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I take off brand, but wonder if name brand would work better...interesting.

It's been so long since I've been able to find Excedrin Tension Headache! So I use the Target or CVS brand version and it works pretty well for me. But with things like generic seizure meds you have to be very careful...they don't work as well for me and my neuro says they can be dangerous because they're so ineffective.

Never thought about it, I always buy off brand but I don't really take anything other than the occasional ibuprofen.

Generic drugs makers and brand name drug makers alike must prove that their formulation has within 10% of the active ingredient because this difference is not clinically significant and has no determinable effect until you fall out of that range. In this sense, even a brand name drug could have slightly more or less active ingredient in it from lot to lot. With certain drugs, especially those that are in micrograms vs milligrams, that 10% difference can actually be a lot, so they encourage you to stay on the same brand, whether generic or not, that you've been getting (there can be many different generic manufacturers). A good example is synthroid/levothyroxine that you would take for hypothyroidism.

Warfarin to prevent blood clotting is another example of a drug to try and stick with the same brand, whether generic or not, and if there is a switch it is recommended to double check the blood levels to see if an adjustment should be made.

Some patients seem to be more sensitive in switching between different generics, especially in formulations that are designed to have delayed release mechanisms - the amount of drug needs to be the same, but the actual release mechanics don't have to be. In the case of seizure meds, it's not that generics are less effective, but once you've been stabilized on a specific dose, it is a good idea to stick to that manufacturer that you've been stabilized on to minimize the risk of seizures with a switch in manufacturers, be it due to the potential 20% difference in active ingredient (100mg may be 90mg with one manufacturer and 110mg with another and still be acceptable), or, more likely, due to release mechanics.

With over the counter drugs it is less likely to legitimately notice a difference between brand and generic, and if someone is a little apprehensive about generic to begin with, it could certainly sway how they perceive the effectiveness. I would also venture to say there is probably much less stringent regulatory measures for OTC drugs as compared to prescription drugs, but they tend to be at dosages where you wouldn't notice an appreciable difference.

I use generic, but my only personal hesitation is that unlike prescription drugs, over the counter drugs don't have to state their country of manufacture on the packaging and many are made in China.

Your friendly neighborhood pharmacist.

@Mrs. Chipmunk: thanks for sharing that!

@Mrs. Chipmunk: soooo interesting, thank you! I was actually just talking with my vet tech pharm students about this, it will give us a lot to discuss at our next review session!

@autumnlove: I was wondering what you guys would use also

@lemondrop: Generic for almost everything...DH has to pay back his scandalous school loans.

@Mrs. Chipmunk: Wow thanks for sharing that!

We always buy generic.

@Mrs. Chipmunk: My former CPhT loves you for your response!!

@Mrs. Chipmunk: thank for the info

@blackbird: Heehee - especially since phenylalanine is an amino acid, not cold medication! (Sorry, geeked out there. ;). )

I find generic stuff works for me, but it usually not powdery and therefore tastes disgusting.