Generic vs brand medications?

[tec699]

I was prescribed 20 mg. of generic methylphenidate (ritalin). I'm on a one week trial and when I go back to talk to my psychiatrist this coming Monday I'll tell him what effect it has had on me. I took my first tablet today at 2:00 pm and the first thing I realized is that I became hyper. I had to go do a project that I'm involved in and it went well. Also, I work midnights and I desperately need sleep but yet I'm not tired.

Anyway, I'm going to see if the generic brand is going to be adequate or else if the side effects are too harsh I may try to go with the "real" ritalin instead. The price though for a 30 day supply of "real" ritalin is close to $250 while the generic brands go for only $50

Does anyone have any experience with the two types (generic and brand name). My sister who has ADHD was on the generic brand of ritalin when she was attending Rutgers University a couple of years ago and it worked great. She was able to focus and her grades greatly improved. Now other people that have taken the generic brands have said that they have had no effect on their ADHD and the side effects were pretty bad.

So I can use the help.

Ok, Thanks.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

typically they are the same, but some instances there may be slight differences. about the only choice is to try the name brand and see if you have any problems. you may or may not.

 

[cjgallen]

Doesn't the FDA require all the ingredients to be identical?

 

[tec699]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
typically they are the same, but some instances there may be slight differences. about the only choice is to try the name brand and see if you have any problems. you may or may not.

True. I could go with a 30 day supply of generic ritalin and then the next month I could try a brand name. Also, I just noticed that adderol is inexpensive. Is this for real? A 30 day supply will only cost $30-40? Is adderol a good alternative to ritalin?

 

[tweakmm]

Technically there should be no difference between a generic and name brand pill of the same dosage but realistically there might be a small difference in strength. There should not however be wildly different effects and side effects.

 

[FlyLice]

psychiatrist = shrink = quack

 

[sniperruff]

one word: SAME. this applies to ALL generic medicines.

 

[tec699]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Doesn't the FDA require all the ingredients to be identical?

I don't know but someone was saying that it has to do with the shell of the tablet. Suspossedly the outer shell of the generic ritalin is cause your body to absorb 30% less of the medication then if it was the real stuff. The outer shell of the generic ritalin hampers your body from absorbing all of the contents. If that makes sense. I don't even know if this is correct.

There is so much misinformation on the net.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Technically there should be no difference between a generic and name brand pill of the same dosage but realistically there might be a small difference in strength. There should not however be wildly different effects and side effects.

Generic drugs must have the same active ingredients, strength, and dosage form to be approved by the FDA. There may be a difference in fillers, which may produce slightly different effects, but not enough to warrant the price markups that pharmaceutical companies place on brand names.

 

[mwtgg]

I thought if Ritalin, Strattera, etc., don't work it's because you don't really need to take it.

Am I wrong?

 

[tec699]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
one word: SAME. this applies to ALL generic medicines.

Maybe, but people have told me that this doesn't apply to ritalin and that there is a big difference between the generic and the real stuff.

It could all be imaginary though.

 

[StageLeft]

Same fvcking stuff; I always buy generic of any drug I can.

 

[tec699]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
I thought if Ritalin, Strattera, etc., don't work it's because you don't really need to take it.

Am I wrong?

good point. Maybe someone could elaborate on this a bit.

 

[PHiuR]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
I thought if Ritalin, Strattera, etc., don't work it's because you don't really need to take it.

Am I wrong?

this is true i believe...

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
one word: SAME. this applies to ALL generic medicines.

That's USUALLY true, but there are some exceptions, such as thyroid replacement hormone. Brand can be very important, and substitutions can cause problems for some people. The FDA is working to iron out the problems with those manufacturers though and hopefully it won't be a problem for much longer.