Change of brand of meds: Hi Hope someone can help... - NRAS

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Change of brand of meds

Legley profile image
16 Replies

Hi

Hope someone can help please

I normally take leflunomide 20 mg and at moment no after effects and brand is Arava

Today gone to pick up my meds and they have given me leflunomide but in a different box with leflunomide on so not arava. Is this just as good

Thank you

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Legley profile image
Legley
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16 Replies
helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

It will be exactly the same drug. The only different may be in the fillers that make up the pill, so for example if you are lactose intolerant you could notice a small difference.

Legley profile image
Legley in reply to helixhelix

Thank you was just abit worried that not as good as Arava is brilliant.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone

Leflunomide is just another name for Arava..like Mabthera is another name for Rituximab.

I hardly ever get the same drug packaging these days....& I guess if the Chinese pharmaceutical industry is affected by this latest viral epidemic , we shall be seeing even more different packing for our drugs.

If you are worried you are not getting the right drug ask the pharmacist before you leave the pharmacy.

FRreedman profile image
FRreedman in reply to AgedCrone

Also, if you notice one particular brand works better than another, ask your pharmacist to make a note that you only want one particular brand. They are normally quite good with requests like that.

Legley profile image
Legley in reply to AgedCrone

Thank you was just abit worried that not as good as Arava is brilliant.

Legley profile image
Legley in reply to Legley

Thank you was just abit worried that not as good as Arava is brilliant.

allanah profile image
allanah

Its ti save the nhs cash. Panadol is expensive, paracetamol is cheap....they are the same drug ! Just panadol in a more expensive packaging. Leflonamide is arava ...

Legley profile image
Legley

Thank you was just abit worried that not as good as Arava is brilliant.

allanah profile image
allanah

Unbelievable isnt it !!

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone

But nobody in their right minds requests a prescription.....for Paracetamol.

In fact in the last round of changes to drugs that were allowed to be prescribed wasn't..... paracetamol taken off the list. I’m sure I have read on here people have said their doctors have told them to buy their own paracetamol-which is common sense when you think how cash-strapped the NHS is at the moment.

In most supermarkets you can buy it for under .50pence

allanah profile image
allanah

Our gps wont prescribe them, it's more expensive for gp and patient by prescription.... so they tell you to go buy them in a shop !

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

I think you can only see how things pan out the longer you take the generic. Leflunomide is the name of the med, Arava is the brand name made by Sanofi or Sanofi Aventis. Since the licence expired for it to be made solely under the brand name by the originating drug company, the one who developed the med initially, other drug manufacturing companies are allowed to produce it. There are 10 in the UK, hence you being prescribed leflunomide made by whichever drug company's version you’ve been given. The main med, leflunomide, the active substance, will be exactly the same, the only difference may be the excipients, the fillers, things such as maize starch, lactose, colour, magnesium stearate, things that stabilise & make up the tablet or capsule.

If you do find that you react to the new generic do mention it to your Rheumy. Even though there can be price differences in them to the NHS I’ve found that if I’ve had a problem I've been able to have the meds that I'm ok on which may even be a specific generic brand not the original one. What it will need is to specify the name/brand on the repeat prescription, you should then only have that one dispensed. It may well be if you're not sensitive to any of the excipients (fillers) you'll be fine on whichever generic you'll be prescribed, as I said you'll have to see how you are the longer to take it. Hopefully you’ll be fine though but be assured you're still getting the same amount of the med, leflunomide.

Legley profile image
Legley in reply to nomoreheels

Thank you love think l got abit worried as you hear that some substitutes are not as effective. Arava has been brilliant with my RA.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone

It makes you wonder how the people who allow such waste keep their jobs doesn’t’ it?

Ms Sturgeon should just shame them & put a stop to it.

But as we all know .....in nationalised industries no one ever pays the bills so they can spend as much as they like....& the fact it is bankrupting the country........ is always someone else’s fault!

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone

Of course it was.....Plus free university education & free parking in hospitals......people just see something for free & they vote for it without thinking where the money to pay for it is going to come from.

One day they will work it out....but by then all the decent uni professors & doctors will have hotfooted off to where they can earn a decent salary.... & they won’t need free parking because they’ll be able to afford a chauffeur,

Instant gratification never made for long term prosperity.

medway-lady profile image
medway-lady

Same stuff Arava is a brand name. Might be unable to get Arava as in short supply. I admit I loved LEF too.

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