hi all… just wondering of different thoughts regarding the make of meditation we are prescribed. I am taking bisoprolol and apixaban, and seem to be getting different makes each time from the chemist. When I ask for the same make usually am met with ‘they are all the same’ …but I also gather the fillers are different and can cause different effects/side-effects.
Any thoughts or knowledge re this would be appreciated.
You don’t normally have a choice unless you react to a filler. I’ve had that once only and GP then wrote a script to specify the branded version but as that cost £8/script more the practice weren’t particularly happy.
Never had a problem with generic Apixaban, can’t comment on Biso as stopped taking that 10 years ago as I couldn’t tolerate it at all.
Hi thanks for your reply. Sorry to be ignorant but… what is the difference / what do you mean when you say ‘branded’ version or generic’?
EG:- Apixaban is the generic name for Eliquis which is the Branded name. When a pharmaceutical company brings a product to market they will brand the product and give it a name to advertise it. Whilst the product is licensed they will be the only people to produce the drug for the years of the patent, often 20 years. After the patent expires any company can produce the drug, usually at much less cost. This is perfectly reasonable to help pharmaceutical companies to recoup the cost of research and development but in countries where patients need to pay for their drugs, can make them simply unaffordable. That is why drugs mostly have 2 names but the only one the medical profession will go by is the generic name and as drugs have never been allowed to be advertised in the UK, the only name we tend to recognise is the generic.
Different generics use different fillers or in the case of gel capsules - coatings.
There is great advantages to this as certain classes of drugs will carry the same suffix eg:- anything ending in ‘olol’ will always be a beta blocker, ‘em’ calcium channel blocker etc.
Hi
Yes my bisoprolol was in foil and now its not.
Chemist told me it is the same but if you were wanting to 1/2 the tablet so much more difficult now.
Others were grey and now they are white.
Tolerance to sleepiness the same I think.
cheri joy. 75. (NZ)
The one medication that always has to be the same formula is Diltiazem because they all differ slightly. If one doesn’t suit another one might - Adizem was bad for me but Slozem fine. Of course this doesn’t affect your prescription but giving as general info. If you do find one brand is much better for you you can ask the GP to specify but that could cause problems.
I take diltiazem extended release and at refill time the pharmacist did not have that manufacturer so he substituted a different one. And he also told me they are all the same. A couple of days later I reacted with short breakthrough runs of tachycardia. It wasn't severe but it was very unusual. I phoned up two independent pharmacists and they confirmed that while the active ingredient in both Diltiazems are the same, the differences are the inactives, the formulation, and especially the time release mechanisms that influence how medication is absorbed and processed.
And I use to take the brand name Eliquis but now I take generic apixaban. The difference....cost.
My Felodopine and Sotalol is always same make, as is my Warfarin. Simvastatin can and does vary with each prescription repeat. No sweat with this arrangement.
Most people (me included) seem to be absolutely fine with any "make" of meds. As you say some people react to fillers. The branded drug is the one originally developed and they have a monopoly on production for up to 20 years which helps to pay for the huge costs of developing a new drug. After that, other companies can make it having obtained a licence to do so.
My only concern is that the change of packaging can for some cause confusion.
Another exception as well as diltiazem is Lanoxin ( branded digoxin) as its bioavailibility is different.
Hi
In NZ Diltiazem was changed to ACCORD as other had a problem with nanufacture. But now back to original and accord did not have tghe PASS, SAfety RATE.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
I’ve had 4 or 5 different brands of Bisoprolol but did once have one brand that appeared to actually aggravate symptoms rather than reduce. When I spoke to the pharmacist at my surgery to ask for another prescription I got the impression it was a problem he was not unfamiliar with. I now check the brands available at the pharmacy before collecting.
Hi - I take Bisoprolol and Edoxaban. Always the same Edoxaban but the Bisoprolol brand differs frequently. The most prevalent batch of late has tiny little tablets and stiff packaging which is a nightmare.
Years ago I took omeprazole and was supplied different brands. One had a red gel coating. After a short time I had grim skin rashes all over. Surgery pharmacy refused to accept the medication was to blame and would not supply an alternative. Basically they ordered stock in and I had to accept what they had, despite GP putting note on scrip. So I went to a different pharmacy who were great. They used to order in a few of an alternative brand and keep them especially for me.
As others have said, the drug remains the same it’s the other bits that differ brand to brand.
I agree, the only Biso that I can happily take is Cardicor by Merck. My Cardiologist prescribes it on the basis 'as needed' - I take 1.25mg if my HR touches late 90s. It brings it down quite quickly with just a a little tiredness.
Thanks for your reply, and good you have found one that suits you. Best wishes
hi I’m on same meds and noticed the difference I also take acid suppressants which are very crumbly as are the apixaban. Personally I feel the fillers are irritating my stomach. I didn’t ask pharmacy suspect they are cheaper.
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