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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Monica L on October 20, 2009, at 19:32:13
Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone's had experience with Buspar? If so, was it name brand or generic and has anyone noticed a difference in the two?
I just started it about a week ago and from what I understand it takes a while to work. Also, has anyone benefited from taking an MAOI for anxiety?
Thanks,
Monica
Posted by ColoradoSnowflake on October 20, 2009, at 22:59:50
In reply to Brand name Buspar vs. generic, posted by Monica L on October 20, 2009, at 19:32:13
Monica,
I don't have any experience with Buspar.
I have almost no anxiety at all on Parnate. Difficult drug to get on.
Best wishes,
Gayle
Posted by X-ray on October 21, 2009, at 3:25:32
In reply to Brand name Buspar vs. generic, posted by Monica L on October 20, 2009, at 19:32:13
There is no difference between the brand name Buspar and the generic buspirone.
X-ray
Posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2009, at 10:20:37
In reply to Re: Brand name Buspar vs. generic, posted by X-ray on October 21, 2009, at 3:25:32
I took buspar when first out low dose 5mg with benzos. It didn't do a thing for me as the benzos are stronger from when I was told also if have been on benzos buspar won't work. Whether still true or not I don't know. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on October 21, 2009, at 17:24:46
In reply to Brand name Buspar vs. generic, posted by Monica L on October 20, 2009, at 19:32:13
Buspar does take several weeks to work, if it is going to work.
It is not unusual for generic and brand to be quite different. The archives here abound with reports of inequivalence between generic and brand. Too many reports to be random glitches or placebos. Probably one of the more outstanding ones was SLS decline on generic lamictal, even upon raising the dose considerably higher, with a prompt return to efficacy upon reinstating the brand. That is one case in hundreds reported here, not to mention the rest of the nation outside pbabble.
Keep in mind, generics do not have the same ingredients brand does. They do have the same active ingredient, but no one can say with absolute certainty how the chosen fillers impact the absorbability characteristics or any other molecular characteristics of a drug. In respect to the active ingredient, the FDA allows a rather significant different in the amount of the dose in generic versus brand. It can be off by as much a 16% and still be considered equivalent. The word equivalent itself is misleading...the active ingredients are equivalent in the lab, but never shown to be equivalent in the clinic. While the brand had to undergo stringent testing by the FDA, the generic never did. A generic drug has never been tested for therapeutic equivalency. Only by secondhand reports from patients and doctors can we see that in many cases therapeutic equivalency does not exist. Because no one knows for sure why that is, it is often poo-poo'ed by critics, basically claiming that if you felt good on brand and then deteriorated on generic it is all your imagination, and the same wild imagination with thousands of other people.
My doctor specifically requires his patients to take brand only, with the exception of a few meds where he has discovered that he gets better therapeutic response with a particular generic manufacturer compared to the brand. So it goes both ways, but more often in favor of the brand.
None of this is scientific yet. There is no money or profit for anyone to research this topic. It is based on experience in the real world with real people, not science in the lab.
Some antiseizure meds are required to be brand because there have been enough cases of generic relapse to demand it. I wonder if anyone is ignorant enough to think this phenomenon only applies to antiseizure meds but couldn't possibly be an issue with any others. Only antiseizure meds are not immune to this weird thing?
Speaking of Buspar specifically, I personally do not recall a report here of whether there was a noted difference between brand and generic.
I think if whatever you are taking...brand or generic...is not working for you at 4 weeks, it does make sense to switch to the other for 2 weeks before throwing in the towel. I think, personal opinion, many people have missed out on what would have been a good med for them by never giving the brand versus the generic a chance.
Me for example, I did better on generic Nortriptyline and felt bad on the brand. Like I said, it can go both ways.
I asked my local pharmacist about this topic, if they ever see a difference between generic and brand. Their answer, "We see that quite a lot". When I asked them why, their answer, "We don't know."
Different is different. Period.
Posted by yxibow on October 22, 2009, at 18:07:39
In reply to Re: Brand name Buspar vs. generic, posted by bleauberry on October 21, 2009, at 17:24:46
I had figured this would go in the direction of long generic drug arguments.
Btw, there are -NO- government regulatory standards on the amount of active ingredient, how it was extracted, or batch lots of alternative medication, you do realize.You're on your own.
I know this too on the small amount of "supplements" that I may take -- I search for the best listing of the active constituent (e.g. kavolactones), etc... which may also may or may not be an indication of the least extra herbal junk that is placed along with some of them and what will least harm me.
At any rate, as far as BuSpar / buspirone is concerned, I would agree there is almost no difference between the two.
Its also a medication that only 1/3 of people who have an indication for its use respond to.
So I wish those who do respond to it a good luck and chance regardless of just how close it is to 100% the same / binders /whatever on buspirone.
-- tidings
Posted by bleauberry on October 24, 2009, at 15:08:39
In reply to Re: Brand name Buspar vs. generic » bleauberry, posted by yxibow on October 22, 2009, at 18:07:39
> I had figured this would go in the direction of long generic drug arguments.
No argument needed. The phenomenon obviously exists, but research is lacking into why it exists.
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> Btw, there are -NO- government regulatory standards on the amount of active ingredient, how it was extracted, or batch lots of alternative medication, you do realize.German Commission E is an FDA of herbal medicine that governs all of the above.
The World Health Organization also provides a wealth of planet-wide accepted herbal protocols.
In the USA free enterprise is the governing body. Make an inferior product or provide misleading information...your customers don't come back and/or you get sued badly. Many companies take risks with over-hyping, inferior quality, or inconsistent quality. The manufactures with the best names have much to lose by operating that way.
USA governing regulation agencies have a history of recalling approved meds, providing meds based on partial data (only positive trials submitted for review, negative ones not), and having to later add new side effect labels and warnings. I do not personally put much faith in them, though I am respectful that many view them as something like gods.
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> You're on your own.Thank you. I've done so much better that way. Much thanks to an experienced well rounded MD and NP, without which I would still be being treated for Neuroborelliosis with Prozac for pete's sake.
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> I know this too on the small amount of "supplements" that I may take -- I search for the best listing of the active constituent (e.g. kavolactones), etc... which may also may or may not be an indication of the least extra herbal junk that is placed along with some of them and what will least harm me.The top herbalists usually see their best results with whole herbs versus isolated constiutients, with some exceptions. I believe the pharmacology of plants is far beyond human wisdom at this time of history. As with most medicines, herbal treatments are equally experimental and individual, with the single benefit of hundreds or thousands of years of experience to know what they do, side effects, and longterm suitability.
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> At any rate, as far as BuSpar / buspirone is concerned, I would agree there is almost no difference between the two.To who? What is the sample? What is the sample size?
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> Its also a medication that only 1/3 of people who have an indication for its use respond to.Sounds kind of like most meds, with the exception of benzos, stimulants, and opioids.
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> So I wish those who do respond to it a good luck and chance regardless of just how close it is to 100% the same / binders /whatever on buspirone.
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> -- tidingsMe too. At askapatient.com and revolutionhealth.com Buspar rates about the same as other psych meds...in the D to C category, with a few B's and an occasional A.
It is my wish that Monica will score an A+ !
This is the end of the thread.
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