generics

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

Nope. I checked everything, and it was the generic form of Azulfidine. The pill

was the same color, but like I said, just a different shape and no smell.

(whereas the Azulfidine has a major smell) So, I guess my question then is 1)

Why do they make generics if they are the exact same, and 2) Why are there some

drugs that even Pharmacists recommend you take the name brand of?

[Guest guest]

> 1) Why do they make generics if they are the exact same, and 2) Why are

> there some drugs that even Pharmacists recommend you take the name brand

> of?

>

,

I know that you addressed this to Diane, but I though I would put in my two

cents. Generics have the same active ingredients (example...Tylenol name

brand and store brands is usually labeled pain reliever/actaminophen. The

difference can be color or shape do to the 'fillers' or the ingredients in

the product like such color dyes, suspensions, flavors, starches, etc. As

for professionals recommending the name brands over generics can be as simple

as cost (example Amoxil has been a name brand generic for years and there

must be a million generic and is just as cost effective to go with the name

brand product or it does simple release and metabolize thus work more

effective or personal opinion) Everyone's chemical make up is different a

thus can tolerate some inactive ingredients better than others). My two

cents. Hope it clarifies things a bit.

[Guest guest]

The key to understanding the difference between generic and brand

drugs is to understand that ONLY the active ingredient is the same

chemical as the brand name. There are other things in a med beside

the active ingredient that effect how it gets absorbed in the body.

Sometimes, the difference is very minor, sometimes not.

Aspirin is an example of a drug where the active ingredient is the

same but the " fillers " can be very different. You are most likely

familiar with buffered aspirin " . The active ingredient is the same,

however the " fillers " include an ingredient to " buffer " it. This

means that active ingredient gets absorbed lower in your digestive

track, which reduces the stomach problems that some people get with

aspirin.

Almost all generic and brand names have different formulations for

the " fillers " . Frequently the absorption rate is different and this

may produce different effects or side effects.

Fred

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/25/2003 9:35:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,

driftydiane@... writes:

> There are other drugs (such as thyroid supplements) that don't work

> that way. Their bioequivalency varies from brand to brand so be

> VERY careful and cautious there. I use Synthroid and only Synthroid

I do take generics for the most part, however, my doctor told me also not to

take generic thyroid. He said that the generic can be off and every day I

could be taking a different dosage. I take Synthroid also.

Janet

[Guest guest]

-

They make generics because they are cheaper than name brand drugs.

Pharmaceutical houses hold the patent on the formulation of a drug for a

number of years during which time they can charge whatever the traffic

(insurance co.) will bear to recoup the costs of the research and testing.

It is very very expensive to bring new drugs to market after proving that

they are both safe and effective.

Once the patent expires, any drug company can start producing the drug from

the general recipe. Generics are NOT identical to the name brand drugs for

every drug and in every person. The active ingredients are chemically

identical, but that's it. All the other stuff, the excipients and binders

and the manufacturing process, all affect how the active ingredient is

absorbed and utilized.

Think of it this way - ever eaten a Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookie? If

chocolate chips are the " active ingredient " would you consider all chocolate

chip cookies equal? All as satisfying and " effective " ? I wouldn't.

So you take what works for you. I have a pt who gets no benefit from Barr

brand warfarin but the Coumadin name brand thins his blood just great.

Explain that one. For myself, I can take capsules but not tablets. The

same drug in a capsule works fine, in a tablet does nothing. Generics save

you money, for sure, but they are not all created equal.

Chris

_________________________________________________________________

MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/26/03 4:16:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

carlsonc@... writes:

> Think of it this way - ever eaten a Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookie? If

> chocolate chips are the " active ingredient " would you consider all

> chocolate

> chip cookies equal? All as satisfying and " effective " ? I wouldn't

That was a fantastic analogy! If only I would have had you during Pharm.

school! Loved it!

[Guest guest]

Janet, I take L-Thyroxine [i'm sure it must be a generic because it isn't

expensive]. Is that the one you doctor warned you about. I've been on this one

for over ten years.

Sylvia

fam24@... wrote:In a message dated 3/25/2003 9:35:28 PM Eastern Standard

Time,

driftydiane@... writes:

> There are other drugs (such as thyroid supplements) that don't work

> that way. Their bioequivalency varies from brand to brand so be

> VERY careful and cautious there. I use Synthroid and only Synthroid

I do take generics for the most part, however, my doctor told me also not to

take generic thyroid. He said that the generic can be off and every day I

could be taking a different dosage. I take Synthroid also.

Janet

[Guest guest]

Janet, I take L-Thyroxine [i'm sure it must be a generic because it

isn't expensive]. Is that the one you doctor warned you about. I've

been on this one for over ten years.

