Posted by SLS on July 15, 2009, at 7:12:23
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline Generic or Brand Favorites?, posted by linkadge on July 14, 2009, at 19:46:01
> I personally don't see how this is possible.
>
> Nortriptyline is nortriptyline. The molecule is identical whoever manufactures it.I'm sure you read of my experience with two different generic preparations of lamotrigine. Both allowed me to relapse. I also found that there was quite a difference between generics.
GSK 200mg > Teva 300mg > Mylan 500mg
On the Mylan lamotrigine at 500mg, I still wasn't getting as much therapeutic effect as 200mg of the GSK Lamictal. I refused to go any higher.
I am also aware that for one person, Teva was much better than Dr. Reddy (nice name). I might have been able to get away with 250mg of the Teva.
The texture and consistency of the different pills were disparate enough that one could imagine that there might be differences in absorption. The formula for exipients is different among preparations of the same drug. The drug is the same in each preparation, it is everything else that is different.
I'll be interested to read what Bleauberry came up with about their actually being a difference in molecular composition of various preparations of the same drug. I read one thing that suggested that sometimes the drug interacts with the excipients to yield an ineffective compound.
Larry Hoover would be a good person to explain the difference in tolerances allowed by the FDA of drug content of generics. I think the variance in bioequivalence is 10% higher of lower than the original brand name, making a 20% spread.
I have taken several brands of nortriptyline without seeing any different in therapeutic effect.
I don't know what the answer is.The generic companies should probably be required to run clinical trials comparing their drug preparations using the original brand as a comparator. However, this might dissuade companies from investing the money to bring some drugs to market, especially the cheaper ones.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:906750
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090709/msgs/906829.html