I have been absent from this list for over a year..... but wanted to
share some info with you (maybe it has already been thrown
around).....that I just discovered this month.
For the past two years, my husband (52) has been taking Mirapex and
Eldepryl . When we reordered his Eldepryl, they substituted a
"generic" selegiline which has just now been released. I am
supposing that Eldepryl's patent has run out. I found the following
article on the internet (see below) and wrote to our doctor about
it. He rewrote Dan's prescription "medically necessary" as he too
felt that the generics are not well enough researched. You will note
that the generic was tested on "NON-PD" volunteers and does not have
to show the rate at which it gets into the bloodstream and at what
rate it gets there. It is extremely important in PD to get the meds
correctly balanced, so we have opted to pay the "extra" for the "name
brand" drug. Please let me say that this is "OUR" decision and the
decision of our neurologist. You may have a different opinion. Just
wanted to share with you.....
Juelie McLean
-----------------------
http://www.parkinsonsinfo.com/
Sponsored by Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Real Cost of Generic Selegiline (HCl) Tablets
The Experts Speak Out
You are probably aware that generic selegiline hydrochloride tablets
are now available. While the lower cost of these generics may seem
appealing, there are no real substitutes for EldeprylŪ (selegiline
hydrochloride) Capsules, and the price you may pay in controlling
your PD may be higher than you think. At a recent conference in
Tampa, Florida, eight PD experts met to discuss this important issue.
Here's a summary of what they found.
Generic selegiline tablets were not approved for use by the Food and
Drug Administration using the same criteria required for brand-name
Eldepryl. First, these generic tablets were tested only in a small
number of healthy volunteers who didn't have PD. Second, the generic
companies were not required to confirm that their products were
bioequivalent with EldeprylŪ (selegiline hydrochloride) Capsules.
This means the companies did not have to show that their tablets are
absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate or to the same extent
as your Eldepryl Capsules.
This is very important because after you take an EldeprylŪ
(selegiline hydrochloride) Capsule it's mostly broken down by
chemical substances in your body until a certain amount of active
medicine reaches your bloodstream. Then, that medicine travels to
your brain, where it works along with your SinemetŪ*
(carbidopa/levodopa) to control your PD. Your doctor has worked very
carefully to make sure that you take just the right amount of
Sinemet, so that when the active medicine from your Eldepryl Capsules
reaches your brain, the effect is just right.
The truth is, if you switch to generic selegiline tablets, the amount
of medicine that reaches your brain may be different from what you
currently get from EldeprylŪ (selegiline hydrochloride) Capsules, and
because generic tablets are interchangeable, your medicine may even
differ from month to month when receiving different generics. So any
switching can mean problems. If the amount of active medicine your
brain receives is too high, you can experience random movements,
nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and heart pounding. If it's too
low, your Sinemet will not work as well. This means your symptoms can
get worse and you may be more likely to lose your balance and fall.
The experts agree: Despite the cost savings, generic selegiline
tablets may not be worth it. You may be able to save some money, but
what you can lose in terms of controlling your PD could be a much
higher price to pay.
*Sinemet is a registered trademark of MERCK & CO., Inc. and is
marketed by Du Pont Pharmaceuticals.