Sylvia,

My answer to you is to stay on which ever thyroid medication you are

currently taking. I work for the maker of Synthroid and believe

there is not a " bioequivalent " generic, but I would not recommend

switching (i.e. Synthroid to Levoxyl). The FDA will have a difficult

time explaining how they deem a generic to Synthroid as

bioequivalent. It has not happened yet and currently there is not a

generic competitor to Synthroid. Oh, by the way, when one does come

along in the next year or so - check out the difference in price. It

will shock you how cheap Synthroid already is and you must ask

yourself " is Synthroid (or Levoxyl/Unithroid) doing the job or do I

want to risk my health and get re-titrated for the generic? "

[Guest guest]

I, too, take L-Thyroxine and have for about 20 years. What problems should

I have noticed that I haven't? I supppose if the strengh varies from day to

day, I wouldn't notice as it takes a long time to leave the body. When I

went off the medication for radiation, it would take about six weeks before

I was low enough to receive the test or treatment. Therefore, variation in

daily dose doesn't really matter I guess.

Ks Di

>

> Janet, I take L-Thyroxine [i'm sure it must be a generic because it isn't

expensive]. Is that the one you doctor warned you about. I've been on this

one for over ten years.

> Sylvia

>

[Guest guest]

,

Since your posting on Azulfidine I asked for the name brand of it. I just

started taking it. It looks exactly the same as the generic, smells the

same too. It just has different markings on the pill. It's round, too, I

thought your Azulfidine wasn't round.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/27/2003 4:08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time,

salo99@... writes:

> Janet, I take L-Thyroxine [i'm sure it must be a generic because it isn't

> expensive]. Is that the one you doctor warned you about. I've been on

> this one for over ten years.

Hi Sylvia,

I'm not sure if this is the generic for Synthroid. He told me to only take

the brand name for thyroid drugs. I wouldn't worry about it unless you are

having trouble regulating your thyroid hormones.

Janet

[Guest guest]

Please forgive me for not realizing that you had already said what the name of

your med. was and also like I have said before my memory is not that good any

more since the cushings and the hypo.

take care

Bev

Chuck B <cblatchl@...> wrote:

bev wrote:

> What's the name of the generic med. My doc. won't let me go on the

>generic. He said there is a difference.

As I said, it is just called levothyroxine sodium.

At one time there was a definite difference between formulations. That

is what an alternative brand name means. But, now that the patent has

run out on Synthroid, other manufacturers can use the original recipe

without having to pay royalties. In principle, as long as their quality

controls on production are the same, the formulations should have equal

potency.

When my insurance company switched me from Synthroid, I did detect a

slight difference, but I compensated by tightening my procedures for

taking it. At the time, I had been taking some other medications about

two hours after. These contained some calcium carbonate. When I delayed

taking them until later in the day, it seemed to have made up the

difference. I have also started freezing the pills. There is a small

amount of degeneration that still occurs at room temperature.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

bev wrote:

> Please forgive me for not realizing that you had already said what the

>name of your med. ...

No need to apologize. Essentially all synthetic T4 is technically

levothyroxine sodium. What can vary between manufacturers is the recipe.

Consequently, it once was quite important to compare brand names. These

other brand names were once called " generics for Synthroid, " but they

really weren't. They were different formulations, and they sometimes had

different potencies and different absorption rates.

However, now when they say " generic for Synthroid, " they really mean

made by the same process as Synthroid. Therefore the proper name for it

is levothyroxine sodium, rather than a brand name. In fact, I have no

idea who the manufacturer really is. I'm just assured by the pharmacy

that it is equivalent in every way.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Bev,

What were your Cushings symptoms if you do not mind me asking, and sorry if

you have posted before, and I am asking again!

Val

Re: Generics

> Please forgive me for not realizing that you had already said what the

name of your med. was and also like I have said before my memory is not that

good any more since the cushings and the hypo.

> take care

> Bev

>

> Chuck B <cblatchl@...> wrote:

> bev wrote:

>

> > What's the name of the generic med. My doc. won't let me go on the

> >generic. He said there is a difference.

>

> As I said, it is just called levothyroxine sodium.

>

> At one time there was a definite difference between formulations. That

> is what an alternative brand name means. But, now that the patent has

> run out on Synthroid, other manufacturers can use the original recipe

> without having to pay royalties. In principle, as long as their quality

> controls on production are the same, the formulations should have equal

> potency.

