Name Brand Vs. Generic (Top voted first)

Updated

I'm unsure of who to believe. I still hear that the generic is not as effective as the brand and I have heard this from some very prominent, famous physicians, however, my pharmacy says that it is the same. What is the real answer? I'm sticking to brand until I hear better.

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3

The REAL answer is that generics are, by law, allowed to differ from their name brand counterparts by PLUS OR MINUS 20% in the active ingredient.

For some people and according to the FDA, these differences are insignificant, however, some people are very sensitive to the slightest change in the level of their medication and it does creat problems.

In addition, the inactive ingredients do not have to be the same at all, and some are also sensitive to these.

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4

Thanks for your input. I think I am of the percentage that is sensitive to the difference. I'm sticking to brand! Thanks -

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7

The generic and the brand name drug is the same in that the active ingredient in both is levothyroxine sodium. They may use different fillers, dyes, etc, however. My understanding is that the brand name is kept to a higher standard of stability, but that the generic dosage may vary in different batches up to 20% - not good for the narrow therapeutic window of thyroid dosing.

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10

Were getting counterfit drugs
Just watched a drug bust in india. Ingredients were 20 mule team borax, borix acid, sheet rock dust to hold it together. And OMG floor wax to give it a shine. The Doctors was the name of theshow. Weekdays at 11:00 cntral on nbc, abc??? We need to do sumthing about this. Generics r a joke, unfortunately a deadly joke. This forum is wrong. Watch ur manuf there cumong from china, india, pakistan to name a few. Im open for suggestions as i suffer daily because of useless generics. Look up episode of the drs on nbc, u wont believe what were taking.

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1

I personally have problems with some generics that don't work the same as name brands. I can't trust generic coumadin for instance to be consistant in its strength,My wife has the same problem with generic BC pills, some work O.K. others don't. even though they say they are the same formulary.
So in answer to your questions I believe it depends on the individual.

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2

I tried the generic and it did not work for me. My daughter-in-law tried it and really got messed up with it. Her doctor told her never take the generic, her numbers were way off.

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5

Very welcome, I am always happy to help.

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8

Hi not it is not brand name is horrible

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9

No it is not the same at all

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11

I've been on the generic norco off and on for over 4years or so. First I had the yellow watsons and thought they worked well for me, but over the years many pharms stopped having them I guess because ppl were braking in and stealing mainly those, which is unfortunate because ppl that really need or helped it's impossible to find those now in my area and I hate asking because they treat me weird like I'm a criminal or addict. It pisses me off to be honest. So then ive had the white M535 or something I hate those ones they seem to do nothing for me at all, so for past over a year I've just been taking the white watsons and there okay but doesn't totally take my pain away. I've had knee surgery recently and told my doc my surgeon gave me a script for norcos as well so my reg doc told me to take two every 4hrs and its a little more relief but not totally. I don't think I've ever had the brand name norco, and my mother in law works at a hospital and knows many PPl in different fields and her friend that's a pharmacist said the brand name definitely works better because it's made in the US and other generics are shipped from overseas etc so you don't know what's exactly in the generics. That's scary yet when I talk to the pharma I go to again they just act funny just makes me uncomfortable but they say there's no difference. My insurance doesn't cover name brand meds but if the name brand norco works that much better as they say I will pay out of pocket but its about $3-400$ I'm in the middle about doing that still or if its better that my doc just prescribe me something stronger but then I'd still have the generic or if I choose to pay for name brand. If I can take less a day for something that works better and I take less then I'd like that but really I want to be pain free or have more pain relief. I have chronic pain, back pain, oestartheritis, nerve damage and a bad knee that's been injured over a year but finally had surgery a few days ago. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated.
Brand vs. Generic.

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12

Name brand soma about ten dollars a pill generic about 25 cents how to justify the difference I have taken both I admit the name brand are better but not for the price

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6

Generics are cheaper than the brands because those drugs don't require any marketing expenses which are included in the price of a branded product. Now a days this expense is in between 40 - 55 % of the price of a brand drug. In U.S.A. marketing of generic drugs are only permitted if those are found bioequivalent and therapeutic equivalent to branded products. One physician is not competent enough to generally comment about inefficacy of a generic drug because he has no clinical record before in his hand for such comment. Mere non active on a single patient does not mean that the generics are ineffective. The fact is generics are also effective as the brandeds are provided the authority granting the manufacture of generics do their duty properly.

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