Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I
What you have posted about generic medications is so unbelievably common. Many of the large generic drug companies have had multiple problems-quality control, foreign substances found in the medications, deliberate misrepresentation of the ingredients. This year Ranbaxy-in India-one of the largest of the generic purveyors had to recall all it's generic Lipitor-small bits of glass were found in many batches. When my dad was alive, his pharmacist switched his hypertension medicine to a new generic form of Aldomet-it took us a while to figure out why his BP began to fluctuate and was not adequately controled.
For some medications-it makes very little difference-if the generic is not working as well as a branded drug-you could just take an extra dose. But with some medications where the titration dose is critical-blood thinners, diabetes meds, antihypertensives, and in some cases antibiotics-there can be a major difference and serious complications.
Do drugs cost too much? In many cases absolutely. Are generics cheaper? Often but not always. We wrote for a psoriasis ointment Dovonex for many years-it was extremely expensive. it is now a generic(Calcipotriene marketed by Taro pharmaceuticals). They are the ONLY generic maker of the drug and they charge as much as the brand drug used to cost (over $300 per 60gm tube which lasts the average patient a couple weeks).
Would I take generics-sure, for conditions that i am not too concerned about absolute treatment or control. I would take a generic tylenol, aspirin, pain med like hydrocodone, anti spasmodic, proton pump inhibitor, etc. If it did not work as well, i would probably just pop an extra one. But for treating conditions where dosage is critical to maintain a steady state, or with medications that have more severe complications and side effects-NO WAY.
What you have posted about generic medications is so unbelievably common. Many of the large generic drug companies have had multiple problems-quality control, foreign substances found in the medications, deliberate misrepresentation of the ingredients. This year Ranbaxy-in India-one of the largest of the generic purveyors had to recall all it's generic Lipitor-small bits of glass were found in many batches. When my dad was alive, his pharmacist switched his hypertension medicine to a new generic form of Aldomet-it took us a while to figure out why his BP began to fluctuate and was not adequately controled.
For some medications-it makes very little difference-if the generic is not working as well as a branded drug-you could just take an extra dose. But with some medications where the titration dose is critical-blood thinners, diabetes meds, antihypertensives, and in some cases antibiotics-there can be a major difference and serious complications.
Do drugs cost too much? In many cases absolutely. Are generics cheaper? Often but not always. We wrote for a psoriasis ointment Dovonex for many years-it was extremely expensive. it is now a generic(Calcipotriene marketed by Taro pharmaceuticals). They are the ONLY generic maker of the drug and they charge as much as the brand drug used to cost (over $300 per 60gm tube which lasts the average patient a couple weeks).
Would I take generics-sure, for conditions that i am not too concerned about absolute treatment or control. I would take a generic tylenol, aspirin, pain med like hydrocodone, anti spasmodic, proton pump inhibitor, etc. If it did not work as well, i would probably just pop an extra one. But for treating conditions where dosage is critical to maintain a steady state, or with medications that have more severe complications and side effects-NO WAY.
are receiving a similar experience to what others are seeing in different areas of the country.