|
|
Post by Mayleng on Dec 6, 2012 11:05:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by healthy11 on Dec 6, 2012 18:24:44 GMT -5
This information is vitally important to everyone who uses generic medications, and so I trust you don't mind, Mayleng, that I put "WARNING" in the title.
Sadly, it confirms what many of us have suspected all along about the variability in generic medications, compared to the brand names. The FDA simply wasn't testing them adequately. Unfortunately, many patients are still "stuck" using the generics due to private insurance regulations, etc. I realize not every company who manufactures a generic medication is intentionally making an ineffective product, but even one case, like this Wellbutrin situation, is one case too many.
|
|
|
|
Post by michellea on Dec 6, 2012 19:26:09 GMT -5
Posted this one on FB. I know my husband pays out of pocket for one of his brand name medications because of the ill effects of the generic the insurance company requires. (the insurance company that we pay out of pocket $2500+/month in premiums).... This piece points to not only a financial cost but a severe health risk.
|
|
|
|
Post by hsmom on Dec 6, 2012 22:48:17 GMT -5
Is the FDA only recalling the 300 mg generic Wellbutrin marketed by Teva? It's been well-known for a long time that both 150 mg and 300 mg doses are ineffective.
I know that when I was taking thyroid medication, my doctor had me take the brand name because she did not see improvements with her patients taking the generic one.
|
|
|
|
Post by eoffg on Dec 7, 2012 3:31:12 GMT -5
Though the FDA doesn't test drugs, it just recieves the data from the company, which it reviews and can then give approval.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mayleng on Dec 7, 2012 9:06:56 GMT -5
eoffg, it's like asking the fox to guard the hen house. Data can be "fixed" to the benefit of the company.
|
|
|
|
Post by healthy11 on Dec 7, 2012 9:30:36 GMT -5
When I read the article, I didn't even think it was a case of data being "fixed," which is another potential problem. The Wellbutrin situation sounded to me like a complete lack of knowledge. The assumption ("extrapolation") was that if x amount of active ingredients worked in an X dosage medication, then 2x of active ingredient should work twice as well in a pill labeled twice the dosage amount. In practical terms, things don't always work in a linear way, but NOBODY did actual testing to verify its effectiveness. (per Wikipedia, When talking in terms of efficacy vs. effectiveness, effectiveness relates to how well a treatment works in the practice of medicine, as opposed to efficacy, which measures how well treatment works in clinical trials or laboratory studies.)
|
|
|
|
Post by hsmom on Dec 7, 2012 12:27:43 GMT -5
The different generic medication may contain the same amount of the active ingredient, but with long-acting medication, the delivery system can be different. And, this is the problem with Teva's generic Wellbutrin XL, known as Budeprion XL. Here is an article from the People's Pharmacy. www.peoplespharmacy.com/2009/02/16/are-generic-dru/Wellbutrin is a widely used medication, but has warnings that come with it regarding side effects and interactions. Here is a detailed information. www.peoplespharmacy.com/2000/04/01/bupropion/ |
|
