Question regarding the different brands of meds

[fedupoffeelingtired]

I'm four weeks post angiogram and stent and this week have been feeling really well. That is until 48 hours ago. I have tingling in my feet and shins. I feel a little light headed on and off. The only thing that has changed is that I am finishing the meds I was given on discharge and starting on the ones given by my pharmacist. All of the ones he has given me are the Teva brand. I rang my chemist yesterday morning and asked if a brand could disagree with you, and the lady that I was speaking to got very short with me and said they all contain the same thing and it wasn't possible. I know that all manufacturers use different fillers so it is possible for one brand to be an issue for some people. I wondered if any of you had experience of this. I will be speaking to my GP tomorrow, because I really don't feel right at all.

[daveofpensby]

Hi

sorry to hear your not feeling right

As for a change in brands of medicine it hadn’t affected me, but we are all different you never now

[NorthantsSteve]

I’m OK with different brands but I have heard people on this forum have different side effects with different brands. Highly unlikely - but I guess you’ve checked they’re the same potency?

[fedupoffeelingtired in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Yes they are the same

[Lezzers]

Hi, have you checked your blood pressure, if its low that could be why you're feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Does it happen when you stand up?

[fedupoffeelingtired in reply to Lezzers]

I have done my BP it is 130/72. This is high compared to my readings over the last month I have been around 126/63 standing sitting or lying down doesn't make any difference to how I feel

[Celf]

Hi, I am 5 weeks post stent and heart attack. Like you I had a different brand dispenced after 2 weeks but felt the opposite as I almost instantly felt better. Can't remember my initial brand but moved to Teva Ramipril. I thought it could have been a coincidence but my 4 hour lightheadedness dissappeared almost instantly. As you say, they do use different binders/fillers. Hope you feel better soon.

[fedupoffeelingtired in reply to Celf]

I was given almus ramipril in hosp which had a red and white coat. The Teva from my chemist has an orange and white coat. I'm not aware that I am e number sensitive. Not sure if I am just having a few off days and worrying over nothing. Thanks for your reply

[NorthantsSteve in reply to fedupoffeelingtired]

Might be worth giving the pharmacist at your hospital a ring. They’re at the cutting edge of this sort of thing.

[Maisie2014]

Welcome. There are differences in the brands. They’re probably very small but for some people (I am one of them) the difference can mean I can have rampant diarrhoea. But I am a very sensitive person. It may be something else giving you symptoms. Maybe you’re not drinking enough water. Talk it over with your GP. I’m sure it will be easily fixed.

[Debee28]

My cardio nurse suggested taking rampirl in the evening separate to other meds. And this resolved my dizziness

[Hidden]

Different heart issues to yours, I take Flecainide for AF & have a specific brand - still a generic, so not expensive - specified on my prescription. I requested this after a brand change which gave me lots of palpitations & dizziness. I didn’t have to see my GP, just popped into the surgery & a member of staff dealing with repeat prescriptions sorted it out for me.

I think it would be different if requesting an original branded medicine as these can be very expensive.

You would think that they should be the same, but as long as the main drug has the same value, they can fill them up to pill popping size with a variety of different ingredients which can cause reactions.

As others have said, check that your symptoms are not being caused by something else.

Hope this helps

Pat x

[Ecki]

Yes, they use different formulations which can have major effects. My husband was on Plavix with no issues but GP replaced it with generic clopidogrel (much cheaper) which gave him dreadful side effects. GP only agreed to change back when we got a letter from his consultant and also a pharmacist.

[pibrom]

A very common filler is Lactose which, if you are intolerant, can be an issue.

[Qualipop]

It's absolutely possible. If you have problems with certain brands you can ask your GP to prescribe a brand by name. I take a painkiller which two years ago became available as a generic. It maed me dreadfully ill and is now prescribed only by the brand name. However when I was in hospital they used up what I'd taken with me and chose to disregard the prescription and gave me the generic again - luckily only one dose before I realised. I have problems with some of the preservatives they use and with colourings.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Qualipop]

Colourings are what got me when I switched, oddly enough, from a generic sinus medication to the well-known branded one. Two doses down me on a touring holiday and I was being sick in the car park. Went back to the generic and have never had a problem since.

[Qualipop in reply to Sunnie2day]

BUt even the generics can vary from supplier to supplier. I have to have my statin just from one specific supplier because of colourings.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Qualipop]

The OTC generic I've used is always the same manufacturer so for me it's not been a problem. But I recently noticed my beta blocker generic manufacturer has changed and I'm watching for any effects from that.

So far so good as the ingredients listed on both supplier leaflets are exactly the same prominence and type (always a good sign) but I do know there can be differences that cause side effects so I do keep watch.

[benjijen]

I knew there were different costs on meds but didn't know they could put different additives in them. Explains a lot!!

[Dorrymt]

I have experienced this with my GTN spray. The aerosol one burned my mouth and made me feel very unwell the old one in red glass bottle suits me fine so now my GP has noted it on my repeat list.

[fedupoffeelingtired in reply to Dorrymt]

I didn't realise the gtn could be different, I've got the red one and have only ever seen people with the red one.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I have a specific brand of Lisinopril as the fillers in some cause palpitations that are one of the last things you want especially post OHS!