Are brand name pain meds stronger than generic ones?

[amaranthe]

I have read somewhere before that there is no difference between brand name meds and generic. However, I have also read recently that generic meds can legally have between 10% and 20% more or less of the active ingrediants in the brand name drugs. I always get the generic, simply b/c that is what my insurance covers. However, I was just wondering if anyone has ever tried both and could tell any difference? Specifically, I am talking about generic Lortab vs. brand name Lortab.

Thanks in advance for the helo!

Sincerely,
Amaranthe

[snowgirl]

not in lortab but xanax I can generic not as strong as brand name. Vn

[Kara Isabel]

I am familiar with this with mscontin/oramorph and yes, I'd say the non-generic worked better (longer) but not necessarily stronger, just kept the pain down a bit better.

Not sure on the lortab, there are so many generics of that, there probably is a difference just among the generics.

[Tuckersmom]

The FDA regulates all drugs, including generics. Generics may have different inactive ingredients, but the active ingredients must be the same as the brand name drug.

[Briza]

I really can't say because other than a couple of brand name antibiotics I have taken in the past years, all of my usual IC and VV meds have been generic so I don't have anything to compare them to but they seem to work just fine for me. I do know that generic Lortab did not work for me at all for pain, but other generic pain meds, even those considered less strong than Lortab DO work for my pain. Just me, I don't think it was b/c I had generic Lortab that it didn't work for my pain, it was just not the pain med for me and since I was offered other pain med options I didn't pursue trying brand name Lortab. All Lortab did for me was make me itchy and cranky, no pain relief at all, but I know it works very well for many others who report here that that is what they take for their pain...and I imagine most are taking the generic version like I took. I take generic Tylenol 3 and 4 and it relieves my pain really well.

[Briza]

I have read somewhere before that there is no difference between brand name meds and generic. However, I have also read recently that generic meds can legally have between 10% and 20% more or less of the active ingrediants in the brand name drugs. I always get the generic, simply b/c that is what my insurance covers. However, I was just wondering if anyone has ever tried both and could tell any difference? Specifically, I am talking about generic Lortab vs. brand name Lortab.

Thanks in advance for the helo!

Sincerely,
Amaranthe

As for the 10% or whatever max difference in generics' active ingredients: I have read the same. It was quite a while ago, and I don't remember where I read it, so don't if where I read it would be considered a valid source of information since I read it soomewhere on the web. That is important to remember when reading info on the internet. I DO miss the good old days of going to the giant downtown library in Houston or my University library and actually reading stuff in the actual medical journals and BOOKS written or compiled by leading authorities and experts on this kind of stuff. Not that I am willing to give up my internet service lol but really, it is a completely different experience when you have the actual journal or published book in hand. Yes, it was a pain in the butt looking up all that stuff by hand or on microfiche!! But at least I knew I was holding or looking at the actual real source of the information!

[Kara Isabel]

Its weird because I hear there is a big diff in the Fentanyl patch (I'm on the generic and have never tried the original) although, I have worn two different types of Generics and I can tell you that one works a LOT better than the other one, so whatever *inert* ingredients are in it seem to make a difference.

Also, I've gotten two letters from Walgreens in the last year that my Morphine sulfate generic has either too much or too little active ing. in it and to return it for exchange.

[sandymarie]

My uro told me that some of the ingredients in generics or the brand can differ and it depends on your body. Some do better on generics and some on brands. I do better on some brand name meds and some of the generics I do better on. My GP does however stress the importance of taking brand name in thyroid meds. The way I understand it, it has to do with the way your body might break down the ingredients. Hope this helps.

JJ

[IC SARAH-CPP]

It may be regulated but the amounts CAN be up to 20% different in a brand name vs. a generic medication. I find them to be very different, especially in ambien and Oxycontin. My old pain doctor was so adamant about generics not being as good, she had a rule with all patients that she would only prescribe the name brand. It used to be such a hassle at the pharmacy but I think it was way better. Now I cant get brand name.

Sarah

[snowgirl]

My uro told me that some of the ingredients in generics or the brand can differ and it depends on your body. Some do better on generics and some on brands. I do better on some brand name meds and some of the generics I do better on. My GP does however stress the importance of taking brand name in thyroid meds. The way I understand it, it has to do with the way your body might break down the ingredients. Hope this helps.

JJ

I totally agree with your statement on generics vs trade name. Each patient is different and reacts different to medications. Especially, the thyroid that is a real big ISSUE a lot of md's don't want their patients on generic thyroid . For some of them the generic they can't regulate and get that level right where they want it. It does have some physiology how your body breaks down the medications some enzyme. You are very right. I am so sensitive to all anti depressants so my pscy md had ordered special lab test I have never heard of. This lab test will tell my md's how I metabolize medications as I am very sensitive to a lot of them mostly anti - depressants. Need to get that lab drawn yet. However, everyday it is don't drive, please stay off the roads.
I just watched the news at 500pm . The roads are a skating rink. It was not worth the trip to the mailbox. Then I walked to middle of the road and all ice.
Hopefully, we do hit 55 here in Michigan tomorrow and it melts. It is only late December and I have had to cancel events with friends from church to a movie due to the bad roads. Snow is better. Ice is worse. Only thing you can do is go slow on ice and watch your rearview mirror.
I need to get up town. My mother left her Mary Kay makeup OH NO all here in Michigan and has none down in Florida.
Ha bet my Dad is glad now she probably can get ready a lot quicker to go out with no makeup and all the makeup brushes here also. We just have not had a good day .Oh yes I tried last Sat. they closed early due to weather. VN

[snowgirl]

It may be regulated but the amounts CAN be up to 20% different in a brand name vs. a generic medication. I find them to be very different, especially in ambien and Oxycontin. My old pain doctor was so adamant about generics not being as good, she had a rule with all patients that she would only prescribe the name brand. It used to be such a hassle at the pharmacy but I think it was way better. Now I cant get brand name.

Sarah

Does your insurance company make you pay higher monthly premium for trade names and is you co pays higher then generic copay. I know my insurance company. If it is not generic it's copay is more then generic.

How are you doing Sarah still holding it right there at the level. VN