Generic medicines Questions

Faug wrote:

I’ll answer in basic language  

Generic medicines carry substitute salt which isn’t mass tested/no decent studies availability nor patent that’s why it’s cheaper. Always RISKY! 

Branded ones recommended by doctors are tested with study on mass number so doc’s don’t take risk while recommending you that. They know it’ll work. Now, here comes 3 situations: 

1. If you can afford, you really won’t be asking this question and moving to branded ones. 

2. If you can afford but don’t want to waste money on medicine, you’ll check all alternatives and take risk for generic to save some money. Money isn’t > than life. 

3. If you can’t afford, you’ll go for generic medicine. 

I can give you my example; I’m taking rybelsus 14mg per day, just 3 strips of this cost me 11,400/month. If I couldn’t afford, I would’ve opted for generic one. 🤷‍♂️

Absolute stupidest thing I ever heard. 

If one is buying a generic medicine having the exact same salt as the branded one, there is no difference whatsoever. 

And this is a wrong assumption that all generics have different salt than their branded counterpart, 

I have been using geenric medicines since many years and have never ever had any issues, related to quality, or potency or any other issue. 

Only thing is,  exercise caution in buying generics. For example, I'd never buy generic medicines for a pregnant lady. However for normal things like cough, cold medicine, or antibiotics or other such routine medicines like painkillers etc, generics can definitely be considered. You can buy generics from chains like Davai India or Zeno health, who maintain good quality generics. Or you can buy from govt shops like Jan Aushadhi shops near you 

kukdookoo wrote:
aur in logo ko lagta ha desh develop ho geya. unfortunately some children passed away in africa too because of similar medicines.imagine if those were us citizens, the fda would have taken atleast billions of dollars from them and would have destroyed them.

Recently US citizens have died and many others lost their eye sight because of bacterial contamination of eye drops made by a Chennai based firm. Lawsuits are being planned but so far against the 2 US importers. 

Never Ever go for generic medicine if you are taking it for serious disease, Same composition same potency in generic medicine is less than half. I've tried it on my mom, she is on medication since 14 years and whenever i tried to provide generic medicine things did not go well.

But you can try different good known brand substitute from 1mg if you are getting it cheaper, try to change 1 by 1 so you will know medicine is working or not.

Its not just because of substitute salts but also for the fact the the primary company which invented the medicine which had initially lockin period of 3-5 years still get royalty for the brand life long.

For example to Pantaprozole 40 which is widely known as PAN 40 costing around Rs. 100 Iam getting generic from Rs. 16 to Rs. 30, I prefer to go with a much known brand like Cipla/Abbott/Cadilla in the generic segment paying around Rs. 25 for it.  Similarly for my Cholestrol Rosuvastation 20mg cost around Rs. 300 i get from Rs. 30 from brands like Leeford/Thiogen etc, however i prefer to go with Cadila brand which costs Rs. 80 at Generic.

I get lab tests done every 3 months and keep monitoring and they are working perfectly even the Leeford/Thiogen when used i got it checked and i have no complaints.

LIMBO wrote:

Recently US citizens have died and many others lost their eye sight because of bacterial contamination of eye drops made by a Chennai based firm. Lawsuits are being planned but so far against the 2 US importers. 

It's too easy. The original inventor maintains quality. Quality mean active ingredient ratio to the impurities. For simple drugs like Paracetamol, Cetrizine HCl generics from reputed brands like Sun, Cipla work fine but especially in speciality medicines or anti biotics etc. original inventor quality is better.

LordGane wrote:

It's too easy. The original inventor maintains quality. Quality mean active ingredient ratio to the impurities. For simple drugs like Paracetamol, Cetrizine HCl generics from reputed brands like Sun, Cipla work fine but especially in speciality medicines or anti biotics etc. original inventor quality is better.

kukdookoo wrote:
paji who is the original inventor of medicines for blood thining purposes?

srprasad wrote:

Its not just because of substitute salts but also for the fact the the primary company which invented the medicine which had initially lockin period of 3-5 years still get royalty for the brand life long.

For example to Pantaprozole 40 which is widely known as PAN 40 costing around Rs. 100 Iam getting generic from Rs. 16 to Rs. 30, I prefer to go with a much known brand like Cipla/Abbott/Cadilla in the generic segment paying around Rs. 25 for it.  Similarly for my Cholestrol Rosuvastation 20mg cost around Rs. 300 i get from Rs. 30 from brands like Leeford/Thiogen etc, however i prefer to go with Cadila brand which costs Rs. 80 at Generic.

I get lab tests done every 3 months and keep monitoring and they are working perfectly even the Leeford/Thiogen when used i got it checked and i have no complaints.

Ques: Whenever I get a generic medicine from govt hospital/dispensary, I can see that its poorly packed, poorly made (rough unfinished edges) and at times have a stinking smell.

I am all for generic medicines, but not for sub-standard, low quality and impure product in the name of Generic medicines.

Is there any govt lab or certified center where I can get them checked for quality? (I read in newspaper that XYZ Pharma's samples failed in lab tests). Can a common man gets his medicines tested to be confident he is not being mistreated in the name of generic?

srprasad wrote:

Its not just because of substitute salts but also for the fact the the primary company which invented the medicine which had initially lockin period of 3-5 years still get royalty for the brand life long.

