An Unexpected Cost of Using Free Drug Samples

We have this debate in Canada. But - generics are NOT always exactly the same. For instance, Health Canada allows up to a 20% differential in the active ingredients between brand name and generics. The excipient ingredients, the fillers and bonding agents, can also differ significantly. This practise is common in other countries that permit generic medications.

Not a big deal with most meds. But a HUGE deal if you have stabilized a patient on one med, and then they start on a generic. If they develop problems, or experience side-effects on generics they often drop the med entirely, without knowing that they are on something that is not exactly what they thought. That becomes a significant cost in human terms.

William Ashdown 1:55PM September 08, 2008