Generic drugs

[Guest guest]

From: " Rosemary Wedderburn "

< In response to Wayne Hill's comments, there have been several publications

outlining which generics are not as strong as or are inconsistent with the brand

name drug they duplicate >

You are correct. There have been and still are problems with generics.

In the past there have been multiple deaths from generic digoxin. There have

also been many problems with hyperkalemia from generic dyazide.

The problems arise from different standards of testing for generic drugs. A

generic drug has to have the same amount of the active ingredient as the

patented drug. They do not have to test for bioavailability. To do this the

drug is given to a large number of individuals and blood levels are obtained

at different time intervals. This is a very costly test process and would

not allow a lot of companies to market their generics.

Unfortunately you are not given any information on the manufacturer when you

purchase a generic drug. It may be that it was made by a major drug company

in the US or it may have been made in a foreign country with very little

controls.

You also have no assurance that you are getting the best buy. The pharmacist

or store involved can give you the generic they have the largest profit

margin on.

Personally I have seen, for example, epileptics who were perfectly

controlled on Dilantin have repeated seizures when placed on the generic. I

have also seen patients who were well managed with Thorazine with no side

effects develop severe extra pyramidal side effects when placed on the

generic.

[The implication is that " generics " really are not generic - despite purporting

to contain exactly the same chemical compound with the same degree of

pharmacological level of purity, it now appears as if this is not the case with

certain manufacturers. On the other hand, there have been a few cases in which

some people claim to have fewer side-effects with generics. Has anyone come

across some serious studies on the generics vs name-brand issue? Mel Siff]

Unfortunately this issue is far more complicated than it would appear.

Harvey Maron, M.D.

Steamboat Springs, CO

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Helen. That's what I've always been told by docs and pharmacists.

Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,very active 63 years

The active ingredients in generic drugs are identical to the active ingredients in the more expensive brand name drugs. Once a patent has expired the chemical composition and manufacturing processes become public knowledge and can be made by any company. The drugs are manufactured under very specific guidelines. The inactive ingredients may be different and the pill might look different but the active ingredients in the generic will perform the same function on your nervous system (or whatever purpose the drug is supposed to do) as the more expensive brand name.

[Guest guest]

Hi Helen,

I hate to disagree with you. The active ingredients may be the same,

but the percentages of variation permissible during manufacturing

process is far different. Generics are not even measured from the

recipe for the drug but from a pill acquired by the manufacturer. So

if the variant in the pill is close to the FDA max the generic is that

far further off. FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a

..005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a

..051 variation or in some cases .51 100x difference in active

ingredient. This is why you should never use generics because you

never know how much active ingredient you are actually getting.

Regards,

Alan B.

>

> >

> > Then how come the generic Oxycontin(Oxycodone) does nothing for me?

> > Even the real stuff does not do much for pain. And I have always

> > had considered myself to have a fairly high tolerance for pain as

> > well.

> >

> >

> > Dale

> >

> > Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan

> >

> > > I am going to go with my doctors

> > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else thinks. I

> > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?

> >

> > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works for

> > me. I

> > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc insisted on

> > the

> > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds I've

> > been on

> > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose of

> > Percocet,

> > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I have a

> > fairly

> > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of experience,

> > LOL.

> >

> > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,

> > very active 63 years

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

i also had done a lot of research on this topic and believe that

there is truth to both sides here. I talked to my phamacist and my

PA who helps in surgery and has been very helpful to me was a

phamacist also they both say generic is so close there should be no

difference we could tell other than psychological... this is one of

those topics where everyone is different and they only way to really

know is to try it both ways, so I did, and to me they were the exact

same thing. when I was in the hospital I got the brand name, and whe

I got my Rx I asked for generic because of the price difference and

I believe mine were exactly the same... dont want to upset anyone

but hat is MY believe and that of the many people I talked to in te

profession.

Do what is best for you... ask your doctor to give you two px oe for

5 pills of the brand and the rest you need of generic to make ypur

own decision. Cost is not an issue for me my husband and I both

make a good living and if I thougth my pain would be reduced by the

brand I would not think twice about paying the extra. But I buy

generic as I feel the outcome is the same FOR ME.

This topic has come up many times and we all have our opinions, and

we are all different.... my two cents

tammy

> >

> > >

> > > Then how come the generic Oxycontin(Oxycodone) does nothing

for me?

