Generic drugs are not Dangerous they are much safer... started by Eugina G. Herrera

[Eugina G Herrera]

Much safer than Brand names, I used to be on keppra since the year 2002, with other medications of brand names. 

Sometimes brand names can give bad reactions, allergies, side effects than those with generic brand.  Especially Keppra has many side effects, like mood swings, psychosis, aggressive behavior among others I haven't listed,

Sharing my experience with generic, since I'm in the Books at the Comprehensive "e" Center here in  N.Y.C., N.Y of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital with the (Research Science Foundation) 4 the majority can comprehend that someday these scientist will find a "Cure".  I take 500 mg of the generic of keppra and today i'm still an "e" without surgery or any other medication, I have grand-mal seizures. and is under control.

Member since 2002

       U.S.A.

Eugina G Herrera

[JMO]

Generic medications only have to be within 5% of the original (brand) formula. One generic may be 5% above, one may be 5% below. The danger comes when a pharmacy has the ability to switch generic suppliers without notifying the consumer which means that you could have a 10% discrepancy in your active ingredient. That's like changing your dose by 10% without your knowledge. 

[Lisa B]

I'm not sure generics are "much safer" than the brand. In many cases, have similar side effects as the brand. As Jill mentioned, in some cases generics may not even be comparable in dosage. For certain medications, a slight variance maybe insignificant so generic may be a viable option. Always best to discuss it with your prescribing physician.

[JMO]

I'm not sure that you can generalize that all generic medications are safer than brand name ones because you experienced fewer side effects on one medication. That seems reckless to me to make that kind of generalization. 
It's also possible that your generic is not as strong as your brand and that decreasing your brand dose a small amount could have effected the same positive changes you saw switching to generic. But that doesn't mean that it will be right for everyone. 

Eugi said:

 

i believe that generics are much safer due to less side effects compare to brand names and i have always discuss it not just with my pharmacist, i have also discuss it with my neurologist.

Be Safe!

Gina

[JMO]

Changing a dosage by 10% up or down can have a huge impact on your seizure control and your side effects. 
I don't need to "look it up" I watch my daughter live it. Small dosage changes make differences! Particularly in medications where drug levels are not linear to dosage changes like Dilantin. 

Eugi said:

 like i said it is just few percentages whether it is generic or brand, also like you just said 10% no difference it is inside our system and it will remain for many months talking about any drug that your body is intaking.  until it start to wean off by itself, this is simply just science, our body is immune already to newer percentages that is a fact. you can look it up at albert einstein formula for our percentages in comparison to generic and brand.

Medic Alert Member Since 2002

             U.S.A.

Gina Giovanna Herrera

Jill Osborn said:

Generic medications only have to be within 5% of the original (brand) formula. One generic may be 5% above, one may be 5% below. The danger comes when a pharmacy has the ability to switch generic suppliers without notifying the consumer which means that you could have a 10% discrepancy in your active ingredient. That's like changing your dose by 10% without your knowledge. 

[Betty Anne]

I'm glad that generic Keppra (levetiracetam) works for you. I used to take brand name Dilantin Kapseals, and, besides my doctor, even my pharmacies (both local and mail-order) knew not to switch that drug to the generic, because it just did not metabolize the same as the brand name. There were too many people who did switch and had seizures after switching. I also know that this does not hold true for all AEDs. 

I no longer take Dilantin, and have been fortunate that generic Topamax (topiramate) and Lamictal (lamotrogine) have, so far, been working. But that does not hold true for everyone, either, since we are all different, and we react to medications differently. For example, I had a bad reaction to even generic Keppra. So, what can I tell you?  

Good luck!

Betty Anne

[Julie Herbers]

I don't think it's an issue of generics being unsafe; the issue is that the generics can be different every time you refill a prescription.  From what I understand they just aren't regulated as well as the brand name, so there might be a slightly different percentage of the drug in one dose compared to the next.  It's sort of like buying generic corn flakes; there are several different brands and they are all just a bit different than the others.  Make sense?

[Don Miller]

I have no choice but to be on generic Keppra (levetiracetam) and Lamictal (lamotrigine), my pharmacist, Chris says the difference between generics and each other is minor and between brand name and generics, well, in my case, you use what Medicare will pay for. I've had no issues, physical or psych from my meds, unlike a lot of other people here on the site. Kepprage is a biggie, potential mood swings, suicidal thoughts and actions, but  these are the potential side effects of every AED out there, just read through the potential side effects

[Patti]

 The problem is switching drugs. If the brand name drug works switching to generic might cause a problem and switching from generic to brand name. If you're on generic make sure the druggist stays with the same company.

I started on brand name Topamax and it works. I tried the generic and had breakthroughs. I'm also on generic Klonopin that works. I tried both brand name and generic tegratol, dilatin, keppra, and etc. None of the other drugs worked except brand name Topamax and any type of klonopin(figure that out).  Topamax is expensive.  Klonopin is cheap. Guess which drug the insurance company won't cover! 

[Patti]

Can't you go through a list of Medicare pt Ds to see which covers Keppra and Lamictal. Some of the companies all you need is a doctor's note explaining why you need the brand name drug.

Patti

ps never mind 

, I just read you didn't have an issue!

D.S. Miller said:

I have no choice but to be on generic Keppra (levetiracetam) and Lamictal (lamotrigine), my pharmacist, Chris says the difference between generics and each other is minor and between brand name and generics, well, in my case, you use what Medicare will pay for. I've had no issues, physical or psych from my meds, unlike a lot of other people here on the site. Kepprage is a biggie, potential mood swings, suicidal thoughts and actions, but  these are the potential side effects of every AED out there, just read through the potential side effects

[Tony Murray]

If your dr. gives a note that says brand name only chances are very good that you will get it. I did.

[Jeremy Tischer]

Use google scholar (I use USF's online Library for E research), you'll find that in the united states the FDA requires generic drugs to only be in a range of 80% to 120% near the efficacy of the legit drug. That's why you'll hear so many stories about breakthrough seizures. Generics get their bad name from pharmacies not being required to inform us of changing generics. One might be 95% close whereas the next may only be 80%. The same dose might not carry the same effect. Generics have the same possibility for rashes etc, the difference is that the 95% dose will be less likely to cause one than the 120% generic or the 100% legit drug.

 

Jeremy

[Pauline Polzin]

When the doctor writes the manufacturer on it they have to give it to you.  It like written DAW.  They also did it for me.  The pharmacy said they might have to send out for that manufacturer but they have to.