I just changed chemists and I see all my heart meds and levothyroxine are now issued as generic versions. Tbe previous chemist issued all named brands.
Will I notice any difference- anyone else had experience of this change on all their meds at once.
Thanks
Hi, I have experienced these changes, all I suspect are cost driven. I found that they are not coated in the same way and taste terrible and more difficult to swallow. Sorry to be negative 😬.
Thanks it’s my own fault as I changed to a dog friendly chemist so I can collect during dog walk but didn’t expect generics - provided I don’t get altered efficacy I don’t mind
Good morning Peter piper
Some people get side effects from generic meds, some don't
It isn't to do with the actual medication, that has to be the same regardless, but the fillers and colourants used to put the tablet together.
You can ask your GP to state a brand on your prescription, some do not like to do this due to costs and if you are on a lot of medication finding a chemist who can get your preferred brand can be a bit of a hit and miss nightmare.
I would take them and see what happens, it may affect you it may not, however finding the one that does maybe frustrating.
I only used to be on 1 medication before my HA and always tried to get the same brand but now I am on 7, I just take whatever is given and do not worry about it anymore and I am fine, so hopefully you will be too.
Good luck and take care
in addition to what mits123 says, you might find it helpful to read some of this:patient.info/doctor/generic...
Thankyou
In all honesty I would be heading back to my original pharmacy.I am one of those unfortunate people who reacts to so many things, including brand changes.
There isn't really an answer apart from try them and see. For me there is no pattern, and it's further complicated because if it's a really small amount of what is termed filler it doesn't have to be on the list of ingredients.
Many people won't even notice any difference and there is no reason to suppose you will have any ill effects.
Thankyou for your advice which I will take especially as ALL my meds have changed at the same time. I’ve actually asked the doc to re-issue the meds to the old chemist …I will sound like a hypochondriac but we see what he says
I must admit that is what I would do, but having had so many reactions I am very nervous of changes, and even more so when it comes to anything I haven't had before.
Yes I’m finally doing ok on my meds .. last thing I need is to upset things
I can understand that.
To conclude this saga I am delighted to report that my doctor has pampered to my whims and kindly reissued my cocktail of meds to the original chemist. Named brands but NO DOGS IN BOOTS :::)))
it might be worth asking the pharmacist attached to your doc’s group of surgeries. The pharmacists are the experts, after all.
Thanks Happyrosie
Re the prescription of generic brands: when the patent on a drug expires, it leaves the way clear for other manufacturers to step in and produce generic copies, which usually offer a cheaper option to the NHS. But from what I've read on the Internet, the original manufacturer may cut their losses by licensing their drug to these generic companies or even issuing a generic brand of the same drug themselves, so a generic drug you're prescribed might just be the same as the branded version, but in a same different box!
thanks for that - you may well be right but my doc has now agreed so it’s back to Boots
I would guess it's your GP who has changed them to generic brands on your prescription. I h ave one specific medicine which HAS to be a named brand because I'm allergic to the generic ones but my GP really has to jump through hoops to prescribe it. Every month he has to fill in forms explaining why I have to have the more expensive named brand. They have to prescribe the cheapest version unless there's a medical reason not to. If you have problems with any of them contact the GP right away and ask for it to be changed back. We don't know why I react badly to generics; it's probably a preservative or a filler that they use because the amount of the actual drug is just the same. Why not phone your pharmacy and ask why it's been changed.
Thanks .. actually it’s my fault as I changed my chemist to a dog friendly chemist - lovely folks but it’s them who must use generics as all my meds changed at the same time .. I’ve now changed back to Boots
A wise choice. It must depend on how much the chemist gets paid for prescribing. In my case as I have a class 1 drug it has to be specifically named by the GP and he has to get permssion to prescribe it that way.
Good point - thanks
I don’t think I’ve ever had branded meds for older meds. Used to work in a pharmacy - pharmacies only got paid for branded if the brand was written on a prescription. They had go with generic if that was available because the patent ran out. I suppose it would only be brands if the patent had run out and they were producing the meds at generic prices.
The price difference between branded and generic can be unbelievable and the pharmacies won’t/can’t shoulder that cost.
Interesting- the chemist who supplies branded is Boots - if I would have gone to the other chemists originally I would have got generics and wouldn’t be any the wiser . It’s the change on all the meds at once that worried me
Cycle No More – or maybe?
Stop taking Ticagrelor
Run low on Meds on holiday 
Heart Failure and barriers imposed by GPs when prescribing medication