> > > Even the real stuff does not do much for pain. And I have

always

> > > had considered myself to have a fairly high tolerance for pain

as

> > > well.

> > >

> > >

> > > Dale

> > >

> > > Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan

> > >

> > > > I am going to go with my doctors

> > > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else

thinks. I

> > > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?

> > >

> > > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works

for

> > > me. I

> > > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc

insisted on

> > > the

> > > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds

I've

> > > been on

> > > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose

of

> > > Percocet,

> > > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I

have a

> > > fairly

> > > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of

experience,

> > > LOL.

> > >

> > > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,

> > > very active 63 years

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a.005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a.051 variation or in some cases .51Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics, that's still only one part in 200 that could be "missing".Is that really enough to make the difference between "this drug works" and "this drug gives no pain relief"?

[Guest guest]

, .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?

Thank you !

>

> > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a

> > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a

> > .051 variation or in some cases .51

>

> Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics, that's

> still only one part in 200 that could be " missing " .

> Is that really enough to make the difference between " this drug

> works " and " this drug gives no pain relief " ?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I haven’t had issues with generic pain

meds but I sure have with others. The generic version of Remeron does nothing

for me.

We have

tried the transition twice with the same results. The first time was unfortunate

for me because I was visiting my parents

in Florida

when the panic symptoms started to return. When I left I had a few of the “real”

ones and a new prescription of the

generics with me. Less than a week into the generics the skin crawling

feelings started to return and so did the need to stay

in motion. So I loaded up the car and headed home. Six months later

we tried it again with the same results. I don’t care which

one I take as long as it works!

[Guest guest]

..51 =

51%       .0051 = ½ of 1%

[Guest guest]

Anniva wrote:

> , .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?

Yes, that's right.

So, if there's meant to be 200mg of the active ingredient, a 0.5 percent

variation means

that at worst you'll have 199.5mg or 200.5 mg in there instead. I think the

trouble is that

we're seeing " .5 " and thinking " wow, that's half! "

and Alan wrote " My wife is a 20-year pharmacist and the guidelines that generics

use

is down right scary. A brand pharmaceutical is permitted a .005%

variance on effective drug in any tablet or capsule. A generic is

permitted .15% variance. What's worse is this variance is not

measured from the recipe, but from an actual pill. So if the pill was

initially of by .005%, the generic can be off by as much as .25%. "

So, a quarter of a percent, or half a per cent variation. It's pretty small,

either way.

> > > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a

> > > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a

> > > .051 variation or in some cases .51

> >

> > Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics, that's

> > still only one part in 200 that could be " missing " .

> > Is that really enough to make the difference between " this drug

> > works " and " this drug gives no pain relief " ?

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I've been watching this debate on generics silently, and noticing that

everyone seems to forget one thing: different people react to the same drug

differently. As an example, pre-surgery, my OS prescribed Vioxx (this was

before it was recalled). The prescription was for the original, and for all

the effect it had on me, I might as well have taken sugar pills.

The FDA guidelines (and the EU guidelines, too, btw) are designed to make

the difference between the generics and the original as small as possible.

In spite of that, some people will find that one or the other gives them a

better result, purely due to their own physiology. Sorry, folks, there's no

" magic formula " -- when you need to use a drug, any drug, it's a craps

shoot... It may or may not work for you, whether it's an original formula or

a generic. Some people get better results from the generic than from the

original, some the other way around. Trial and error is the only way to

know for sure.

Just remember: it's YOUR body, and you have to live inside it-- not the OS,

not your primary care physician, not the hospital staff and not your PT...

YOU have to live with the pain, or lack of it, so the final choice should

really be that of the individual.

Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

mdavison@...

Re: Generic Drugs

Anniva wrote:

> , .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?

Yes, that's right.

So, if there's meant to be 200mg of the active ingredient, a 0.5 percent

variation means that at worst you'll have 199.5mg or 200.5 mg in there

instead. I think the trouble is that we're seeing " .5 " and thinking " wow,

that's half! "

and Alan wrote " My wife is a 20-year pharmacist and the guidelines that

generics use is down right scary. A brand pharmaceutical is permitted a

..005% variance on effective drug in any tablet or capsule. A generic is

permitted .15% variance. What's worse is this variance is not measured from

the recipe, but from an actual pill. So if the pill was initially of by

..005%, the generic can be off by as much as .25%. "

So, a quarter of a percent, or half a per cent variation. It's pretty small,

either way.

> > > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a

> > > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a

> > > .051 variation or in some cases .51

> >

> > Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics,

> > that's still only one part in 200 that could be " missing " .

> > Is that really enough to make the difference between " this drug

> > works " and " this drug gives no pain relief " ?

> >

> >

--------------------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy,

The whole reason I originally brought the subject up with my wife a

couple of years ago is when I was prescribed generic pain killers. In

the first few days I varried from a space cadet to feeling like I had

1/2 the pain killer in me. I couldn't figure it out until my wife

noticed that I had been given the generic pain killer and told me the

whole sad story about manufacturing allowances. So I'm a story on the

other end. I didn't even know I had been given generics until I had

the ill effets of their poor quality assurance.

ALan B & Still Smiling.

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Then how come the generic Oxycontin(Oxycodone) does nothing

> for me?

> > > > Even the real stuff does not do much for pain. And I have

> always

> > > > had considered myself to have a fairly high tolerance for pain

> as

> > > > well.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Dale

> > > >

> > > > Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan

> > > >

> > > > > I am going to go with my doctors

> > > > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else

> thinks. I

> > > > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?

> > > >

> > > > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works

> for

> > > > me. I

> > > > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc

> insisted on

> > > > the

> > > > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds

> I've

> > > > been on

> > > > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose

> of

> > > > Percocet,

> > > > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I

> have a

> > > > fairly

> > > > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of

> experience,

> > > > LOL.

> > > >

> > > > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,

> > > > very active 63 years

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> .51 = 51% .0051 = ½ of 1%

>

sure, but the original poster was talking about .51 of a per cent. And Alan,

quoting his

pharmacist wife said " . A generic is permitted .15% variance. "

The FDA specifies " …a generic drug is identical, or bioequivalent to a brand

name drug

in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance

characteristics and intended use. "

And to gain FDA approval, a generic drug must (and i'm again quoting here from

the FDA)

" * Contain the same active ingredients as the innovator drug(inactive

ingredients may vary)

* Be identical in strength, dosage form, and route of administration

* Have the same use indications

* Be bioequivalent

* Meet the same batch requirements for identity, strength, purity, and quality

* Be manufactured under the same strict standards of FDA's good

manufacturing practice regulations required for innovator products . "

(see http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/ for a lot more information).

And, about 50 per cent of generics are made by the brand name companies anyway,

in the

same factories, using the same processes. The difference is in minor things:

colouring,

flavouring, thickening agents, etc, that are essential to make it a " new "

product because US

trademark laws do not allow the generics to look like the original version. The

brand name

drugs do not cost more because they are " better " but because of the costs of

research,

development, and patenting. The generics don't have to cover those costs,

because they

only get produced once the patent expires. The generic has to be, near as damn

it,

identical. But a lot cheaper.

katie

[Guest guest]

not everyone if you read all the posts I have said the same thing I

agree with you competely

tammy

>

> > , .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?

>

> Yes, that's right.

>

> So, if there's meant to be 200mg of the active ingredient, a 0.5

percent

> variation means that at worst you'll have 199.5mg or 200.5 mg in

there

> instead. I think the trouble is that we're seeing " .5 " and

thinking " wow,

> that's half! "

>

> and Alan wrote " My wife is a 20-year pharmacist and the guidelines

that

> generics use is down right scary. A brand pharmaceutical is

permitted a

> .005% variance on effective drug in any tablet or capsule. A

generic is

> permitted .15% variance. What's worse is this variance is not

measured from

> the recipe, but from an actual pill. So if the pill was initially

of by

> .005%, the generic can be off by as much as .25%. "

>

> So, a quarter of a percent, or half a per cent variation. It's

pretty small,

> either way.

>

>

>

>

>

> > > > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a

> > > > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics

have a

> > > > .051 variation or in some cases .51

> > >

> > > Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics,

> > > that's still only one part in 200 that could be " missing " .

> > > Is that really enough to make the difference between " this

drug

> > > works " and " this drug gives no pain relief " ?