>

> When my insurance company switched me from Synthroid, I did detect a

> slight difference, but I compensated by tightening my procedures for

> taking it. At the time, I had been taking some other medications about

> two hours after. These contained some calcium carbonate. When I delayed

> taking them until later in the day, it seemed to have made up the

> difference. I have also started freezing the pills. There is a small

> amount of degeneration that still occurs at room temperature.

>

> Chuck

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Val,

No problem.

weight gain (it looked more like swelling)

backache

headache

acne

increased urination

depression

easy bruising ( I would just lightly scratch through my clothing and it left a

horrible bruise)

emotional instability

big time brain fog

thirst

burst blood vessels on my face, chest and shoulders

red, raw, sore, deep valley's in my tongue

female balding ( quite disgusting, hair was everywhere, my daughter said I had

see-thru hair)

fatigue

extreme weakness,( if I would get down on the floor, I couldn't get back up

without help or I had to climb up and just months before I was getting ready to

start pushing 300 lbs. on my legs, I did 180 sit ups that just a idea of how in

shape I was, very good)

high blood pressure (it just kept going up and was not stopping)

blurry vision that was not correctable (after sugery it started getting better)

Attacks or spells of pain in my side, weakness, faintness, inability to do

anything, even move, it just felt like somebody was sitting on my whole body and

wouldn't let up or ever move anything

It was an awful thing for anybody to have to go through. My doctor told me if I

wouldn't have had insurance I would have died, and I believe I was dying.. I

have never been the same again. That's depressing in it's self. It took about 1

1/2 years to dx me. Just about all of the docs. made me feel like I was crazy.

Just like the docs. are now with the thyroid.. They made me very angry. What

jerks..

<veetee@...> wrote:Bev,

What were your Cushings symptoms if you do not mind me asking, and sorry if

you have posted before, and I am asking again!

Val

Re: Generics

> Please forgive me for not realizing that you had already said what the

name of your med. was and also like I have said before my memory is not that

good any more since the cushings and the hypo.

> take care

> Bev

>

> Chuck B <cblatchl@...> wrote:

> bev wrote:

>

> > What's the name of the generic med. My doc. won't let me go on the

> >generic. He said there is a difference.

>

> As I said, it is just called levothyroxine sodium.

>

> At one time there was a definite difference between formulations. That

> is what an alternative brand name means. But, now that the patent has

> run out on Synthroid, other manufacturers can use the original recipe

> without having to pay royalties. In principle, as long as their quality

> controls on production are the same, the formulations should have equal

> potency.

>

> When my insurance company switched me from Synthroid, I did detect a

> slight difference, but I compensated by tightening my procedures for

> taking it. At the time, I had been taking some other medications about

> two hours after. These contained some calcium carbonate. When I delayed

> taking them until later in the day, it seemed to have made up the

> difference. I have also started freezing the pills. There is a small

> amount of degeneration that still occurs at room temperature.

>

> Chuck

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bev,

Thank you for sharing your experience. Stuff like that is painful to recall

it's like living it all over again. Your right of course about being jerked

around over the thyroid. I was angry after I got diagnosed, and cried

whenever I thought about how bad I felt and for how long, and yet no one was

listening to me or taking my symptoms seriously. Hope your health continues

on the up and up,

God Bless,

Val

Re: Generics

>

>

> > Please forgive me for not realizing that you had already said what the

> name of your med. was and also like I have said before my memory is not

that

> good any more since the cushings and the hypo.

> > take care

> > Bev

> >

> > Chuck B <cblatchl@...> wrote:

> > bev wrote:

> >

> > > What's the name of the generic med. My doc. won't let me go on the

> > >generic. He said there is a difference.

> >

> > As I said, it is just called levothyroxine sodium.

> >

> > At one time there was a definite difference between formulations. That

> > is what an alternative brand name means. But, now that the patent has

> > run out on Synthroid, other manufacturers can use the original recipe

> > without having to pay royalties. In principle, as long as their quality

> > controls on production are the same, the formulations should have equal

> > potency.

> >

> > When my insurance company switched me from Synthroid, I did detect a

> > slight difference, but I compensated by tightening my procedures for

> > taking it. At the time, I had been taking some other medications about

> > two hours after. These contained some calcium carbonate. When I delayed

> > taking them until later in the day, it seemed to have made up the

> > difference. I have also started freezing the pills. There is a small

> > amount of degeneration that still occurs at room temperature.

> >

> > Chuck

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Your most welcome Val,

Bev

<veetee@...> wrote:

Hi Bev,

Thank you for sharing your experience. Stuff like that is painful to recall

it's like living it all over again. Your right of course about being jerked

around over the thyroid. I was angry after I got diagnosed, and cried

whenever I thought about how bad I felt and for how long, and yet no one was

listening to me or taking my symptoms seriously. Hope your health continues

on the up and up,

God Bless,

Val

Re: Generics

>

>

> > Please forgive me for not realizing that you had already said what the

> name of your med. was and also like I have said before my memory is not

that

> good any more since the cushings and the hypo.