For example to Pantaprozole 40 which is widely known as PAN 40 costing around Rs. 100 Iam getting generic from Rs. 16 to Rs. 30, I prefer to go with a much known brand like Cipla/Abbott/Cadilla in the generic segment paying around Rs. 25 for it.  Similarly for my Cholestrol Rosuvastation 20mg cost around Rs. 300 i get from Rs. 30 from brands like Leeford/Thiogen etc, however i prefer to go with Cadila brand which costs Rs. 80 at Generic.

I get lab tests done every 3 months and keep monitoring and they are working perfectly even the Leeford/Thiogen when used i got it checked and i have no complaints.

guanidine7865 wrote:

Ques: Whenever I get a generic medicine from govt hospital/dispensary, I can see that its poorly packed, poorly made (rough unfinished edges) and at times have a stinking smell.

I am all for generic medicines, but not for sub-standard, low quality and impure product in the name of Generic medicines.

Is there any govt lab or certified center where I can get them checked for quality? (I read in newspaper that XYZ Pharma's samples failed in lab tests). Can a common man gets his medicines tested to be confident he is not being mistreated in the name of generic?

kukdookoo wrote:
+ @Uhtnas4444 Paji which company's medicine would you recommend having the salt Acenocoumarol? Pharmacy websites are showing many companies, don't know which one is fine.

kukdookoo wrote:
Even if you find discrepancy in lab reports even then these companies cant be touched in this country.

Uhtnas4444 wrote:
What mg is this? And which medicine prescribed by doctor?

guanidine7865 wrote:
I agree. But atleast I can use that report to ask my doctor to change my medicine (talking in case of CGHS patient taking medicines worth 10k+ per month due to chronic ailments).

Many brainiacs have shared a lot of knowledge here about generic medicines so I will to give any more Gyan rather will share my life experience about generic medicines. I have been using generic medicines for past 4years for every small or big medical condition and have found the equal to the branded ones when it comes to functionality. 
So I did human trails not only on my body but its conducted on 15 members of my family and no problem rather medicines work exactly the same as big brand ones work. 
This is my personal experience rest it's your wish. Thanks 

kukdookoo wrote:
2 or 4. Doctor prescribed one by ciplq i think,forgot its name.will check and get back.big companies sell like 15-20rs.per tablet.

As per Tata 1MG, this salt has generic medicines from Macleods Pharmaceuticals which is quite a popular company. Have a look at the tablets from this company. 

TastyKhana wrote:

Many brainiacs have shared a lot of knowledge here about generic medicines so I will to give any more Gyan rather will share my life experience about generic medicines. I have been using generic medicines for past 4years for every small or big medical condition and have found the equal to the branded ones when it comes to functionality. 
So I did human trails not only on my body but its conducted on 15 members of my family and no problem rather medicines work exactly the same as big brand ones work. 
This is my personal experience rest it's your wish. Thanks 

Go With Mankind ones.Cheaper than many company medicines and quality is decent as it's one of the top pharma companies in India.

maddydilip wrote:

Go With Mankind ones.Cheaper than many company medicines and quality is decent as it's one of the top pharma companies in India.

Uhtnas4444 wrote:

As per Tata 1MG, this salt has generic medicines from Macleods Pharmaceuticals which is quite a popular company. Have a look at the tablets from this company. 

maddydilip wrote:

Go With Mankind ones.Cheaper than many company medicines and quality is decent as it's one of the top pharma companies in India.

quantum wrote:
+Aristo, +cipla(generic)
[Zee and bluecross are cheaper but I don't trust)

kukdookoo wrote:
can u share link of the mankind one with this salt?not able to find it anywhere + @Uhtnas4444

Not available in Mankind.. Try Aceno from zydus cadila. That too good company

To invent drug like crocin it takes lot of research which needs lot of money. So the company which invented medicine creates patent for that drug/ composition so nobody can copy that. Patent is generally for 10 - 15 years. Once that expires pharma companies are free to create medicine based on that composition. As it's copy work they can create it in less cost so less price for drug. India is known for creating generic medicines which are sold all over the world even in US

maddydilip wrote:

Not available in Mankind.. Try Aceno from zydus cadila. That too good company

Yes, Zydus Cadila or MacLeod , trustworthy 

kukdookoo wrote:
If there are many small and unheard companies who are manufacturing the medicine with the same salt that you need, then how do you choose the one?

guanidine7865 wrote:

Ques: Whenever I get a generic medicine from govt hospital/dispensary, I can see that its poorly packed, poorly made (rough unfinished edges) and at times have a stinking smell.

I am all for generic medicines, but not for sub-standard, low quality and impure product in the name of Generic medicines.

Is there any govt lab or certified center where I can get them checked for quality? (I read in newspaper that XYZ Pharma's samples failed in lab tests). Can a common man gets his medicines tested to be confident he is not being mistreated in the name of generic?

I have had similar experience with Levocetirizine tablets from JA which tend to disintegrate a bit while trying to pop it out from the strip.

Testing at reputed labs is very expensive. Can easily run into tens of thousands. Over 1 cr was spent by "theliverdr" and his team for example in testing many() Ayurvedic and Homeopathic formulations over the last few years.