Sick and tired of high drug costs? You're not alone. Americans spend more than 150 billion dollars per year on pharmaceuticals, and with costs rising all the time, many are looking to generic alternatives. These products promise the same benefits as their name-brand equivalents, but at a fraction of the cost. When considering something as important as your personal health, do generic drugs measure up?
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I don't have health insurance right now, but prescription costs have become increasingly difficult to manage. I started saving by switching to generic drugs by using Medtipster.
Medtipster allows you to type in your drug name, dosage and zip code to search for and locate prescription drugs that are available on discount generic programs across the United States; many of which are available for as little as $4. Prescriptions that are not available on a discounted program often have therapeutic alternatives on a discounted generic program, which are also available on MedTipster’s website.
- Health Care
April 1, 2009 1:56PM
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Generics are usually as effective as name brands. I know for me, I have always been able to take generics just fine. However, there are some people who are very sensitive to the other ingredients and for whom only the name brand will be effective. I believe this option should be left open to them (and covered by their insurance) if they try the generic and it fails to work, or doesn't work as well.
- Newbirth August 18, 2008 4:34PM
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Since I am not a medical professional, I can only reply regarding my own situation. Fortunately, I do not take or need many prescription drugs, either due to healthy lifestyle, genes, or a combination. However, I have been taking two different prescription drugs for a number of years. One of these is a brand name which, over the years, is the one which several doctors have recommended. None of them thought I should be taking the generic form.
However, a few years ago, I was prescribed a very expensive brand name drug for a different condition. This is an extremely well-known and highly advertised drug. Although it did its job, according to blood tests, I had terrible side effects. Physician then switched me to a well-known generic form. I have now been on this drug for a few years. It too does its job as is shown by blood tests, but I have no adverse side effects.
I imagine therefore that since there are so many individual body chemistry issues here, that there may not be one answer which 'fits' all. It certainly is worthy trying a prescribed generic as the price variance is so great between the two. If it doesn't work, then I say - switch to the brand name if you wish.
- mellis September 3, 2008 2:39PM
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I'm just guessing here, but maybe when people switch to the generic equivalent, believing it wouldn't work, it just doesn't; a self-fulfilling prophecy
- mackerman
September 30, 2009 4:04PM
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So drug companies are going to make products that kill their customers and thus cut their revenue? You'll need to come up with something more plausible than that.
- F2XL December 2, 2008 7:13PM
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I have been having allergic reactions to some antibotics, and have had some of the negative side effects to changes to generics blood pressure pills in the past. A pharmacist once suggested that possibly I was experiencing reactions to the different fillers or presevatives? Not sure exactly of his terminology, but just looking at the different ingredients and suspicions about mercury etc in vacinations, I wonder if the ingredients are all exactly the same in generics, and if so why are they so much cheaper? IF fillers and preservatives or whatever are slightly different or changed because cheaper, could people have alleric reactions to slight or different chemicals in generics and name brand? I have been told to go to a allergist and have tests for antibiotics. But what else should I request especially when I have had a life long problem with skin reactions to metal and certain synthtics??
- Leslie September 23, 2009 3:01PM
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It is a serious matter when any drug has misleading product information. However, one example of misleading information does not prove that generic drug labels are any better or any worse than branded drug labels or product information.
- Michael Glass
September 20, 2008 1:44AM
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Are Generic Drugs as Effective as Name Brands?
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Generic drugs work the majority of the time
Over the course of my lifetime, I've taken a fair amount of prescription drugs for different health issues. I agree they work just as well the vast majority of the time, with minor exceptions. I CAN tell you that during those times when I had no health insurance, GENERIC DRUGS WERE A LIFESAVER! I'll give you some examples of the efficacy of RX drugs I've taken. My review is subjective, and doesn't account for things like degradation due to improper storage, etc. (excuse the format, they odn't allow text separation)
Prilosec v. Omeprazole = Brand name Prilosec wins this hands down. I had to take double the generic for the same results. Percocet v. Oxycodone = same relief. Ritalin v. Methylphenidate = same efficacy. Valium v. Diazepam = same efficacy.
