Brand change

[Mazza23]

Has anyone had a problem with different brands of the same medication my chemist gave me a different brand of bisoprolol and I have had a problem with my HR going much higher than normal

[tony85]

It should not make a difference. Most medicine has different brand names but contains same ingredients

[PeterWh]

It can definitely be the case hence, not only with Bisoprolol. Other people have said this in previous posts.

Bisoprolol from different manufacturers are different sizes and not necessarily the same colour. The base ingredients may be the same but it can be the fillers and the colouring that is different. It is only the "core" ingredients that have to be the same. This obviously mainly applies to generic medicines not those that are still under patent.

Also if you go to the chemist and look at over the counter drugs / medicines you could, for instance see, two different types of the same "family" drug and one claims that it "targets" different things (and have a big price difference). If you look at the packet carefully and in particular the contents list and importantly the licence number then they could be absolutely identical but the special one is say 3 times the price!!!

[Mazza23 in reply to PeterWh]

These ones where heart shaped my usual ones are round. I shouldn't have taken themes I also have lqts so have tobe very careful but he assured me they where the same

[stormcloud]

I had the same problem when I started taking Bisoprolol several years ago and solved it by asking my GP to write on my prescription the brand which I prefer. The pharmacist then has to provide you with this brand otherwise you can be given whatever they have in stock.

[pip_pip]

I had very same problems with different brands of bisoprolol. My GP, very reluctantly, confirmed on prescriptions for Cardicor which feel I can get on with. However I found this occasionally slips back to bisoprol on the prescription, which means another trip to the doctor to change it back to Cardicor. Don't let anyone tell you "it's the same"! It's not. The ingredients other than the basic bisoprol are different to each manufacturer. I've had countless arguments. Be sure of the brand you feel comfortable with, and insist your doctor puts that on file, for prescriptions

Phil

[A-E-F]

My pharmacist has made a note to give me same brand....and same individual 'value' of meds.

Could have been coincidence but when I changed to one 5mg tablet of Warfarin when trying to get to suggested INR and had 4 'bleeds', I went back to 1x3mg and 2x1mg and so far no bleeds.

[eleanor--1941]

Many times over the years and taking 20 pills a day,for

almost 30yrs Mazza,had to dig my heels in to get what was first prescribed for me.

Terrible side effects from BP shooting up,to being allergic to actual capsule cases etc,etc,get more stressed out over this than the illnesses I have to deal with.

Just insist with your Doctors and anyone else concerned,eventually they get the message,all boils down to Cost!!!.they don't consider the patient.

Keep well.

Eleanor.

[Jimppy]

My bisoprolol prescription regularly changes between two different brands. Can't say I've noticed any difference tbh.

[Mazza23]

Thank yo all for your replies

[Marti99]

I've not noticed a difference with different brands of Bisoprolol, but one brand of Flecainide was awful, crumbled as you got it out of the packet - and it's bitter enough when you take it whole, as a powder it made me gag!

[Nannie-C]

Had similar probs with prednisolone, yes different brands can vary despite what they tell you

[cassie46]

I had the same problem with Bisoprolol. All was fine for six months then I noticed that my HR was all over the place. I looked at the tablets and realised it was a different maker to the other ones. It had Tartrazine in them for the colouring. This is banned in some countries as it can make some people hyper. I rang GP to get a new presciption and he agreed that this was porbably the problem. I have had several different makers since then but all have been fine, the offending one was from Mylan.

Cassie

[Mazza23 in reply to cassie46]

Thanks have just woken up with AF now haave been in nsr for a few weeks grrr

[Hidden]

I have no experience with Bisoprolol but have definitely had significant difference in side-effects between two brands of the same drug (Propafenone). That's unless it was a bad batch if that's possible!

[checkmypulse]

Yes happens with anti-depressants, two people I know react adversely to same drug from from a different manufacturer. With both they asked GP's to specify the 'good' manufacturer on his prescription. So it looks like it also happens with Biso.

[Mazza23 in reply to checkmypulse]

Should not be alowed it's our lives they are playing with

[PeterWh in reply to Mazza23]

One can affect one person and yet not affect another. Just shows how different we all are. Also can be affected if taking other medicines.

[Bollox2AF]

I have noticed different brands of the same prescription lately,but to be honest felt no different..same strength etc.