Peskypain, I can not disagree with anything you stated or included in your reply. My intent was to share my first hand professional experience that some (very few) generic manufactures get away with producing and marketing sub-standard pharmaceuticals. Yes in vitro trails often show identical results on paper, but in vivo experiences do many times differ. In my case I admit a potential bias from having worked for a "reputable" house, and perhaps even a psychological perception, in that I can "feel" that switching between branded and different generics produces a different result. ie. degree of benefit. All that I state here is in the realm of almost being off the proverbial bell chart. I felt it necessary to contribute my two cents worth in expressing a different view on generics verses branded and patented products. I can not resist adding one exceptionally rare and F.D.A. prosecuted case of a generic house not meeting standardized facility protocol. After thousands of complaints the F.D.A. inspected one production plant where the sterile fill room ventilation system was actually flowing air in reverse! Warehouse air was being drawn through the filtration system to contaminate the liquid fill and seal chamber. I fully know this is a once in a life time exception, but it is one I will never forget. It with no doubt adds to my general perception of Government (in)effectiveness.View Thread
Having worked for a major pharmaceutical company for over fifteen years I have to disagree with this blanket statement. Not all generics are the bio-equivalent equals to "brand name" drugs. While the active ingredient might well be the same, use of various filler/diluting materials can dramatically effect the efficacy of the drug in question. An extreme example of this was a generic IM penicillin product that made almost identical label claims to our name brand that independently assayed at less than 50% of their label dose. Other cases of product sterility also came into question, but only on injectible medications, nothing in regards to oral dispensing forms.View Thread