Are Generic Drugs as Effective as Name Brands?

• “No”

  

  “Low Drug Levels are As Bad As High Levels”

• No Objections Yet

Low Drug Levels are As Bad As High Levels

Peter Kowey, MD

Main Line Health

Expert Verified | See Profile

Recommend (0) Comments (0)

This is not just a matter of reduced potency, but rather precision. Obtaining too high a plasma concentration with a change in formulation places the patient in grave danger. This is most clearly manifest with antiarrhythmic drugs and anticoagulants wherein excess concentrations can lead to ventricular proarrhythmia/heart block and serious bleeding respectively. There is no hope of exposing this safety liability during generic development in which normal, healthy volunteers are the test subjects. For these people, plasma concentrations will not lead to adverse events as they do in susceptible patients, the real target for the drugs in question.

Next Argument

"No" Peter Kowey MD

• Therapeutic Margins Are Too Small
  0
• Low Drug Levels are As Bad As High Levels
  0
• We Have Enough Variance in Drug Therapeutics—We Don’t Need More
  0

"No" ConsumerLab

• Consumers are Reporting Problems When Switched to Generic Drugs
  0
• Generics Are Not Tested for Safety and Efficacy
  0
• Generics Drugs are Given Much Leeway in How They Perform
  0
• Binders, Fillers, and Other Chemicals May Be Different
  0
• Delivery Mechanism and Rate of Release May Be Different
  0
• Product Information for Generics May be Incorrect and Misleading
  0
• There May Be Manufacturing Problems with Some Generics
  0

"Yes" Generic Pharmaceuticals Association

• By Law, Generic Medicines Are the Same Medicines as Brands
  0
• Generic Medicines and Brand Medicines Deliver the Same Health Benefits
  0
• Generic Medicines Must Meet Same High Quality Standards as Brands
  0
• Post-Marketing Surveillance Requirements
  0
• Generics Provide Significant Savings to Consumers
  0

"Yes" Consumers Union

• Generics Must Have the Same Active Chemicals
  0
• The Basics
  0
• Switching Drugs
  0

"Yes" Amer Soc of Health System Pharmacists

• Generics are as Effective as Brand-Name Medications
  0
• Individuals May React Differently to Any Drug
  0
• Affordable Medications Bring Good Health to More People
  0

Most Objections

• Generics Must Have the Same Active Chemicals
  0
• Generics Drugs are Given Much Leeway in How They Perform
  0

Do Generic Drugs Work?

• Yes
• No

View Results