Brand Name vs. Generics

[Bluesbrkr]

Has anyone noticed a big difference between brand name and generics? for that matter, have you noticed a difference between different generics. I noticed a difference when I went to generic Lamictal. Didn't seem quite as effective. We had to up my dosage to get the results, and the generic makes my tongue partially numb for a while. But, it helps with the costs.

I also noticed a big difference when my pharmacy switched generics on me and went with a different vendor. Granted, this was not a seizure medication, but the alternate generic seemed much less effective.

Is this all in my head?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Nakamova]

It's not all in your head. Generics have a wider latitude in terms of how much of the active ingredient they need to have, and that amount can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from batch to batch. For folks who are sensitive to fluctuations or inconsistencies in their dosages, a generic can be trouble. Personally I had no problem making the switch to generic Lamotrigine from Lamictal, but I know there are plenty others out there who have found generics to be problematic. Many health insurers won't cover the brand names, and/or insist that the generic form be prescribed if it exists, so people with epilepsy are often forced to scramble to get what they need.

 

[mel239]

My seizures came back stronger when they refilled my trileptal with generic last year.Now im hearing that even if doc writes brand name only,my insurance company is making me pay for the difference instead of a set amt like before.We will find out this week when I go for a refill

 

[NeuroNotes]

Mel, that's horrible. WTH?

My brother-in-law is an organic chemist. He told me that generics are processed differently, which can make a big difference. I never had luck with generics when I was taking precrips. They were never as effective, particularly pain meds.

 

[Bluesbrkr]

that's crazy that insurance would make you pay the difference. They do anything they can to make money and screw the people who need the medications. The main reason I went to generics on lamictal and trileptal was that my copay for brand name on those is $50 each. Hard to pay when I can get the generics for $20 for both. But I'm glad to hear that others have the same issues with the generic. While it is less effective, at this point, I'd rather deal with the small, break through seizures (which unfortunately happen now several times a day... very discouraging), than fork out all that money. I really can't afford that with all the other meds my wife and I have to pay for each month.

as far as pain meds and generics.. even generic ibuprofen.. my wife SWEARS is exactly the same, but brand name Advil works way better for me. It's NOT in my head... lol

 

[mel239]

My brother in law is a pharmacist and he says its the formulation of the inert ingredients that cause generics to work differently than brandname plus you could get a different company making your generic every time you refill so you always get these different formulations.My epi prefers name brand on AEDs and yes,it will suck to pay the difference instead of a copay, everytime I turn around our insurance gets worse although all I ever hear is how great auto workers have it!I AM GRATEFUL that I have any insurance,esp. when I see what my epi out of ClevClinic charges my insur co!

 

[jyearta]

I could take generic dilantin for many years,Then all of a sudden it stopped working.

My Dr. has to write BRAND name on my presc. as someone mention earily.

2 months ago on my generic refill of conazepam (klonopin) THE generic changed, differ. color, differ. size.
I called the phar. when I got home and saw the differ. She said there was no diff. I could tell there was.
the following month generic conaze. was back to what it had always been.

I remember at each Neur. appt. , my dr. would ask how is that generic working for you? Could be he was just having small talk. don't know.

 

[Blue Cat]

As Nakamova says, some are more sensitive. They switched me from Lamictal to an Indian generic and I had T/Cs after 7 years sz free. I got them to switch me to Teva generic after the last one and have been fine but they switched to a different wholesaler who will only supply the Torrent so I got my doc to write a "no substitution" brand prescrip, so starting next week I'm back to Lamictal.

 

[s10sleeper]

I have noticed a big difference between generics and brand name with my seizure meds, now my doctors set my seizure meds up for no substitution. As far as taking my sleep med, I did notice a slight difference in generics, biggest one being pill shape, Depakote seems to have a major difference in how well it works compared to generic to me.