Generic Drugs: Cheaper, Yes; Same Quality, Maybe Not

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Yes, I agree.

Todssoymn of AL 11:48PM April 04, 2009

I will not even buy dog food made in these countries.
Dr Moeller is right on the money ( entry above)

Andrew of CA 12:48PM March 25, 2009

Prescription costs have become increasingly difficult to manage. You can start saving by switching to generic drugs. Medtipster allows you to type in your drug name, dosage and zip code to search for and locate prescription drugs that are available on discount generic programs across the United States; many of which are available for as little as $4. Prescriptions that are not available on a discounted program often have therapeutic alternatives on a discounted generic program, which are also available on MedTipster’s website.

Care of MI 3:44PM March 16, 2009

Be careful of Lisinopril 10MG tablet manufactured by Lupid Pharm. It seems to be 3 times a strong as Lisinopril 10MG tablet manufactured by Sandoz Pharm. Lupid's tablet is sure to make you so dizzy that you feel that you cannot stand up.

Frank of VA 3:49PM March 11, 2009

Much like the consumer electronics industry, which has been co-opted by Southeast Asia, we now have an opportunity to give away our generic pharmaceutical industry. Televisions, cell phones, cameras, home appliances, computer parts have disappeared from the American industrial framework. Manufacturing jobs in these industries have fled this country's shores.
Communications, visual display, and pharmaceuticals are strategic industries that have been dealt away by narrow corporate interests, when the national priorities of security and public assess could be threatened by foreign dominance and exclusivity in these areas of production..
The ability for a country to produce its own generic medications is a national imperative. Restriction of importation of generic medications is in the long-term national interest.
F. Delbert Moeller, MD
Lake St. Louis, MO

F. Delbert Moeller, MD, FACOG of MO 11:11PM January 25, 2009

strict line buddy. yearning to get more from your side :)

Penisa of AL 11:08PM December 29, 2008

If the produce I buy has to be labeled for country of origin, why not my meds? It is that simple.

Will of FL 2:28PM December 16, 2008

The manufacturer of your prescription is right on your bottle or at least all of my Rx have the Mfg. For example, I have Rx from 2 different pharmacies and the Mfg. name is on both of them right on the label(one is Barr Labs and one is Novartis). I don't know how you could find other makers of your particular drug besides perhaps asking the pharmacist.

CLB of GA 2:30PM December 08, 2008

Consumer Lab is an independent agency not supported by the medical industry nor by pharmaceutical companies. They discovered a difference in the generic, metoprolol, which is subsituted for the brand Toprol XL. The way they explain it is that although the active ingredient is the same, the extended release mechanism is different in the generic therefore the medicine is not being released properly in the generic causing wide fluctuations in blood pressure. It was noticed immediately in patients when they started switching people. Consumer Lab has further info on their website about it. There are 3 companies making the generic and problems have been found with 2 of them. The other one, I believe, is the actual company that makes the brand.
I think there is a way also on their site to find out what companies make certain generics.

CLB of GA 1:51PM December 08, 2008

Thank you, Dr Healy,
Having survived a bad episode with generic drugs, my wife, an R.N, with multiple medical conditions cannot risk taking them. We feel the best chance of avoiding dangerous side effects is to stay with name brands. Even then, individuals who take multiple medications should have better information regarding potential side effects from that requirement. Unless these two conditions are rigorously enforced, we will have to endure the higher cost as long as we can.

Bill Odum of FL 12:06PM December 05, 2008