> > >

> > >

>

> --------------------------------------------

> My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal

and corporate anti-spam solutions. Download your free copy of

ChoiceMail from www.digiportal.com

>

[Guest guest]

Helen, Helen, Helen, LOL, that's a funny post. Trust me, do you actually think I would be stupid enough to pay what I have to pay for brand name Oxycontin if it worked the same!! I would loooooooooooove to just walk out of the pharmacy paying my $5 and going home. Doesn't work that way, even the real stuff does not do much for me at such a low dose, but it does something, and that, to me, is better than paying $5 for nothing, which is what I did when I tried the generic kind. Believe me, I tried many months, and many kinds, trying to save money. If the mind works the way you seem to think, then why could my mind not make me believe the generic was doing the same thing for pain relief as the real stuff? See, it can work both ways there. Because it doesn't do the same for pain relief that's why!!!

Dale

Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan

> I am going to go with my doctors> advice but am very interested to know what everyone else thinks. I> am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?**I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works for me. I think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc insisted on the brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds I've been on have all been generic since I got off the original high dose of Percocet, and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I have a fairly high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of experience, LOL.Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,very active 63 years

[Guest guest]

I am in total agreement with Alan on this one. And I believe the active ingredients are MUCH less instead of possibly more, making them no more effective for pain relief than eating an M & M candy.

Dale

Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan> >> > > I am going to go with my doctors> > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else thinks. I> > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?> >> > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works for > > me. I> > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc insisted on > > the> > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds I've > > been on> > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose of > > Percocet,> > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I have a > > fairly> > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of experience, > > LOL.> >> > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,> > very active 63 years> >> >> >> >>

[Guest guest]

Sorry to disagree with you Tammy. But I did have a long talk with my doctor. And after I told him the generics were not even touching the pain levels. He went into a long scientific discussion on just how generics are made and the biomechanics of the way our bodies break down brand name drug formulas, and the different way they break down generic formulas. If someone is just starting out on a generic narcotic or something similar for pain, then I believe it will work for them. But after being on one for over two years, like myself, even the brand name does not do much. And believe me, between my wife and I, cost is very much an issue. But as much as I hate to pay for the brand name Oxycontin, I do, because $5 is $5 wasted on the generic for me. But like you say. Everyone is different.

Dale

Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan> > >> > > > I am going to go with my doctors> > > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else thinks. I> > > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?> > >> > > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works for > > > me. I> > > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc insisted on > > > the> > > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds I've > > > been on> > > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose of > > > Percocet,> > > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I have a > > > fairly> > > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of experience, > > > LOL.> > >> > > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,> > > very active 63 years> > >> > >> > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy,

Thanks for the support. I didn't even believe it until my wife showed

me an article in the Pharmacy periodical she was reading stating it in

black & white.

Regards,

Alan B.

> >

> > > , .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?

> >

> > Yes, that's right.

> >

> > So, if there's meant to be 200mg of the active ingredient, a 0.5

> percent

> > variation means that at worst you'll have 199.5mg or 200.5 mg in

> there

> > instead. I think the trouble is that we're seeing " .5 " and

> thinking " wow,

> > that's half! "

> >

> > and Alan wrote " My wife is a 20-year pharmacist and the guidelines

> that

> > generics use is down right scary. A brand pharmaceutical is

> permitted a

> > .005% variance on effective drug in any tablet or capsule. A

> generic is

> > permitted .15% variance. What's worse is this variance is not

> measured from

> > the recipe, but from an actual pill. So if the pill was initially

> of by

> > .005%, the generic can be off by as much as .25%. "

> >

> > So, a quarter of a percent, or half a per cent variation. It's

> pretty small,

> > either way.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > > > > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a

> > > > > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics

> have a

> > > > > .051 variation or in some cases .51

> > > >

> > > > Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics,

> > > > that's still only one part in 200 that could be " missing " .

> > > > Is that really enough to make the difference between " this

> drug

> > > > works " and " this drug gives no pain relief " ?

> > > >

> > > >

> >

> > --------------------------------------------

> > My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal

> and corporate anti-spam solutions. Download your free copy of

> ChoiceMail from www.digiportal.com

> >

>

[Guest guest]

If that is the figure you meant, then yes, it's more than enough to make a difference to me, but like someone said before...we are all different. And respond to different drugs in another way than what someone else might.

