Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 689217

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generic's at the pharmacy

Posted by dondon on September 25, 2006, at 20:35:43

My doctor writes on my prescriptions "Paxil" and "Lamictal" but when i go to the pharmacy they give me the generic..."paroxetine hcl" and "lamotrigine" Are they the same?

 

Re: generic's at the pharmacy » dondon

Posted by yxibow on September 25, 2006, at 23:43:33

In reply to generic's at the pharmacy, posted by dondon on September 25, 2006, at 20:35:43

> My doctor writes on my prescriptions "Paxil" and "Lamictal" but when i go to the pharmacy they give me the generic..."paroxetine hcl" and "lamotrigine" Are they the same?


Those are the drug names for the brand names.


Your insurance probably provides for generics when available. This probably will open up the whole generic-original debate but generic Paxil (paroxetine HCl) has been available for 2 years in the US, if that is where you are. Generic Lamictal (lamotrigine) is available in Canada only at this point, so I can't tell you whether what you're receiving is generic or original. If you're in Canada,

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/med/med-gen_e.html
will tell you Health Canada's information on generic drugs which is basically similar to the FDAs view I would imagine.

 

Re: generic's at the pharmacy

Posted by alexandra_k on September 26, 2006, at 8:20:56

In reply to generic's at the pharmacy, posted by dondon on September 25, 2006, at 20:35:43

i know back home the docs used to be able to say on the prescription whether the pharmacy was allowed to substitute for generic or not.

i can't remember which way around it went, though... whether they had to specify no substitutions if they didn't want them to substitute or whether they had to say substitution okay if it was okay to substitute.

i guess you could mention it to your doc if you have a preference and the pharmacy is substituting...

 

Re: generic's at the pharmacy

Posted by bassman on September 26, 2006, at 10:35:00

In reply to Re: generic's at the pharmacy, posted by alexandra_k on September 26, 2006, at 8:20:56

In the US there is a box or line on the bottom right of the prescription which says, "do not substitute"-if your doc checks that (or your neighbor's cat, for that matter), then you will get the brand name. As yzibow mentioned, we've had the "is a generic as good as a brand?" discussion a few times, and there are differing views. If your co-pay or any other expense to you is the same, you might consider the brand name. Others would say it doesn't matter.

 

Re: generic's at the pharmacy

Posted by dondon on September 26, 2006, at 11:10:23

In reply to Re: generic's at the pharmacy, posted by bassman on September 26, 2006, at 10:35:00

Pharmacies wouldn't give the generic if it wasn't as good as the name brand. If has to work exactly the same.

 

Re: generic's at the pharmacy

Posted by bassman on September 26, 2006, at 12:19:23

In reply to Re: generic's at the pharmacy, posted by dondon on September 26, 2006, at 11:10:23

I was being good about not bashing generics, but you're baiting me...:>}

 

Re: generic's at the pharmacy

Posted by irishcatholic on September 29, 2006, at 9:05:43

In reply to generic's at the pharmacy, posted by dondon on September 25, 2006, at 20:35:43

For Prozac users, I have had good luck with generic fluoxetine from Par Pharmaceuticals.
This brand was recommended by my PDoc who does consulting for Lilly.
It's also very inexpensive via my MEDCO benefits plan.


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