Have any of you guys had trouble with your generic medication either not working or working at a reduced effectiveness? Over the years, the VA has sent me all kinds of generic medication from various pharmaceutical companies -- who ever they could get it from the cheapest at the time. After trying this one generic medication for 52 days, I've finally come to the conclusion that it's pure junk. The VA stopped stocking the good stuff and so I'm now left having to buy it out in town. The VA doctor was nice enough though to write me a scrip for an outside pharmacy. Some medications are easily verified of their effectiveness through a blood test. For example, I take Warfarin to thin my blood down and I go to the lab every 5 weeks to get my blood tested to see how thick it is -- but there's some drugs that can't be verified of their effectiveness by any means at all. The pharmaceutical company could be putting corn starch inside the capsules and nobody would ever know the difference.
Generic Medication
- Thread starter Merkava_4
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If it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure there are very severe legal penalties for making bad medication. That doesn't mean it's not happening, but it does mean the drug companies have VERY strong reasons not to do it.
Have you tried switching to a brand medication to see if it helps you? There could be a placebo effect but it might still be worth a shot.
I've had some fantastic success with generic medications. On the flip side, when I need allergy or pain medication, it's always brand stuff.
Have you tried switching to a brand medication to see if it helps you? There could be a placebo effect but it might still be worth a shot.
I've had some fantastic success with generic medications. On the flip side, when I need allergy or pain medication, it's always brand stuff.
My father used to work in the Oz health insurance commission, and the generics must have the same quantity of the same chemical to be classified the same...
Also had a cousin and cousin in law who pushed drugs for the same company, one for animal use, and one for human...same drug, same factory, same vat, different shape and colour, and 10 fold price difference (he drove a white Falcon S/W, and wore gumboots, she drove a company BMW and provided antipasto platters, and advertising eye charts)
Also had a cousin and cousin in law who pushed drugs for the same company, one for animal use, and one for human...same drug, same factory, same vat, different shape and colour, and 10 fold price difference (he drove a white Falcon S/W, and wore gumboots, she drove a company BMW and provided antipasto platters, and advertising eye charts)
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Have you tried switching to a brand medication to see if it helps you? There could be a placebo effect but it might still be worth a shot.
I still had a supply of the good stuff when the VA sent me a bottle of the bad stuff. I've tried the bad stuff for short periods of time before and I've always had doubts about it, but I'd always switch back to the good stuff as soon as it came in the mail. This time though, I decided to do an experiment and stay on the bad stuff as long as I could so that I would know for sure whether or not it was bad. I stayed on it from September 08 through October 29 at which point I came to the conclusion that the drug was not working -- at all. I know that generic drugs no matter who makes them are SUPPOSED to be exactly alike, all the way down to their molecular structure -- but I can tell you that after being on the medication for 19 years, this one generic version is NOT working. I thought I was losing my mind. I would think to myself, "how could the drug not be working? It's supposed to work!! It must all be in my head." Then I went online and did some research, apparently I'm not the only one -- other people have had trouble with their generic medication too, but instead of switching to a different generic version like I've done, they went ahead and bought the name brand original.
Have you tried switching to a brand medication to see if it helps you? There could be a placebo effect but it might still be worth a shot.
I still had a supply of the good stuff when the VA sent me a bottle of the bad stuff. I've tried the bad stuff for short periods of time before and I've always had doubts about it, but I'd always switch back to the good stuff as soon as it came in the mail. This time though, I decided to do an experiment and stay on the bad stuff as long as I could so that I would know for sure whether or not it was bad. I stayed on it from September 08 through October 29 at which point I came to the conclusion that the drug was not working -- at all. I know that generic drugs no matter who makes them are SUPPOSED to be exactly alike, all the way down to their molecular structure -- but I can tell you that after being on the medication for 19 years, this one generic version is NOT working. I thought I was losing my mind. I would think to myself, "how could the drug not be working? It's supposed to work!! It must all be in my head." Then I went online and did some research, apparently I'm not the only one -- other people have had trouble with their generic medication too, but instead of switching to a different generic version like I've done, they went ahead and bought the name brand original.
My father was also on Warfarin (coumadin) and it was well documented medically that the generic version was ineffective in his case.
If a generic medication is effective, usually no reason not to use it. But if it is not, iinsurance companies (and the VA!) should be required to provide, and cover, the original, non generic medication.
If a generic medication is effective, usually no reason not to use it. But if it is not, iinsurance companies (and the VA!) should be required to provide, and cover, the original, non generic medication.
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Originally Posted By: Kuato
If a generic medication is effective, usually no reason not to use it. But if it is not, iinsurance companies (and the VA!) should be required to provide, and cover, the original, non generic medication.
The thing is, there's no way for me to prove that it doesn't work. It's my word
against the VA and the pharmaceutical company that makes the generic drug.
If a generic medication is effective, usually no reason not to use it. But if it is not, iinsurance companies (and the VA!) should be required to provide, and cover, the original, non generic medication.
