are generic brands of meds really the same??

[MrsCam]

Have to refill my prescription tomorrow. 

Last month, which was the first time Id filled this script as I was just started on this med during my hospital stay, the pharmacist gave me a generic brand... My gp and my counsellor both say it should be working the same as the original that I was on when in the hospital and when I first got home but I am not convinced. 

Any thoughts or oppinions would be appreciated

[SubduedBlues]

Mrs Cam

When you select one medication over another, particularly by brand, ask the pharmacist to show you the packaging for the two. Usually when the two have the same ingredients and same volumes of active ingredients, then the generic brand is the same as the name brand. It is when the only similarity is the "active ingredient" that you may want to be cautious.

The generic brands are like the Woolies and Coles brands of foods. The are the exact same products as the name brands, but have a non-descript or local chemist branding attached to it.

If your doctor isn't happy to prescribe the generic brand, he usually tick the box advising the pharmacist to fill as prescribed.

D'

[MrsCam]

I think Im going to ask the pharmacist for the original and take that for the next month and see if it makes a difference....

[JessF]

Hello MrsCam, I have had this often and for me it hasn't made a difference but I have read for some people it does. I think the placebo effect can play a part here, by law these pills have to be chemically identical, but our minds have a large part to play in how we respond to medication too. When I have been to the pharmacy and on meds that have a generic available, they always ask me if generic is ok, so you should be given the choice. Sometimes the branded version might cost a bit more.

[MrsCam]

Ive filled my prescription today with the original. was slightly more expensive but Im going to see how it goes

[unsure89]

A couple of months ago i had to have a month worth of a different brand because it's all the chemist had. And i had head aches the entire time until i got back to my normal brand. I will never change brands again! 

[Swampmum]

My GP advised me that although the active ingredient(s) are the same, the base substance that they mix it with may be different between brands and that theoretically this could make slight differences in the way your body metabolises the drugs. Personally I felt there was a difference in the effectiveness off original vs the generic version for me, but others may not experience the same. We are all unique!

[Zywie]

I have been taking an anti-depressant for a couple of years now and have found that I get side effects from the generic brand that I don't get from the full price brand. My GP explained that while the active ingredients (ie the actual drug) have to be the same, the fillers, coatings etc can be different and sometimes people react to these, which seems to be the case for me. Luckily the regular brand of my medication is only a few dollars more than the generic.
Would be interested to hear how you have gone since trialling the original brand again, MrsCam.

[MrsCam]

I've been back on the original meds since I had that one month on the generic brand and I think it is much better for me. Could be all in my head but Im sticking with it 🙂