Comments on: Generics may not be as effective as we thought

By: Anon too

Anon too — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:19:34 +0000

I would liken comparing a generic drug to a brand name drug as similar saying a Yugo is just as good as a Mercedes because they are both automobiles. Sure, they will both get you from A to B in roughly the same time, but what about the subtler aspects such as performance and reliability. You get what you pay for, in cars or in medication. There is a great deal of expense an risk in the process of developing a new medication, and we all are aware of the benefits to patient’s quality of life. The reward for this is a decent profit margin that encourages investment in the company, happy employees, and capital to reinvest in development of even better drug therapies.
My own personal experience in treating an autoimmune arthritis condition tells me different versions of the generic medication have different levels of effectiveness, which is absolutely no surprise to me. They both work, but one provides more relief than the other. Hence, they are not “equally effective”.

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:40:15 +0000

Ask people with cardiac arrythmias who went from using brand-name amiodarone to the generic. Or rather maybe ask their attending cardiologist for their opinion.

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:29:17 +0000

Your right. Two feet does not contain chemicals, two feet contains distance. A tape measure measures distance, the FDA regulates drugs. FDA and the AMA say the generic is the exact same chemical makeup, composition, etc are the same.

Also, they never said anything about the drugs being less effective, or even different, just that their diffusion rates were different.

Maybe one should consider a generic one a day rather than an extended release capsule?

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:50:50 +0000

maybe the rating system for generic products needs to be re-evaluated.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:48:45 +0000

“Two feet” doesn’t contain chemicals that you then put in your body! SOME generics are okay, but patients have to be aware that they AREN’T the same. Try placing a brand name drug in a glass of water, and a generic equivalent in another glass. Usually the brand name will dissolve better. Which means they’ll also get into your system better. Patient that have had problems KNOW to request no generics.

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:36:48 +0000

I think there is some truth to this. The “brand name” and generic for thyroid problems caused a definite change in me. I and numerous others I have spoken about this, can only take the brand name. I also saw a change in my Mother on her heart medicine when she took the generic instead of the brand name. I am sure some generics are just as effective, but some are not as determined by own personal experience.

By: Also Anon

Also Anon — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:04:50 +0000

I don’t think it’s all propoganda. Having taken “brand name” and generics for allergies, my experience is that the generics do not work as effectively or as consistently as the brand name medications.

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:59:09 +0000

Sounds like a big chunk of propaganda to me. Sounds like saying a generically measured two feet wont be as long as two feet measured by a contractor.

Seems that they trademark those drugs so they can make their money. They make generics if the drug has been around long enough to warrant it. I wont trust any drug that does not have a generic counterpart. Simply because then you really have no idea how well it works in the general population.