The thing is, there's no way for me to prove that it doesn't work. It's my word
against the VA and the pharmaceutical company that makes the generic drug.
Most of the medications I take are generic. Maybe all.
On a related topic, the best way for us to handle the crazy costs of drugs is to write your congressman and demand that Medicare be allowed to negotiate drug prices. Once Medicare does it, the insurance companies will jump in also.
On a related topic, the best way for us to handle the crazy costs of drugs is to write your congressman and demand that Medicare be allowed to negotiate drug prices. Once Medicare does it, the insurance companies will jump in also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_drug
There is an acceptable bio-equivalent range, meaning that it can be slightly less potent or even slightly more potent than name-brand.
There is an acceptable bio-equivalent range, meaning that it can be slightly less potent or even slightly more potent than name-brand.
JHZR2
Staff member
We don't use any medications whatsoever, but I was looking at the pamphlet that Aetna sent for policy updates, and it has its usual list of preferred generics and name brand meds. It also had a section of name brand stuff that could only be used/preferred on an insurance basis after the suitable generic was tried and determined to be ineffective.
That implies to me that this kind of thing happens more often than I would know...
That implies to me that this kind of thing happens more often than I would know...
I started off using name brand drugs for my medical issues. Then after a while the insurance co decided that generic brand stuff was good enough and cheaper.So that's what I get. In a way it's like oil or food. Advertising makes you think name brand oil works better then store brand oil. And that Kraft mac and cheese is better then store brand mac and cheese.If a drug isn't having a dramatic effect on your medical issues there's only a couple of reasons why. Like your not taking enough of it,or your taking the wrong drug for what your condition is. Like taking a pill for a headache, when the real problem is your dehydrated and need to drink more water.,,
Big Pharma lobbied massively to keep competition out of ACA and medicare prescription drug coverage. They won.
I would check into buying the name brand from an accredited online pharmacy in Canada. The state of Maine just made this legal. I have bought prescription drugs from Canada and Australia saved big.
I would check into buying the name brand from an accredited online pharmacy in Canada. The state of Maine just made this legal. I have bought prescription drugs from Canada and Australia saved big.
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Kuato
If a generic medication is effective, usually no reason not to use it. But if it is not, iinsurance companies (and the VA!) should be required to provide, and cover, the original, non generic medication.
The thing is, there's no way for me to prove that it doesn't work. It's my word
against the VA and the pharmaceutical company that makes the generic drug.
How about some bloodwork done by an independent physician? There are indicators which show the effectiveness (or not) of blood thinners. Have one done on the generic, then switch to the original. Have your doc point out the differences, and why one is working and the other isn't. Then show it to the VA.
Originally Posted By: Kuato
If a generic medication is effective, usually no reason not to use it. But if it is not, iinsurance companies (and the VA!) should be required to provide, and cover, the original, non generic medication.
The thing is, there's no way for me to prove that it doesn't work. It's my word
against the VA and the pharmaceutical company that makes the generic drug.
How about some bloodwork done by an independent physician? There are indicators which show the effectiveness (or not) of blood thinners. Have one done on the generic, then switch to the original. Have your doc point out the differences, and why one is working and the other isn't. Then show it to the VA.
I've also been made aware that the color dies or whatever the generics use that is different from the name-brands can sometimes react differently.
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Generic medications have the exact same active ingredient, its the "fillers" that MIGHT be different. Some generics are the exact same everything as the brand from the same factory, just in different bottles.
How do you know they're exactly the same?
They tell you it's exactly the same, but how do YOU know it's exactly the same?
Generic medications have the exact same active ingredient, its the "fillers" that MIGHT be different. Some generics are the exact same everything as the brand from the same factory, just in different bottles.
How do you know they're exactly the same?
They tell you it's exactly the same, but how do YOU know it's exactly the same?
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Can't be a different chemical with the "same" effects.
What if it's "supposedly" the same chemical with no effects?
Can't be a different chemical with the "same" effects.
What if it's "supposedly" the same chemical with no effects?
Which medication are you specifically talking about?
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Generic medications have the exact same active ingredient, its the "fillers" that MIGHT be different. Some generics are the exact same everything as the brand from the same factory, just in different bottles.
How do you know they're exactly the same?
They tell you it's exactly the same, but how do YOU know it's exactly the same?
How do you know they are NOT the same?
Also how do you know they are NOT working the same? By the way you feel? That in itself is speculative. Or are you a Dr.
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Generic medications have the exact same active ingredient, its the "fillers" that MIGHT be different. Some generics are the exact same everything as the brand from the same factory, just in different bottles.
How do you know they're exactly the same?
They tell you it's exactly the same, but how do YOU know it's exactly the same?
How do you know they are NOT the same?
Also how do you know they are NOT working the same? By the way you feel? That in itself is speculative. Or are you a Dr.
I dunno , I have never had anything but generic meds. So how can I say? I wish I could get a generic huffer for my COPD Generic happy pills work peachy.
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