I don't mean to start a heated debate, my only intentions are that someone can explain to me why or why not they think they are the same or not.
I went to a pharmacy to get my son's rx filled for regular Adderall, 5 mg. This is our first time using this particular drug. When I asked about cost, generic vs. brand, the tech began to explain to me that they have the EXACT same active ingredient. I told her that even one manufactor of Methylin for example can differ from another, she huffed to me "maybe only the fillers". Basically , I feel like it is my choice which route I want to go, and I didn't like that she was pushing the generic on me. Then, the pharmacist comes over and tell me that they don't even carry name brand Addeall because "no one uses it". I find this interesting...any thoughts?
Thanks for the reply, it was very enlightening. I had no idea that generic drug companies got so much *preferred* treatment. Wonder what the big drug companies like Eli Lilly and Merck do to fight this? Do they only profit when a drug is still under patent?
Thanks again!
Exactly..while a drug is under patent, which is 17 years, the drug reps go into the MDs office and promote their drug and give lots of samples and perks to the MDs. They bring lunch, take them out to dinner, movie tickets, broadway shows...etc...ANYTHING to get the MD to write for their product! Its actually funny, cuz when you work retail you see MDS writing for the same drug for certain condtions over and over and you wonder if they just LOVE this drug or if they got better perks to write for it!
Insurance companies get perks from drug companies too or *contracts* as we call them in the pharmacy world. That is how alot of drugs get on formularies. BUT very rarely will a drug plan pay for a brand is a generic is available on the market. Its just more profitable to use the generic and unfortunatley..its about $$$$ .
As a pharmacy tech for 25 years I have to agree . The law states that generics have to have the same active ingredient as the brand. BUT the fillers, colors, etc can be different and I think people who react badly to generics react to the fillers, colors .
As for it being your choice, not sure what state you are in but in NJ,a pharmacist MUST filll an RX generically UNLESS the md specifically marks *Brand medically neccessary * on the script. If NOTHING is checked, then the pharmacist is required by law to fill for the generic. Now as a consumer, you can ASK for the brand and the pharmacist will fill for the brand. ASK before he fills it though!
Now on to insurance...alot of RX plans will NOT cover a brand unless the MD calls and gets a prior authorization specifing why he thinks you need the brand versus the generic. And even then you may pay a higher NON FORMULARY co pay. If you pay out of pocket then it doesnt matter.
As for some pharmacys not carrying the brand, this is true. Most people will use the generic fine and its what insurance companies want. So its not profitably for a pharmacy to carry a product it rarely dispenses BUT again, they can order it for you..
In my experience as a consumer and as a pharmacy tech, I have ALWAYs used generics with no problems. If you have always been on brand then you may not want to change as you may react to the fillers...JMO!!!