Brand Name vs. Generic Drugs: Are They Really the Same?

Karen Lee Richards Living With It Co-Founder of the National Fibromyalgia Assn. Karen Lee Richards’ career as a writer and patient advocate grew... Send Message Subscribe: Karen Lee Richards

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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I had always been told that the active ingredients in generic medications had to be exactly the same as their brand name counterparts; that the only differences allowed were in the inactive ingredients, such as binders. But as I began to hear from more and more people who insisted that the gene...

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GENERIC vs. BRAND NAME DRUGS
Anonymous
Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 12:34 PM

For many yrs, I've had Extreme Congestive Heart Failure & have had to take Diruretics. (Have severely damaged Heart, from Myocarditis but my Arteries are VERY GOOD.) Actually, I was in Northridge, CA Hosp. for over 1 month in 2007 in "Gross Heart Failure". When I was well enough for Surgery, a Defibrillator was implanted in my left shoulder (an "ICD"). So I take 2 kinds of Diruretics = Bumex & LASIX, daily. The generic for Lasix is Furosemide. Well, I've found that I have to take 4 tablets of Furosemide to get the same results from ONLY 1 TABLET OF GENUINE LASIX. So, for sure. this proves to me that the Brand Name, in this case, is MUCH BETTER. However, when it comes to ASPIRIN, ALL BRANDS OF ASPIRIN ARE THE VERY SAME; so "swears" my spouse, a retired M.D. Please know that I have to pay extra money to get Genuine LASIX, but it is worth it to me.--from LcS in So. CA.

re: GENERIC vs. BRAND NAME DRUGS
Anonymous
Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 03:30 PM

I also take Paxil and my insurance company made me switch to generic when it came out. It did not work at all, I had panic attacks all day, where I had almost none with the original Paxil. They definately are not the same!!!

re: re: GENERIC vs. BRAND NAME DRUGS
Anonymous
Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 04:19 PM

Dear Anny-nomus: Glad to get your response, I'm on your side. We have to make the Medical Community understand that thier Generics DON'T WORK! And it's disgusting when the Ins. Companies refuse to pay, even partly for the Geniune Brand Names. Can you get any "free" Samples of Paxil from your doctors? Also, have you tried to get Free Medicine from that Free Co. that Monteil Willaims used to advertise for? Just try searching for "Free Medicine" via Internet. Good Luck! I might add that I wholeheartedly believe in Meditation & Prayer to help our Medicines work. --from your So.Calif. Well-wisher; LcS

re: re: re: GENERIC vs. BRAND NAME DRUGS
Redhen1919
Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 06:51 PM

I do not know if you filed a grievance regarding your insurance company's denial. You might check and see. If you are on medicare part d, you have several levels of appeal rights and possibly the right to change plans.

I had the same problem with my pain medication. I changed to a plan that covers the name brand but I have to pay a larger copay. Thats okay because I know the brand name works and I will not have to take so much medication.

Be sure to talk with your doctor and let him know about the problem

Best of Luck

Redhen

re: re: GENERIC vs. BRAND NAME DRUGS
Anonymous
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 01:07 AM

I agree as I had the same problem. Have you checked with the drug manufacturer to see if they have a patient assist program? How that works is, go to their website and check the drugs included in their assist program. If Paxil is included print a copy of their application fill out your portion and then take it to your doctor have him fill out the rest and send it in. If they approve you, you generally have either a small payment $5-15 or sometimes no payment at all. They send the drug to your doctor usually enough for 3 months. You will usually have to re-apply once a year. Be sure that you put that you have no insurance coverage for your Paxil, because you don't, you only have coverage for the generic. I hope this helps.