 |
 |
Hi Ivan and all I can tell you about generics from the Canadian view. At one of our chapter meetings the speaker was a pharmacist who reviewed new generics before they were available to patients. The gist of his remarks was that a generic is measured against the trade-marked drug. It must have the same active ingredient in the same quantity as the drug it is copying. BUT there is an allowed variance of up to 10% either plus or minus AND another BUT non-active ingredients (fillers) may differ from the original. In practical terms what do these two BUTs mean. - The original pill was OK: the new one makes you sick Q What has been changed and are you allergic to it -You have less dyskinesia after you switch to the generic. - You had no dyskinesia before and now you never have any pep. Q Does the generic have only 90% of the active ingredient? -You function better on the new pill but you have more dyskinesia Q Does the generic have a little more of the active ingredient (remember the variance)? In Canada there are two levo/carbi generics ( at least) The first one I tried made me think I had forgotten a dose........ but some of my friends said it was smoother in its action. They liked it and continued to take it. My doctor suggested that one option was to add a little more to my regime. The other option was to try the other generic. It was very similar to the trade-marked pill. So that is the one I stayed with. I hope this rambling account is helpful Anne R [log in to unmask]