Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
When I started leumofide(arava) back in October it started working within weeks. The pain in my ankles and hands subsided and I felt I was on my way to a medical remission. However, when I refilled it two weeks ago I noticed I started feeling worse. I started experiencing the side effects and I could barely walk on my ankles. I took a second look at the pills and noticed they had the number W10-my old pills had the number 93. Then I took at look at the manufacturer-the new pills were made by Prasco and the old by Teva. I called the pharmacist and explained that the new pills were not working. He informed me all generics were basically the same and it shouldn't make a difference. I, of course, immediately informed him that this wasn't the case with me. He agreed to switch it back to the other maker and placed a note on my prescription refill order.
I started taking the other maker this past Thursday. I woke up this morning with minimal ankle pain and feeling better in general. All in a nutshell pharmaceutical generic medicines are NOT all the same. If this happens again I'm going to ask my rheumy for an exception to receive non-generic arava.
I started taking the other maker this past Thursday. I woke up this morning with minimal ankle pain and feeling better in general. All in a nutshell pharmaceutical generic medicines are NOT all the same. If this happens again I'm going to ask my rheumy for an exception to receive non-generic arava.
But the fillers are different, and it affects how the drug is delivered. I almost died once from generic Ventolin for asthma. My allergist freaked when he found out I had been given it. Stick to your guns and get the real stuff. If you are lucky and it doesn't bother you, then don't worry about it. Kind of sucks that we have enough other issues going on and have to worry about generic meds, too.
Which like mutations in our genetic code, can cause changes in amino acids in our RNA. just one change in chemical atom's position can change the way it is metabolized.
Some are exactly the same chemical formation, others are not.
Certain blood pressure meds and different forms of cyclosporine are two that I know of.
Here are some links . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cis-trans_isomerism
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm122883.htm
I had to switch to all generics or my new ins. would not pay or they cost a lot more. really tics me off.
i really notice a difference in a couple of my meds, they just don't work like the old. I was told that generics are all made with different bonding chemicals or products, that right there will give you side effect or allergy effect. so the fun part is figuring out whats bonding it and if that makes you sick. I hate how Ins. controls are lives
My insurance is upping the ante too. In July ALL of our generics will be $5, regardless of 30 or 90 day fills . . .