- PSYOP
August 8, 2008 4:47PM
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Generic drugs work. Don't be suckered, America
As an Australian I have the advantage of a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Patients are offered the choice between brand name drugs and generic drugs. There is no problem with generic drugs. They save both the consumer and the Government money.
Finally, if you are reading this comment in the United States, just remember that Australians have a longer average life expectancy than you do, so it can't be doing us too much harm!
- Michael Glass
August 8, 2008 5:43PM
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Generic work for me
Generic drugs work for me.They save me money .That money helps out my family.
- zman
May 29, 2009 6:26PM
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They work for me!
I take anti-depressant and blood pressure medicine. I was being forced to use name-brand for awhile, as my pharmacy didn't offer it, when I realized this I switched pharmacies.
I save a ton of money, and they work just as well. No wonder your big pharmaceutical companies are so rich...overcharging for their products. Generic medications have the exact same active ingredients, therefore they work the same. Bottom line, end of story.
- bagpiper2005
August 12, 2008 2:24PM
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definition of generic drug means it's the same formula
I don't even understand how this is something to debate. The very definition of generic drug means it's the same drug.
From dictionary.com:
"generic: any product, as a type of food, drug, or cosmetic commonly marketed under a brand name, that is sold in a package without a brand. "
- ElaineVigneault
September 1, 2008 10:20PM
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Absolutely not a debate!
I had never heard of this topic as vaguely controversial before. The first point under the "yes" side states exactly what you say here, and as soon as I saw that on the main page I just thought, "Of course. Why are we even talking about this?" All the objections and complaints about generics sound like urban legends -- like, "I know someone whose cousin had a friend who was sick but generics didn't help." This is silly.
- thoughtcounts Z
September 5, 2008 7:55PM
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Elijah
Seems to me the issue isn't are all generics exactly the same, which begs the question why are they cheaper than, is it just pattons of brand products or slight differences in fillers and synthetics?
But that said, even if exactly the same, isnt it the individuals bodies and makeup that is never exactly the same, or react the same? Even in studies this is relevant and addressed. So this forum doesnt seem like a criticizm of Pharmacies or government necessarily, but a knowledge of individuals actual experience and reactions, and attempts to seek knowledge. I thought that was all what education , common sense and debate was about. There is no "absolutely not a debate" about it, is condescending and stupid. The only stupid people I know are those who don't ask questions and seek out information in their own medical care and knowledge. If it works for you fine, but judge not until you have walked in someone elses shoes. Just a suggestion.
- Leslie
September 23, 2009 3:17PM
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You bet they are.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28020739 /
- F2XL
December 2, 2008 7:09PM
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Generic Effective
I have been taking generic drugs for a long time and this has been effective to me for me. I feel generic are effective and also best priced You can get treated at low price and effective. I even don't have health insurance . Generics have been best friend of mine. I get best priced generics from a online pharmacy ( http://www.internationaldrugmart.com /) which has decade old experience in pharmaceuticals
- joy123
May 28, 2009 4:00AM
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Depends on the drug
They work in many cases, but in some cases they don't. For example, people with epilepsy often cannot tolerate the generics due to the leaps between proper concentrations in the medications. For a person with epilepsy is must be very precise and similar from dose to dose, or they will have a seizure. Some the generics varying in concentration by 30% from dose to dose and that can be deadly for an epileptic.
The reality is, they work for some things and don't work for other things. It's not a one-size fits all question.
- caelum
September 10, 2009 12:51PM
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It Depends
i personally don't see a difference in the name brand but some doctors say that there is a significant difference in the effects when it comes down to it. I would only encourage a paitent to use the name brand if i have seen a significant difference in my clientele.
- VerbalAssasin07
September 19, 2009 5:21PM
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