Re: Re: generic azithromycin?

[Guest guest]

Generic drugs are required to

have identical active ingredients, however, binders, fillers,

excipients, buffering / coating, coloring, and other things like the

material capsules are made out of, or their size, can all vary.

For people sensitive to chemicals and certain foods, the difference

between brand and generic (or between generics from different

manufacturers) can be significant. The brand medicine tends to be

safer for such persons. If you think about it, this makes sense

because the original developer of a drug is highly motivated to

minimize side effects and maximize compliance, whereas the knockoff

manufacturer is highly motivated to cut corners and lower prices.

As an example, brand name Biaxin in our experience is much easier on

the stomach than generic. Generic Ceftin uses a blue food coloring

whereas the brand does not. And so forth.

One assumes the biological effect of the active ingredients are

identical, but even there, I suspect that what is required to comply

with the requirement of "identical" probably has more to do with what

goes on in a test tube than with how it works in vitro. In other words

it's based on an analysis of the composition of the pills, or even an

analysis of the paper trail of what allegedly goes in, rather than on

some new set of human trials.

--Bob

jim davis wrote:

The FDA in the USA, says brand and generic are equal.

Period.

--- dumbaussie2000 <dumbaussie2000 .au>

wrote:

> No, No, no, no..I just started working again and

> can't be bothered

> arguing.BUT if someone comes in and throws pop corn

> idea's at these

> conditions, I do see red..I also strongly feel that

> some fools that

> allow there drugs to be generic, risk the rise and

> development of

> resistance (which is why we are here in the first

> place) if they

> don't follow thru to make sure the drugs work like

> there supposed to..

> I actually compared generic versus known brand on

> many occasions the

> last with augmentin...I just wanted to see the zones

> of inhibition

> being identical..

>

>

>

>

>

> > >

> > > Is anyone seeing a decline in the effectiveness

> of Zithromax

> using

> > the new

> > > generic versions? Here is the news article from

> a year ago. I

> know

> > this

> > > article looks like Pfizer is just trying to hold

> onto its profit,

> > but what

> > > if the antibiotic is not as effective? - a

> Carnes

> > >

> > >

> >

>

http://www.pharmabioingredients.com/news/2006/02/08/pfizer_sues_teva,_

> > sandoz

> > > _over_zithromax

> > >

> > > Breaking News From Pharma & Bio Ingredients

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Pfizer Sues Teva, Sandoz Over Zithromax

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Posted on 2006-02-08 22:11:00

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Pfizer Inc. has filed a patent infringement suit

> against generic

> > drug makers

> > > Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Sandoz

> Inc. concerning

> > generic

> > > versions of the antibiotic Zithromax.

> > >

> > > Representatives from Sandoz, based in Princeton,

> N.J., and Teva,

> > based in

> > > Israel, couldn't immediately be reached for

> comment.

> > >

> > > In a press release Wednesday, Pfizer also said

> it filed a

> petition

> > with the

> > > U.S. Food and Drug Administration, claiming

> Teva's and Sandoz's

> > azithromycin

> > > product labels do not accurately describe the

> drug's active

> > ingredients.

> > >

> > > According to Pfizer, the generics contain

> significant amounts of

> > > azithromycin sesquihydrate, rather than the

> azithromycin

> > monohydrate that

> > > their labels state.

> > >

> > > Pfizer's Zithromax and generic azithromycin,

> launched by the

> > company's

> > > Greenstone subsidiary, contain azithromycin

> dihydrate, which is

> the

> > product

> > > approved in Pfizer's new drug application.

> > >

> > > Pfizer, based in New York, is asking the FDA to

> recall the drugs

> > and review

> > > the product approval applications filed by the

> two companies.

> > >

> >

>

>

>

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