Dale

Re: Generic Drugs

, .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?Thank you !>> > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a> > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a> > .051 variation or in some cases .51> > Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics, that's > still only one part in 200 that could be "missing".> Is that really enough to make the difference between "this drug > works" and "this drug gives no pain relief"?> > >

[Guest guest]

I am the same way , as long as it works, who cares. But in my own personal experiences I have never found generic to work, sometimes not at all, compared to the real thing. Don't you think with being on a limited budget, I would much rather walk out of the pharmacy paying only the $5 instead of what I pay for the real thing?

Dale

RE: Re: Generic Drugs

I haven’t had issues with generic pain meds but I sure have with others. The generic version of Remeron does nothing for me.

We have tried the transition twice with the same results. The first time was unfortunate for me because I was visiting my parents

in Florida when the panic symptoms started to return. When I left I had a few of the “real” ones and a new prescription of the

generics with me. Less than a week into the generics the skin crawling feelings started to return and so did the need to stay

in motion. So I loaded up the car and headed home. Six months later we tried it again with the same results. I don’t care which

one I take as long as it works!

[Guest guest]

Figures, math, calculations, any way you want to look at it, I am in agreement with Alan because I know I have tried both ways, and I know what works, and I know what doesn't. And for me, most generics, especially pain meds, doesn't.

Dale

Re: Generic Drugs

Anniva wrote:> , .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?Yes, that's right.So, if there's meant to be 200mg of the active ingredient, a 0.5 percent variation means that at worst you'll have 199.5mg or 200.5 mg in there instead. I think the trouble is that we're seeing ".5" and thinking "wow, that's half!"and Alan wrote "My wife is a 20-year pharmacist and the guidelines that generics useis down right scary. A brand pharmaceutical is permitted a .005%variance on effective drug in any tablet or capsule. A generic ispermitted .15% variance. What's worse is this variance is notmeasured from the recipe, but from an actual pill. So if the pill wasinitially of by .005%, the generic can be off by as much as .25%."So, a quarter of a percent, or half a per cent variation. It's pretty small, either way.> > > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a> > > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a> > > .051 variation or in some cases .51> > > > Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics, that's > > still only one part in 200 that could be "missing".> > Is that really enough to make the difference between "this drug > > works" and "this drug gives no pain relief"?> > > > > >>

[Guest guest]

I also was prescribed Vioxx after they tried everything else on me to no avail. Did nothing, such as it did for you. So after one bottle(I had the liquid form) I was done with it. Also before the recall and looking back, I am so glad I did not continue it or I might not be here today writing this email.

Dale

RE: Re: Generic Drugs

I've been watching this debate on generics silently, and noticing thateveryone seems to forget one thing: different people react to the same drugdifferently. As an example, pre-surgery, my OS prescribed Vioxx (this wasbefore it was recalled). The prescription was for the original, and for allthe effect it had on me, I might as well have taken sugar pills.The FDA guidelines (and the EU guidelines, too, btw) are designed to makethe difference between the generics and the original as small as possible.In spite of that, some people will find that one or the other gives them abetter result, purely due to their own physiology. Sorry, folks, there's no"magic formula"-- when you need to use a drug, any drug, it's a crapsshoot... It may or may not work for you, whether it's an original formula ora generic. Some people get better results from the generic than from theoriginal, some the other way around. Trial and error is the only way toknow for sure.Just remember: it's YOUR body, and you have to live inside it-- not the OS,not your primary care physician, not the hospital staff and not your PT...YOU have to live with the pain, or lack of it, so the final choice shouldreally be that of the individual.Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004mdavisonnetvision (DOT) net.il-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of heyokaSent: 18 March, 2007 6:48 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Generic DrugsAnniva wrote:> , .51 being 1/2 of one percent ?Yes, that's right.So, if there's meant to be 200mg of the active ingredient, a 0.5 percentvariation means that at worst you'll have 199.5mg or 200.5 mg in thereinstead. I think the trouble is that we're seeing ".5" and thinking "wow,that's half!"and Alan wrote "My wife is a 20-year pharmacist and the guidelines thatgenerics use is down right scary. A brand pharmaceutical is permitted a.005% variance on effective drug in any tablet or capsule. A generic ispermitted .15% variance. What's worse is this variance is not measured fromthe recipe, but from an actual pill. So if the pill was initially of by.005%, the generic can be off by as much as .25%."So, a quarter of a percent, or half a per cent variation. It's pretty small,either way.> > > FDA requires that brand produce each pill within a> > > .005 variation of the active ingredients. However generics have a> > > .051 variation or in some cases .51> > > > Even at the greatest variation allowed, then, on the generics, > > that's still only one part in 200 that could be "missing".> > Is that really enough to make the difference between "this drug > > works" and "this drug gives no pain relief"?> > > > --------------------------------------------My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and corporate anti-spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from www.digiportal.com

[Guest guest]

I have generics and they work great!! Terry

Re: Re: Generic Drugs

I am in total agreement with Alan on this one. And I believe the active ingredients are MUCH less instead of possibly more, making them no more effective for pain relief than eating an M & M candy.

