Generic Drugs

[Daisy Duke]

I was told to take Claritin D for my cold/congestion, and I picked up the generic brand of Claritin D. I just don't feel right, my anxieties are getting bad again and I've had some stomach pain/constipation also. What are your thoughts about generic drugs?

Daisy Duke

[CarlaB]

For prescription generics, if they have questionable ingredients, I have my pharmacist call the manufacturer they purchase the product from.

[Guest cassidy]

Generics are different from the brand name drugs. Most of the time they are manufactured by different companies and can contain slightly different ingredients. There are many people who can't take the generic of something and prefer the branded drug. I'm a drug rep and I hear doctors say that frequently. So, if you don't feel good on the generic for gluten or other reasons, I would trust your body and go back to the branded drug, but just because you can't handle generic claritin doesn't mean that you can't handle the generic of a different type of medicine.

[ravenwoodglass]

I do not touch generics ( too many bad experiences with them) and I always call or have the pharmacist call when filling a script to check.

[tiffjake]

Generics are different from the brand name drugs. Most of the time they are manufactured by different companies and can contain slightly different ingredients. There are many people who can't take the generic of something and prefer the branded drug. I'm a drug rep and I hear doctors say that frequently. So, if you don't feel good on the generic for gluten or other reasons, I would trust your body and go back to the branded drug, but just because you can't handle generic claritin doesn't mean that you can't handle the generic of a different type of medicine.

I was taught that generics were chemicaly identical to the brand name drug they replace, no? The binders may be different, but it is very easy to get that information, either from the drug insert, or from the manufacturer. I know people assume that only the pharmacist can contace the drug company, but that is simply not true. I call all of mine myself, even if the pharmacist does it too, just to make sure.

Also, most people HAVE to get generic meds per their insurance. If you MUST take a generic, you can contact the drug company to find out the inactive ingredients. If you are really insistant on taking the Brand name drug, then you can ask your Dr. to write the Rx for the Brand name, but depending on your insurance, they still might only cover the generic. Many insurance companies are that way.