When one switched from a brand name med to the generic of it, you get whatever they give you. They also change the manufacturers at times (and you get a sticker telling you that it's the same drug even if it looks different). Now...there's also a size difference.
For instance, I take 10mg of citalopram per day. Tiny, tiny dose. One generic has tiny, tiny pills (SERIOUSLY tiny, I can't believe how small they are). Another generic, same med, same dose, the pills are about three times as big.
So...obviously there's something ELSE in the pill. Inactive ingredients, I know.
But do people have reactions to those other ingredients at all?
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Naturally. It's just not common. There's something like 800 approved "inert" compounds that are allowed in pharmaceuticals, many (most, probably) of which are trade secrets and do not have to be labelled (and, of course, non active ingredients don't have to be labelled on oral pharmaceuticals at all). (edit: Actually, I assume this is still the case, I admit to not having read anything more recent than 2000 on it, and I never thought to ask the guys doing formulations)
Generally there are no reactions. When there are it tends to be something of the following:
Benzalkonium chloride-induced bronchospasm from antiasthmatic drugs Aspartame-induced headache and seizures Saccharin-induced cross-sensitivity reactions in people with sulfonamide allergy Benzyl alcohol toxicity in neonates receiving high-dose continuous infusion with preserved medications Dye-related reactions Lactose-induced diarrhea Propylene glycol-induced hyperosmolality and lactic acidosis.
These reactions are usually included in the "possible side effects" listings, though it won't say why (i.e.: you won't see "May cause diarrhea due to included lactose, but you will often see "May cause diarrhea"). Note that that list is by no means complete.
There are plenty of other reactions, you can find someone who'll react adversely to just about anything, it's just not considered statistically significant.
Posts: 3243 | Registered: Apr 2002
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