Dale

Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan

> >

> > > I am going to go with my doctors

> > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else thinks. I

> > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?

> >

> > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works for

> > me. I

> > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc insisted on

> > the

> > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds I've

> > been on

> > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose of

> > Percocet,

> > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I have a

> > fairly

> > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of experience,

> > LOL.

> >

> > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,

> > very active 63 years

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

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[Guest guest]

Hello Dale, Tammy and Everyone,

I realize that my percentages may have been off, but the facts are

basically correct. It is documented that generic companies used Brand

Pills to get the percentages of ingredients versus transport or

filler. If the pill was % over or under the ideal amount but within

the strict FDA guidelines it got calculated as the base amount. Now

take that percentage and add the lower restriction of allowances

provided to the generics by the FDA and you have either too much or

too little active ingredient compounded by the allowances. So you

have a pain pill that will either space you out or give you no relief.

I found this out the hard way which is why I started asking questions

about it.

Keep Smiling everyone and to those headed for the knife, my prayers

are with you daily.

Alan B.

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Then how come the generic Oxycontin(Oxycodone) does nothing

> for me?

> > > > Even the real stuff does not do much for pain. And I have

> always

> > > > had considered myself to have a fairly high tolerance for pain

> as

> > > > well.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Dale

> > > >

> > > > Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan

> > > >

> > > > > I am going to go with my doctors

> > > > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else

> thinks. I

> > > > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?

> > > >

> > > > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works

> for

> > > > me. I

> > > > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc

> insisted on

> > > > the

> > > > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds

> I've

> > > > been on

> > > > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose

> of

> > > > Percocet,

> > > > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I

> have a

> > > > fairly

> > > > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of

> experience,

> > > > LOL.

> > > >

> > > > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,

> > > > very active 63 years

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dale,Hey a miracle happened yesterday. I only needed 2 Norco all day. That's a new low for me, but I haven't started my exercises to try to go from 135 degrees to 155 degrees flex yet. I've been a bad boy. Oh well, I guess I'll torture myself tonight in between working and fixing my notebook.Alan B.> > > > >> > > Then how come the generic Oxycontin(Oxycodone) does nothing for me? > > > Even the real stuff does not do much for pain. And I have always > > > had considered myself to have a fairly high tolerance for pain as > > > well.> > >> > >> > > Dale> > >> > > Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan> > >> > > > I am going to go with my doctors> > > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else thinks. I> > > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?> > >> > > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works for > > > me. I> > > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc insisted on > > > the> > > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds I've > > > been on> > > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose of > > > Percocet,> > > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I have a > > > fairly> > > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of experience, > > > LOL.> > >> > > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,> > > very active 63 years> > >> > >> > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Never even once in all of the many, many pain meds I have been prescribed over the past three years have I ever ran into one that would "space me out" as you put it. Almost 100% of them went the other way and did practically nothing for me. Especially if it was a generic of something that I had already been taking the brand name of for a while. For example, given Oxydodone instead of Oxycontin. Especially the already low dose of Oxycontin they started me out on and I have stayed on ever since.

Dale

Re: Re: compaired pain-Alan> > > >> > > > > I am going to go with my doctors> > > > > advice but am very interested to know what everyone else > thinks. I> > > > > am taking generic currently... maybe we should do a poll?> > > >> > > > **I've always been told to try the generic and see if it works > for > > > > me. I> > > > think I only recall taking one prescription that my doc > insisted on > > > > the> > > > brand name, and I don't remember what that was. The pain meds > I've > > > > been on> > > > have all been generic since I got off the original high dose > of > > > > Percocet,> > > > and seem to work just like they're supposed to. That said, I > have a > > > > fairly> > > > high tolerance for pain..........probably from lots of > experience, > > > > LOL.> > > >> > > > Barb Young, THR 2-13-07,> > > > very active 63 years> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >>