Change of flecainide brand from accord to milpharm.

[Profound15]

I’ve just received my monthly flecainide medication and the pharmacy have changed the brand from accord to milpharm. The accord brand seems to be working well and I’m concerned about the change. Can anyone advise if I’m right to be concerned or otherwise please. Thank you

[meadfoot]

Accord works for me. I have asked pharmacy to only give me that brand. Yes for me they do differ whether manufacturers say so or not. Stick with what you know.

[ijregner in reply to meadfoot]

I thought that contents had to be identical for generic drugs.

[meadfoot in reply to ijregner]

So they should you would imagine but some people seem to have less favourable outcomes with different brands of drugs not just flecainide. What has made you wonder about any difference.

Perhaps it is something in the manufacturing process or any coating om the tablets which differs, I have no idea but I do know that the accord brand are effective for me and others have been less helpful.

[Frances123 in reply to ijregner]

The active ingredient is the same but it’s the fillers, coatings etc that can change or are in different quantities. It’s this that some people are sensitive or react too. I stick with Accord or Teva and seem to be fine on those.

[Profound15 in reply to Frances123]

thanks Frances

[Karendeena in reply to ijregner]

The drug itself has to be to be licenced, however my chemist friend (who also makes drugs in his pharmaceutical company) tells me generic versions can have additives that affect the way he body absorbs them

[pottypete1]

I have been taking Flecainide for more than 30 years and up until last year always had Tambacor prescribed by name.

Some years ago the changed me to generic brand and I had an AF episode a couple of days after.

Last year Tambacor became very difficult to source so I tried generic Flecainide again. So far I have had no problems.

You might find that you don’t have any issues as the basic ingredients are the same. Might be worth seeing what happens.

If you can save some “Accord” Flecainide while you try the new one if you can.

Pete

[Profound15]

Thanks for the responses. I’m going to ask for Accord from now on as I’m really concerned about changing. If it ain’t broke ……

[jeanjeannie50]

I always had Accord Flecainide and Levothyroxine (for underactive) thyroid, tried different brands but they never kept my AF in check. I only have Milpharm in another type of pill, I think they are a good company too. Try your Milpharm Flec, you may find you like them more. It's also the colouring in pills that can have an effect on me at night, make me a bit hyper when I want to sleep.

Jean

[BobD Volunteer]

I have never experience any differences or problems with whatever brand of any of my meds are given to me. Some people do seem to be oversensitive to such matters so you will get lots of answers.

[Bagrat in reply to BobD]

The only brand that mainstream HCPs are agreed on as far as I can remember, is that lanoxin of the same dose as digoxin has a different absorption profile so you shouldn't swap between the two.Like you Bob I take anything provided ( once I've checked dose and expiry!)

[Profound15]

Been to see the pharmacist and she has advised that their suppliers just send them ‘any’ brand. I’ve now contacted the doctors and they have now specified Accord only and have drawn up a new prescription. Fingers crossed the pharmacist is able to get accord. Thanks for your responses

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Profound15]

It depends on their wholesalers. Lloyds could not get my Coaguchek strips so I had my prescription put back on the system and went to Tesco Extra who downloaded it and got them for me next day.

[Profound15]

Thanks Bob. Just found out that my pharmacy can’t get accord as they’re in short supply. Phoned Accord and they have advised who they supply to and there is a shortage. Hoping to source them tomorrow fingers crossed (got a paper copy of my prescription).

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Profound15]

Boots can always get me Accord products. The previous pharmacy I used always had difficulty. I'd ring around pharmacy's in your area rather than go to every one, that's what I did at one time.

Jean

[Profound15]

Thanks Jean. Phoned Boots no answer. In fact phoned a few and no answer from a variety. Others I spoke to don’t even know which brands they use. Think I’ve got a pharmacy that has them so heading there in the morning. Hopefully works out ok. Accord the manufacturers told me it should be resolved on 3rd July though.

[Sunnyann]

Without a doubt a change of brand with any medication means different ingredients....even just to look at different brands that are coated in a different colour coating shows there is a different ingredient which can quite easily affect individuals differently . And yet doctors and pharmacists insist there is no difference. Have experienced this with PPI for my stomach issues on several occasions.

[Profound15 in reply to Sunnyann]

Thanks. I’m not convinced they’re exactly the same either

[secondtry]

Thanks for posting I am in the same boat, will ring my surgery pharmacy on Monday. I have built up slowly a one month buffer stock of Accord for this very reason.

[Profound15]

Managed to get a months supply today which I’m relieved about. Went in to another pharmacy and they told me that their wholesaler was out of stock. Accord have told me they expect to have the problem solved by 3rd July so let’s hope it is.

[Singwell]

Personally I found I got on best with Accord and had issues with change of brand. Usually its to do with the buffers they use. Go online and check the full contents of each brand. Make a note of any changes in effectiveness or side effects and talk to your pharmacist if you experience either of these. Pharmacists are usually more amenable to making sure you get your preferred brand than GPs.

