What does XR and CR mean?

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Loopy Lou

Loopy Lou

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Someone mentioned in a thread something about XR and CR (i think it was CR - possibly CX) Pills.

Could someone educate an eejit and tell me what these are please? I've seen it mentioned a few times, and hey, i'm a curious sort :pop:
 
They refer to Extended Release and Continuous Release. They are newer versions of the AED meds that are designed to release slowly into your system over the course of the day. Switching to the XR version can make it possible for some people to only have to take the dose once a day, and also may stabilize the levels of medication in the bloodstream.

They do seem to work better for some people. But I've also heard that they are just "patent extenders" -- i.e. they allow the big drug companies to re-issue the same old drug under a new patent because it has a different delivery system, and keep making money off of it (since it's then not available in generic form).
 
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Oh i see! Considering i used to do vet science (very similar to people when you think about it - just more shapes to remember!), i should really have remembered that. Plus all the medication training at work.

Ok, thank you :D:hi5:
 
Nakamova said:
But I've also heard that they are just "patent extenders" -- i.e. they allow the big drug companies to re-issue the same old drug under a new patent because it has a different delivery system, and keep making money off of it (since it's then not available in generic form).
Click to expand...

Yup, that sounds extremely plausable (did i spell that right?) Don't you have to pay more for named brands?
 
Loopy Lou said:
Yup, that sounds extremely plausable (did i spell that right?) Don't you have to pay more for named brands?
Click to expand...

I dont think you HAVE to pay more, I just think that having a cheaper version of the same drug is a smaller business's way of hoping to add consumers. Ie: motrin versa advil
 
I don't know how i'd cope if it weren't for the NHS. Yeah, it takes about 10 times longer to get somewhere, but it's free. Had some trouble getting my doc to give me Lamictal instead of generic though, because he said it costs a few pound more than the generic one. Yay for my neuro!
 
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