I have generic versions of my sinus meds as well as my allergy meds.
When I take the "brand name" version of said meds, I feel great and they work well.
When I take the "generic version" of sinus pills, I feel shaky and strange, and it doesn't clear up my sinus headache as well. With the allergy pills, I notice if I am not taking the name brand, my eyes itch and I don't feel as much relief.
I know I am not imagining this. It took me a while to figure out why I felt this way, until I made the connection, so I don't think it is a placebo effect where I tell myself, "this doesn't work as well" and then it doesn't. But maybe it is?
As I understand it, the only difference between name brand and generic is the INACTIVE ingredients, right? So what gives? Anyone else experience this?
My husband says I am nuts and this is all in my head. He says if the active ingredients are exactly the same, the effectiveness won't be any different and that I am spending money just to purchase "the name".
Could be that you have an intollernace to something they are putting in (an inactive ingreadient/filler/wax, etc.). So stick to the name brand. No reason to not feel good. I'd say it's worth the extra money.
Also, I use Allegra - I find it is cheapest when bought at Costco or BJs.
Yep, some of the ingredients in generic OR brand name can make a difference.
It's not all in your head, well it is but you are not imagining it. I was comparing meds at a pharmacy once and the pharmacist came out to help me sort through the name brands and generics. She told me that the "inactive" ingredients can affect the way that the medication is absorbed. So even if the drugs are chemically the same, they may not be processed by your body in the same way. She suggested sticking to the name brand. My doctor also suggested, and prescribes the name brand for me unless there is a huge cost difference. He has found that some generics are better than others but you don't know which generic company the pharmacy is using when you prescribe a generic. According to this doctor, the name brand meds are more consistent.
Yep, I was on allegra, they gave me the generic and it sucked.. tell your doc what's going on and he can write "dispense brand name" on the RX to make sure you get the good stuff. You're not crazy. Some people notice it and some don't.. good luck!
The ONLY medicine that doesn't work, store brand, is CVS brand Delsym. It doesn't even have the same ingredients!
Other than that, yeah, it's in your head, I love generics ;)
Maybe put the generic stuff in a brand name bottle? That works on my husband, LOL!!
Hi S.-
I had read (or heard) that generic drugs have a 'plus' or minus 'margin' for the 'active' ingredient...It causes issues, particularly for meds like blood thinners that have to be carefully monitored and the dosage frequently changed based on PT/PTT...even IF the doc prescribes a certain mg dosage...with generic drugs, the actual mg can vary widely. For Shannon...when she was on drugs...I insisted that she NOT get generic for this reason....
So, NO it is NOT in your mind...IMHO!!
Best Luck!
Michele/cat
Don't forget, if you're billing your medications through an insurance company, that they generally do not want to pay the extra money for a brand name if there is a generic available. Industry standard would be to charge the prescription co-pay PLUS the difference between the brand and generic. So if your doctor marks on your prescription that you HAVE to have brand name, you're stuck with the extra cost. Doesn't matter to the insurance company which you prefer, or which is better for you. It's all about the bottom line.
If that's the case, you might want to think about using a FSA or HSA, and shopping around for the best price so that you can pay cash. But also remember that for your safety, it's best to have your prescription records in one central database. That way the computer system and the pharmacist can double check for interactions, etc.
For every person that says the generic is the same, there is another who says the generic is inferior. Everyone is different. I am a big user of generics in general, but I believe that differences exist. And whether it's a placebo effect or not doesn't reallly matter, does it? Just matters what your reality is. Very existential, no? And you thought we were just talking about medications!:)
Generics are never exactly the same as the brand. But that doesn't mean they are worse or harmful.
The placebo effect is huge.
I don't think you're crazy. If you can afford switching to name brands, then do it. No sense in taking a generic that doesn't help your issue, right?!
You say "I know I am not imagining this." So there's your answer!
I would wonder if the inactive ingredients don't have effects of their own...
You're not crazy. I don't recall any specific instances personally, but it makes sense to me, that ANY differing ingredients could make you feel differently taking them. Even the inactive ones. The inactive ones, I would imagine, are the ones that are likely used as "fillers" to hold the product together and such.... which may mean that it dissolves or is absorbed more or less quickly---even though the actual dosage of the active ingredients is the same. I'm no pharmacologist, so this is conjecture on MY part, but it seems logical to me...
I was taking Prevacid OTC for Acid reflux. I have tried ALL of the other name brand and generics, and it's the only one that works for me. Some of the other name brands work, but don't last as long and I need twice as many, the generics are even worse. I finally have my Rx meds again and even though it's the same active ingredient in the same dose it works better than everything else. Makes me think that there is some trickery going on in the manufacturing process.
My Dr has told me that there's a reason that the brand name is more expensive.
While what I look for for my sinus issues is strictly pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen, most often the inactive ingredients are the same between Advil Cold & Sinus and store brand.]
If you don't get the sinus stuff from behind the pharmacy counter, then it's a whole different ball game. It's phenylephrine rather than pseudoephedrine... And my Dr has told me that most people have no relief from phenylephrine at all... No matter the brand.
With strictly Allergy meds....... There are several different types of base medication. Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin... All 3 have different base meds in them.
i can only really take the walgreens form of allergy meds and feel ok. it really clears me up quickly. the other stuff, i don't bother with, i feel "off" in the head, kinda dizzy, and very weak. i would normally have to lie down for a nap if i took the other stuff.
S.:
No, honey - it's not all in your head...sometimes generic versions of drugs have a TAD different make-up than the "brand names" - which causes the jitters and such...
I'll talk to my sister who's a pharmacist and get back you! Deal?