> > take care

> > Bev

> >

> > Chuck B <cblatchl@...> wrote:

> > bev wrote:

> >

> > > What's the name of the generic med. My doc. won't let me go on the

> > >generic. He said there is a difference.

> >

> > As I said, it is just called levothyroxine sodium.

> >

> > At one time there was a definite difference between formulations. That

> > is what an alternative brand name means. But, now that the patent has

> > run out on Synthroid, other manufacturers can use the original recipe

> > without having to pay royalties. In principle, as long as their quality

> > controls on production are the same, the formulations should have equal

> > potency.

> >

> > When my insurance company switched me from Synthroid, I did detect a

> > slight difference, but I compensated by tightening my procedures for

> > taking it. At the time, I had been taking some other medications about

> > two hours after. These contained some calcium carbonate. When I delayed

> > taking them until later in the day, it seemed to have made up the

> > difference. I have also started freezing the pills. There is a small

> > amount of degeneration that still occurs at room temperature.

> >

> > Chuck

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I found this interesting considering the results I got from generic

naltrexone. My mom takes Lipitor sp? and I have told her zillions of

times to STOP but she won't listen but she ask her doc to give her

generic b/c it's cheaper and the doc told her she would have to take

Twice as much generic to equal the namebrand. Go figure that one.

So, I wonder if people taking generic naltrexone should double the

dose or at least try increasing it and see what results they get.

Want to try that Bruce, who is taking the generic? I told my mom what

happened to me on generic and I'm still pissed. I was doing so GOOD!!

Maybe I will get back to where I was esp. when this sinus episode from

hell stops. Not that I'm as bad as before LDN but still, after 6 weeks

of liquid LDN and magic happened, big disappointment and I want to be

back where I was in June on day one of liquid LDN!!!!!! NOW..... I

could still hurt that nurse........:0{ for calling in Generic and then

calling in Revia made by same frickin Barr Labb!:-P

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

I HAVE A QUESTION ...I TALKED TO MY COMPOUNDING PHARMACIST TODAY. HE SAID THE LDN WOULD BE FROM REXIA. IS THIS GOOD OR BAD? I AM VERY NEW TO THIS. YOUR INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,

TAMMYRhonda <rhondaleokitty@...> wrote:

I found this interesting considering the results I got from generic naltrexone. My mom takes Lipitor sp? and I have told her zillions of times to STOP but she won't listen but she ask her doc to give her generic b/c it's cheaper and the doc told her she would have to take Twice as much generic to equal the namebrand. Go figure that one. So, I wonder if people taking generic naltrexone should double the dose or at least try increasing it and see what results they get. Want to try that Bruce, who is taking the generic? I told my mom what happened to me on generic and I'm still pissed. I was doing so GOOD!! Maybe I will get back to where I was esp. when this sinus episode from hell stops. Not that I'm as bad as before LDN but still, after 6 weeks of liquid LDN and magic happened, big disappointment

and I want to be back where I was in June on day one of liquid LDN!!!!!! NOW..... I could still hurt that nurse........:0{ for calling in Generic and then calling in Revia made by same frickin Barr Labb!:-PRhonda__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I did up it from 4.5 to 6 and found quite

a difference. I posted on that 10 days/2 weeks ago?

Bruce Guilmette, Ph.D.

Survive Cancer Foundation, Inc.

http://www.survivecancer.net

From:

low dose naltrexone [mailto:low dose naltrexone ] On Behalf Of Rhonda

Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005

7:31 PM

To:

low dose naltrexone

Subject: [low dose naltrexone]

generics

I found this interesting

considering the results I got from generic

naltrexone. My mom takes Lipitor sp?

and I have told her zillions of

times to STOP but she won't listen but she ask her

doc to give her

generic b/c it's cheaper and the doc told her she

would have to take

Twice as much generic to equal the

namebrand. Go figure that one.

So, I wonder if people taking generic naltrexone

should double the

dose or at least try increasing it and see what

results they get.

Want to try that Bruce, who is taking the

generic? I told my mom what

happened to me on generic and I'm still

pissed. I was doing so GOOD!!

