Quote:
Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington
Salbutamol is the generic version of ventolin...a bit like a supermarkets own brand of cornflakes over Kelloggs....like unbranded cereals these drugs are cheaper.
Doctors will tell you that they are exactly the same but in my experience they aren't.
I used to take Voltarol 50 mg three times a day. I was prescribed Diclofenac 50 mg three times a day...this meant each tablet should have relieved my pain for eight hours.....the branded ones did, the unbranded ones lasted barely six hours..yet they were supposed to be exactly the same.
It costs less to the practice to prescibe unbranded medications.
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Don't really want to cross swords with a professional..but I'm given to understand mg for mg there is no chemical difference. When a new drug is marketed the relevant patent allows them to market without competition for a set number of years to allow them to recoup development costs, then the gloves are off and anyone can market the drug under whatever brand name they choose..the MHRA would not allow a change in chemical composition for any brand name drug claiming to do the same as a generic.
Tin hat on and prepared to be corrected