What is generic medicine?
Wikipedia gives a non qualified summary which will help me to explain the existence of these drugs
A generic drug (generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug defined as “a drug product that is comparable to brand/reference listed drug product in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use.”[1] It has also been defined as a term referring to any drug marketed under its chemical name without advertising.[2]
Although they may not be associated with a particular company, generic drugs are subject to the regulations of the governments of countries where they are dispensed. Generic drugs are labelled with the name of the manufacturer and the adopted name (nonproprietary name) of the drug.
A generic drug must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), generic drugs are identical or within an acceptable bioequivalent range to the brand-name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. By extension, therefore, generics are considered (by the FDA) identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and intended use.[3] The FDA’s use of the word “identical” is very much a legal interpretation, and is not literal. In most cases, generic products are available once the patent protections afforded to the original developer have expired. When generic products become available, the market competition often leads to substantially lower prices for both the original brand name product and the generic forms. The time it takes a generic drug to appear on the market varies. In the US, drug patents give 20 years of protection, but they are applied for before clinical trials begin, so the “effective” life of a drug patent tends to be between seven and 12 years
I first became aware of the different packaging, colour and shapes of pills I collected when I needed to take statins in 2007. Below are three different versions of Simvastatin I used to get in rotation. I found this Simvastatn to cause me aches in the arm occasionally. I found for the first six months or so that they made any ache or pain I had worse. Eventually I got used to them. In 2011 it was found that they did not reduce my cholesterol satisfactorily. I was changed to a new statin which cost the Chemist far more to supply than the Simvastatin. Simvastatin costs £10 I am told and the new statin costs £30 because it is the named drug. The new statin does not cause any aches and pains, and I feel generally better as a result. It is my belief that many may be suffering with Simvastatin and other regular medication they take, by receiving various versions of the same drug, and no consistency. The Pharmacy is able to source the cheapest licensed version of each tablet and does this for profit. The PCT and NICE also dictate what the NHS can afford. I had a generic version of the new statin, which I collected before I had the item on repeat prescription, and this made me ache profusely. If you notice that you are getting all sorts of different versions of tablets and they make you feel ill, or worse, take this up with your GP. I must however state that no matter how I feel about this matter, I am not a qualified doctor, and I am not encouraging anyone to panic or go agains their GP’s advice
Your comment is not strictly true – if a chemist dispenses generic yet submits to the PCT they have dispensed another then they are profiting illegally. However, chemists only get paid for the drugs they dispense from the PCT according to fixed pricing for each type and it is the NHS overall who are seeking to get costs down by using generics where they can. Generics only tend to become available after the original manufacturers licence expires which should have allowed them to recover their development costs then other companies make the drug available but have no development costs to recover, hence cost drops. There might be minor differences in the drugs but to meet very strict regulations, they have to essentially be exactly the same. The inference that generics are supplied by chemists to boost their profits is not really a true statement. If they dispense a generic, likelihood is they will get paid less for using it anyway – costs are very tightly controlled these days, not like say 15 years ago when it was a free for all.
Thank you for commenting on this post. I assume you are are an expert in this field? I was not implying my chemist was giving me generic items and claiming for the patented drug.
I think that in England we get a raw deal, why do people in Scotland and Wales get free prescriptions? Not at all fair I say! So do many others in England.
I will eventually get free medication when 60 next year, but have paid in excess of £400 for essential heart medication since 2007. I
I certainly do not endorse the charges made for prescriptions by the UK government but I guess revenue has to be generated from somewhere. Sounds like you may not be aware that you can get Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) for £104 per annum and that caps the maximum you should pay for any / all NHS prescribed drugs in any one year. £2/week, less than a pint is not that bad really, is it?
Chemists revenue is not governed by the monies they take from you for prescriptions which a lot of folk think is the case. Pharmacy is not as lucrative as some might think, particularly when you realise the pharmacist, NOT the doctor would be responsible if you took a drug that had a massive side effect on your health and could be criminally charged whilst the doctor gets off scot free. Pharmacists currently earn 1/3 of a GP. Fair? Most see them simply as glorified shop keepers but that is very different from reality.
I’ve been married to an expert for 40 years – a superintendent pharmacist no less !!
We’re currently taking on 9 GP’s in a practice in a legal case. Possibly I’m slightly defensive too !!
Anyhow, enjoy your blog – keep up the good work.
Have you listened to cruisin radio? http://www.cruisinradio.net/
I have it on quite a bit as I enjoy their music mix.
All the best for Christmas
Philip
Yes I have had pre payment certificates, and have my last one hopefully to take me up to March 2011!
I do know of an acquaintance who was prescribed the wrong potency of a drug and was very ill. You will be pleased to know that this man did not want this pharmacist to get into trouble because he was a very helpful person. His GP reported the Pharmacist when he discovered what had happened and it was duly reported.
Our local pharmacist makes money by dispensing prescriptions, and collecting them form GPs for patients all over the country! The customer at a distance has to pay the postage costs for medication.
I have the greatest respect for the Pharmacy I use, they have a rotation of very knowledgeable Pharmacists. They often let me know more about my medication than my own GP does. They also greet me in the street when they see me!
I welcome any thoughts you may have for this blog. Radio is the principle area of interest. You may also contact me by email at wirewaffle@hotmail.com – all emails I do not know go into spam but I trawl them regularly for genuine ones.
Have a happy Christmas, obviously you listen to radio for your recreation – long – Glad you enjoy the blog!
I think I have listened to Cruisin radio before – but will check that out.