Generic meds vs. label meds? ( serious inquiry )

[Peatree]

Hey all -- this is actually a serious question...my X wife is spouting off that generic meds are a "reason" that my son had some issues at school.

So -- does anyone have any insight, opinion, feedback as to whether or not there is a real difference between generic meds versus the label.

I hate the fact she is simply blaming the meds...and not focusing on him being responsible for his own actions...drives me nuts!

:eek:

[skulldudes]

i'm kind of confused by your wording, but if you're talking about name brand meds and their generic counterparts - they are the EXACT same thing. you pay for the name, that is all.

[Chanus]

In very rare occasions, a generic medication can have a different effect on the patient than the name brand, but it's highly unlikely.

Also, IANAD, and only your doctor can really determine if this is the case. Ask your doctor.

Also, ask your doctor.

[Zereh]

They're not "exactly" the same though they are often interchangeable. Pretty sure there is an 20% +/- variance allowed between a brand-named drug and their generic counterpart.

Generics work for some people, not for others. The same person can take generic meds of one kind but must have name-brand meds of another kind. Every person is unique and every case different.

[Scrooge]

It really depends on the type of medication. I've had some cases where the Generic version wasn't as efficient as the Brand.

[Torqumada286]

Often it's not the actual medication that is the problem, but the "fillers" that are often added to make the pills, tablets, capsules, etc... that can have unintended consequences for patients. They are supposed to be inert, but everyone's body chemistry is a little different.

Torqumada

[nalkin]

Probably not the kind of medication your talking about, but other than my chewable multivitamin I only take one kind of medication and that is for allergies in the spring. Equate 24 relief works better for me than any named brand and is around 10x cheaper.

I was raised in a family that buys off brand everything because you have to respect the small brands that give you a good deal. The only time I have found a real brand better than an off brand is in macaroni and cheese (the powdered kind) and bread.

[xshayla701]

I know for the medicine I take, the doses are a little off between the brand name and the generic. My doctor highly recommended the brand name for both things I take.

[Hasbinbad]

Often it's not the actual medication that is the problem, but the "fillers" that are often added to make the pills, tablets, capsules, etc... that can have unintended consequences for patients. They are supposed to be inert, but everyone's body chemistry is a little different.

Torqumada
This.

Chemical formulas are chemical formulas.

[Peatree]

..."thanks all" -- appreciate the responses. And yeah, it's not in regards to vitamins or anything like that...my son is on ADHD medication and my X is always looking for an excuse for his behaivor....which frustrates me....cause I have no issues with him at all, whether he is on generic or not...of course I make use of other types of parenting tools/techniques...while she simply counts on medicating him....which I loathe.

FYI -- if you are a parent and are interested in an awesome tool to help with challenging kids...there is a system called "Celebrate Calm", that I swear by...I was skeptical at first...but upon making use of the tools/methods/etc....it's a game changer.

http://www.celebratecalm.com/

Anyhow-- thanks again for the insight!

[Peatree]

If you're talking about Ritalin and Adderrall they ARE in fact different in the way they work in the brain.

If one isn't working ask you son's doctor about trying the other.

Focalin (sp?)

[nalkin]

At my college a large majority of the student take adderall during finals week because they "have trouble focusing". Its seen as pretty normal thing here. Makes me lol. They aren't as cool as the people with "insomnia" though...

[guineapig]

Speak to any chemist and they will tell you that generic meds are not necessarily the same composition as the brand name.

Sometimes the effect on the person is negligible, other times the difference is drastic. And it's not always in favor of the brand name either.

The non-active ingredients in pills (the ones not listed) are more important than one might think for certain drugs.

Sadly since the question is so vague, I was forced to give vague answers. Are you thinking of any drug in particular?

[Chanus]

I'm assuming Focalin, as he stated a few posts back.


But for the love of all that's good and chocolate, don't ask a bunch of neckbeards on the interwebs about medication for your kid. Talk to his doctor!

[nalkin]

I'm assuming Focalin, as he stated a few posts back.


But for the love of all that's good and chocolate, don't ask a bunch of neckbeards on the interwebs about medication for your kid. Talk to his doctor!

Actually, lol i asked a question on a medicine thread like this once, and someone here on the forums was doing a PHD on the subject and wrote me back.

But yeah ask your doctor if you experience any chest pain or fatigue

[Kuriin]

Generic are just the cheaper version. The name brand, you're only paying for the name. Case in point: Advil = Ibuprofen. Motrin = Ibuprofen.

[guineapig]

Generic are just the cheaper version. The name brand, you're only paying for the name. Case in point: Advil = Ibuprofen. Motrin = Ibuprofen.

You are incorrect. They are not always the same exact thing. Ask any pharmaceutical chemist.

Speak to any chemist and they will tell you that generic meds are not necessarily the same composition as the brand name.

Sometimes the effect on the person is negligible, other times the difference is drastic. And it's not always in favor of the brand name either.

The non-active ingredients in pills (the ones not listed) are more important than one might think for certain drugs.

