemicals together. So yes, they can be different.

Your pharmacist might know about the specific generic you get; the manufacturer, whether it tends to have a little less or a little more or about the same of the active ingredients, etc. Some generics are very close to the name brand; others can differ enough for you to notice it.

Hope this helps a bit.

PaLady
Posted 3/18/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
PA, thats almost unbelievable! Hard to believe there can be such a leeway. Thanks for the info though, how have you been lately?
Posted 3/18/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
So-so, Kttn. Thankfully, spring is at least on the horizon! It's been a long, cold winter for those of us in the northern territory, and i'm beginning to feel how hard it's been on my body. Thanks for asking.

How are you?

PaLady
Posted 3/18/2009 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
I hate to admit, but a little down in the dumps. I am still awaiting approval for my pain pump. Its taking forever. My bones have been bothering me and the weather is nothing here like you are going through. How have your appts been?
Posted 3/18/2009 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Fortunately, not many appointments lately. I don't think. Would you believe I can't remember at the moment? Oh, this is getting bad!

Mostly it's financial worries. Paperwork. I had to apply for low income heating assistance and they asked for more info. Tonight I had to mail them a part of my tax return. The envelope goes to the county assistance office. First time in my entire life, sending to the welfare office for benefits. And this is only the beginning.

PaLady

Post Edited (PAlady) : 3/24/2009 2:23:42 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/18/2009 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Everyone,

 

Just read this article on generics and wanted to get it out there for all to read. This article was written by a medical director over the Center for Specialized Womens Health at the Cleveland Clinic. It was a great article.

 

"In some cases brand-name drugs are better than generics. Generic pain killers like Acetaminophnen are fine. I do not recommend generics when prescribed a hormone-based drug, including birth control pills,  thyroid medications, antidepressants as these drugs require extremely precises doseages. Any drug that requires a precise doseage brand-name is recommended. Because the FDA does not require the drugs to be exactly the same, you may get a little more or a little less of a drug. Generics can also have different fillers and may dissolve at a different rate".

 

What this article means to me is if you take a script for one particular problem you may do better to get brand name in order not to run the risk of the too little or too much. Its recommended discussing this with your dr. I would say pain meds then should be brand-name only. I know I could tell the difference of generic dilaudid over brand-name, big difference. I have also read back some time ago to neve buy generics with blood pressure medications and have been on brand-name only for years. I take 19 different medications a day with a co-pay of $35 for brand and $10 for generic. Generic is not available in 17 of the 19 so you know where my money goes every month. This does not include my Humira that is done by mail order because of being what is called a "specialty drug" or the meds that go in my pump every 6 weeks. Believe it or not I weeded out some drugs,lol.

 

Oh well, just wanted everyone to know about this article....Susie

 

 

Posted 3/18/2009 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Susie,
the problem comes with insurance in a lot of cases not wanting to pay for brand name, even if your doctor specifies., I know I've had this happen, but fortunatley for one drug that is relatively inexpesnve.

And they try to convince us generics are no different!!!! But you're right the OTC things many times are fine, and it's not worth paying for a brand name. Some are made by the same companies that make the brand. I've actually done better with generic ibuprofen than the brands.

I think extended release formulations are also tricky and so important to get right, but the generics may vary in the amount released in your system. Still, it may be better than nothing, if that's all someone (meaning me!) can afford.

PaLady
Posted 3/18/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, the ins companies are a problem with brandname. So far knock on wood, I have not ran into that problem yet. In alot of instances a Letter of Medical Necessityy can get you the brand name.

Susie
Posted 3/19/2009 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
well, i can say that that the last time i had dilaudid it was generic and did nothing for me, and this time i have name brand and i have slept like a baby all day. so maybe there is something to be said for the name brand. i am sure i will adjust in the next few days to it without being so sleepy and then i will know how the medicine truly works. maybe its a good thing to take a break from the oxycodone for a little while so it'll work better in my system once it is back on the shelves.
Posted 3/20/2009 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
Kttn the generic Dilaudid did nothing for me either. But, when I get brand all the difference in the world.

Susie
Posted 3/20/2009 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
For me the generic oxycontin only lasted about 5 or 6 hours, whereas the brand name at the same strength lasts 10 hours or so.
Posted 3/20/2009 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
You know if your generic is giving you a lot of problems, it might be worth talking with your pharmacist. Maybe - maybe - there's another manufacturer they could get a generic from that is closer to the name brand in the way it operates in the body. I also think it's good for the pharmacists to know if your generic is giving you problems.

You might not be able to do anything about it, as may be a generic is only made by one manufacturer, but it's worth a try!

PaLady
Posted 3/23/2009 2:47 AM (GMT 0)

Suzie,

Are you talking about the pill form of dillaudid or the liquid form for a pain pump?

                                                Mike

Posted 3/24/2009 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
low income heating assistance or?
low Income housing assistance?

You rarely make a typo. Strange that you did it there.

Stocks have not been bounding upwards. We may be following you.

Pamela
Posted 3/24/2009 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
You know maybe that is why the last two months I have been having more pain and ame using more percocet, the last two times instead of giving me Oxycontin I have received the generic form and I have had a lot mor problems with pain. I had never thought about it before till I have read this thread! But is does make sense!
Thank-You
White Beard
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