Maybe I will get back to where I was esp. when

this sinus episode from

hell stops. Not that I'm as bad as before LDN but

still, after 6 weeks

of liquid LDN and magic happened, big

disappointment and I want to be

back where I was in June on day one of liquid

LDN!!!!!! NOW..... I

could still hurt that nurse........:0{ for calling

in Generic and then

calling in Revia made by same frickin Barr

Labb!:-P

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Find out which Lab is making the Revia your compounding pharmacy is

using. Duramed is the subsidiary of Barr Lab. Duramed makes Revia

which I think is the same pill as Barr Labs generic. I ask them but

they never would come out and say Two differnt meds so I know what

that means. They just said bioequivalent. Bristol Myers is the Lab

that makes the Revia from Mexico and some pharmacies have it also.

The CVS here in NC said they can get BM Revia for me if I call two

days ahead and they will order it. BM Revia is the one that works for

me and generic didn't work and I may have not been getting 4.5mgs if

weaker like my mom's doc said generic lipitor is.

Rhonda

> I HAVE A QUESTION ...I TALKED TO MY COMPOUNDING PHARMACIST TODAY.

HE SAID THE LDN WOULD BE FROM REXIA. IS THIS GOOD OR BAD? I AM VERY

NEW TO THIS. YOUR INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

> THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,

> TAMMY

>

>

[Guest guest]

Chuck , Though I'm always told this (generics are same as brand), I have

experience with this not being true, and in one case it could be

documented. My BP med was Tenormin (for palps and BP). Insurance company

forced Generic and my BP went up and palps increased. Doc had to INCREASE

number of tablets per day just to get the same degree of normal BP and least

amt of palps in a day. Next go round for a refill, yet a different generic

was prescribed and this time palps were not affected by BP once again began

to rise. Pretty serious headaches were also a problem. My doc put her

foot down and ordered brand only and I'm back to two a day. The second

example is plain old Tylenol Xtra Strength. Hoping to save bucks I bought

plain store brand Acetaminaphin (Sp?). Couldn't take enough to help my

pain. Just thought I'd post my 2 cents as generic meds seem to genuinely

present a problem for some.

Have a good day

On Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 10:17 AM, Chuck B <gumboyaya@...> wrote:

> Betty,

>

> You wrote:

> >

> > Hi Amy, forgot one other thing. I have had four thryoid Docs and they all

> > say the same, never take generic meds for your thyroid.

>

> That was once sensible advice for all true generics, although it was

> certainly pushed by the brand name pharmaceutical companies, such as

> Abbott. However, there has been a big push to standardize dosages, and

> large studies confirm that the various levothyroxine formulations are

> precisely equivalent in thyroid activity. The only difference now is in

> the inactive incipients and colorings. Some people actually do better on

> the generics for certain dosages.

>

> Incidentally, the term generic is technically a misnomer. Synthroid was

> never patented, so the alternatives are really just different brand

> names for equivalent products.

>

> Chuck

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

MSE,

I was referring specifically to generics for Synthroid. With other drugs

there are still variations between brands.

Chuck

You wrote:

>

>

> Chuck , Though I'm always told this (generics are same as brand), I have

> experience with this not being true, and in one case it could be

> documented. My BP med was Tenormin (for palps and BP). Insurance company

> forced Generic and my BP went up and palps increased. Doc had to INCREASE

> number of tablets per day just to get the same degree of normal BP and least

> amt of palps in a day. Next go round for a refill, yet a different generic

> was prescribed and this time palps were not affected by BP once again began

> to rise. Pretty serious headaches were also a problem. My doc put her

> foot down and ordered brand only and I'm back to two a day. The second

> example is plain old Tylenol Xtra Strength. Hoping to save bucks I bought

> plain store brand Acetaminaphin (Sp?). Couldn't take enough to help my

> pain. Just thought I'd post my 2 cents as generic meds seem to genuinely

> present a problem for some.

>

> Have a good day

>

> On Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 10:17 AM, Chuck B <gumboyaya@...

> <mailto:gumboyaya%40cox.net>> wrote:

>

> > Betty,

> >

> > You wrote:

> > >

> > > Hi Amy, forgot one other thing. I have had four thryoid Docs and

> they all

> > > say the same, never take generic meds for your thyroid.

> >

> > That was once sensible advice for all true generics, although it was

> > certainly pushed by the brand name pharmaceutical companies, such as

> > Abbott. However, there has been a big push to standardize dosages, and

> > large studies confirm that the various levothyroxine formulations are

> > precisely equivalent in thyroid activity. The only difference now is in

> > the inactive incipients and colorings. Some people actually do better on

> > the generics for certain dosages.

> >

> > Incidentally, the term generic is technically a misnomer. Synthroid was

> > never patented, so the alternatives are really just different brand

> > names for equivalent products.

> >

> > Chuck

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> >