[Chanus]

Generic are just the cheaper version. The name brand, you're only paying for the name. Case in point: Advil = Ibuprofen. Motrin = Ibuprofen.

The active ingredient in Advil and Motrin is the same (ibuprofen).

That doesn't mean they are the exact same product.

[Kuriin]

You're correct that the inactive ingredients are often the most important ones to look out for. But, with every drug comes with different adverse reactions/adverse effects.

[Hasbinbad]

People keep saying different things, and it's dumb. This is how it is:

Active ingredients are the same in any generic version as the brand name, unless otherwise specifically indicated (extended release pills are a DIFFERENT medication, with a different absorption rate, and should NOT BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY or AT ALL without consulting your doctor first). Chemistry isn't a malleable science. Chemical formulas are chemical formulas, and that is that. You can't have water molecules and different water molecules. H2O is H2O.

The things that may be different between generics and name brands are the process they used to arrive at a given formula (which can leave behind undesirable byproducts), and the filler and/or coating material(s) used, if any. These are the inactive ingredients. Inactive ingredients can in fact have adverse side effects, and are subject to the individual. Before committing to the use of a generic product, especially a psychoactive medication, you should employ due diligence as far as researching what others have said, and then have a trial period to observe the effects.

[Japan]

Keep in mind these drugs are basically anti-depressants in the way they work -- skipping a dose can have a very noticable effect on mood.

oh my fucking god.

[katrik]

People keep saying different things, and it's dumb. This is how it is:

Active ingredients are the same in any generic version as the brand name, unless otherwise specifically indicated (extended release pills are a DIFFERENT medication, with a different absorption rate, and should NOT BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY or AT ALL without consulting your doctor first). Chemistry isn't a malleable science. Chemical formulas are chemical formulas, and that is that. You can't have water molecules and different water molecules. H2O is H2O.

The things that may be different between generics and name brands are the process they used to arrive at a given formula (which can leave behind undesirable byproducts), and the filler and/or coating material(s) used, if any. These are the inactive ingredients. Inactive ingredients can in fact have adverse side effects, and are subject to the individual. Before committing to the use of a generic product, especially a psychoactive medication, you should employ due diligence as far as researching what others have said, and then have a trial period to observe the effects.

This. All drugs, synthetically, are manufactured the same.

[Dagner]

I'm a student pharmacist on rotations at the moment, and I will try and clear some of this information up for you.

In most cases, switching from brand to the (sometimes many) available generics of a certain drug is chemically and therapeutically equivalent. An example would be buying different types of ibuprofen as listed above (motrin vs a store brand). The only differences would be fillers, preservatives, etc, but it would be expected that the action of the drug would be equivalent. This is similar to when switching between the same class of drug to get to an equipotent dose. An example would be when you go to the hospital on a home med of atorvastatin (lipitor) and the hospital switches you to simvastatin (zocor) at a higher dose. Both of these drugs are in the same class, and when each is used at a certain individual dose (atorvastatin is more potent) will have the same efficacy on the lipid profile (% wise).

There are some drugs though, in both of the cases where there is some gray area. Neuro-related drugs is one case in point. AED's (anti-epileptic drugs, anti-seizure, etc) are not always "therapeutic equivalents" between brand and generic of the same drug. This is because they have such a strict window of a therapeutic index, which means that the +/- % that a generic drug of a brand must fall within to meet the requirements of being a generic does not always mean it will have the same therapeutic effect. For a completely hypothetical example, if a patient is on the brand drug for phenytoin as an anti seizure med, and is genericly substituted for a generic phenytoin, there is research out there that shows that it might not control seizures as well for that same person, even though it is the same drug.

As for your question, if your son is on methylphenidate (basically a stimulant) which is aka (concerta, ritalin, metadate, etc) as long as you arent getting an extended release/controlled release, methylphenidate is methylphenidate. Focalin is different because its only one part of the racemic mixture of methylphenidate and this can have a drastic effect on activity/SE's/etc. The difference between, for example, concerta or concerta XR is that the XR is typically formulated to be released over a long period of time, changing the pharmacokinetics of the drug through absorption and other factors, giving it different concentration levels in your blood at different (longer) times compared to if you just took regular concerta. If you feel that your child isn't reacting in the same way that he has to previous medication that is the exact same drug, then you need to consult your doctor and get him changed back to the original drug he was on, or at least ask some questions. As for switching between adderroll (amphetamine) and methylphenidate for ADHD, it is completely possible that changing between these two drugs could have, and probably would be predicted, to have different effects until the right dose is found.

Maybe it is the pharmacist in me talking, but in the vast majority of cases, if the active ingredient is the same, the drug, regardless of brand or generic, is going to have the same effect on your by using the same mechanism of action. In all cases, while on a drug, if you notice that something isn't working like it should, or if you are experiencing more adverse effects than you are use to, you should always consult your physician or your pharmacist first instead of asking a bunch of random people on a p1999 forum on their take of a situation.

I hope I could help, and have a good day.


Dagner Fizzleton
50 Enchanter
Dark Ascension

[Fourthmeal]

Nyquil for LIFE