[Profound15 in reply to Singwell]

Thanks singwell. Problem is that there appears to be a shortage and Accord are only issuing the medication to one wholesaler, at least that’s what they told me yesterday. She also advised me that they anticipate the issue being resolved by 3rd July. I’ve now got my brand which should last a month or so. Hopefully it’s just a blip but I now know which pharmacies use the Accord wholesaler

[Vonnegut in reply to Singwell]

When I liked your post once again the likes went from 1 to 0 when it should be at least 2 . I got it back to 1 but it should be more!! The “buffers” must be the problem, messing up our digestion and adding to my fatigue but not sure what I should be looking for and how to get the info!

[Vonnegut]

I had the same experience but sadly, I can’t persuade the surgery to specify Accord on my prescription so had to find a pharmacy that did have it in stock but the next time I went to collect it they gave me two packets of different brands! Apparently the pharmacies are just supplied with what is the cheapest their suppliers can get at the time!! I reported one of them to the Yellow card guys as it didn’t work for me! The pack I am using now are Almus which I’d had before and worked as well as Accord but the other pack they gave me (in a bag as always so you don’t know exactly what it is before you open it) is made here in England by a company called Brown & Burk UK Ltd. Hope they’ll be ok!!

[Singwell in reply to Vonnegut]

I always open the bag in the pharmacy in front of the salesperson now and give the pills back unopened if they're not right. Of course, that presupposes you have a small back up stash...

[Vonnegut in reply to Singwell]

But I thought once they’d been given to you they had to be destroyed if you returned them! I’ll try what you say if I’m involved next time but usually my husband has to do the shopping because of the dreadful fatigue I have. I could give him a list of the acceptable makes so he can attempt to reject the possibly dodgy ones!! Surely, it shouldn’t be left to us to sort this sort of thing out!

[Singwell in reply to Vonnegut]

If you leave the premises, yes. But if you check whilst at the counter you can hand the packet back unopened. My pharmacy seems to accept that. I normally say- just let me check it's all correct.

[Vonnegut in reply to Singwell]

I’ll have to try that in future or get my husband to do that as he usually picks up my meds with his.

[Profound15]

Thanks. Yes I also thought that this was a case of getting the cheapest brand but my pharmacist was at pains to advise me yesterday that wasn’t the case. The ones she gave me were produced by Milpharm so I’ve no idea if they are any good as I don’t want to take them. I’m just hoping the issue will be resolved in the next couple of weeks

[Karendeena]

Not associated with Flecainide but I have just had the same problem with apixaban with my GP changing if from the branded version (elequis) to the genetic apixaban. I am not imagining this but since the change I have noticed more occurrences of bruising. I talked to my friend who is a qualified chemist and makes drugs in his pharmaceutical company and he has told me that sometimes generic versions have different 'makeup' that can affect the way the body absorbs the drug. I have also spoken to my pharmacist about this and he can't disagree.

The changes are due to cost so I have asked to go back on the branded version and it has been agreed.....for now, so I will see what happens.

If you are not happy about the change ask to revert back to the branded version.

[Visitingcat]

I have definite problems with a couple of generic brands of flecainade, these symptoms come on gradually over about a fortnight then when I change back to my normal brand they ease off over the same length of time but sometimes take ages to really clear up.

They give me reflux symptoms and I feel that tablets stick in my gullet. I have to take them and eat something after to get them down even when I’m not supposed to eat with them like flecainade. It’s like there’s a ball of gas in my gullet which take ages to ease off.

I used to put a note on when I ordered repeats online but was told not to do this and speak to the pharmacy.

The pharmacy put a note on my account and for ages it was absolutely fine. The last two times I’ve gone in, I’ve been given that brand again.I’ve always checked before leaving the shop as once they have been off the premises they cannot reissue them so I just give them straight back and mention the notes on my account.

Then I gave back the generic and boots tried to get accord or Almus and just kept being sent the other brand and they were piling up!

They say it’s because they are packed elsewhere, they just send what they have so I had to accept them, I was upset about it though.

The previous posts about shortages are interesting regarding this and give me a little hope that things might improve.

Boots also said that if GP names a brand on the Persciption it’s in small print and not noticed or ignored.

I even phoned another independent pharmacist and asked if they could get named brands and the said they would be lying if the said yes as now that they are done electronically they just send what they have.

I had built up spare of the Almus and started the generic by taking the Almus in the morning and generic in the evening and weaned myself onto them and are now on them all the time.

I have still got a few strips of Almus and keep them for when I have to take an extra one which is more often now as the generic definately doesn’t keep me out of afib as well as accord or Almus. I definitely don’t want to take extra of the generic. The speed the extra Almus pill puts me back to normal shows to me that they are better, for me at least.

I still get the “sticking “ but it’s not as horrible a feeling as when I first took them, I’ve also gone onto decaf tea and coffee after reading that on here and it’s improved my reflux a huge amount so this has probably helped.

Sorry for writing a novel, hope there’s something useful in there, 🙂

[JerrysGirl3]

I have always had issues with "inactive ingredients" in meds. I found a pharmacy a distance away that carried my brand. This last fill up he said he can no longer get that brand. I'm very nervous about the new ones I'm picking up today. What is with the pill shortages in America that we have to go to countries around the world to source our meds? Very scary. And very wrong.