Surprising reasons to avoid generic drugs

Generic drugs offer high-end medical therapy at Wal-Mart prices — or do they? By law, generic drugs are supposed to provide the same dose of medicine that you would get from more expensive brand-name medications. However, studies show that some generic drugs may not deliver as promised.

You've probably heard the speech about generic drugs from your doctor or pharmacist. "They are just as potent as brand-name drugs. They are held to the same quality standards. They work the same." But that's a tough pill to swallow if you've ever felt your condition worsen or become plagued by new side effects after switching to a generic drug.  This may happen more often than makers of generics would have us believe. Here are some examples:

• A 2007 study reported that 20 patients being treated successfully for anxiety with Celexa had their symptoms return within a month, on average, when they were switched to generic citalopram. The doctors had never told them about the swap so patients had no idea their medicine was different. After they were able to take Celexa again, their anxiety eased.
• There have also been reports of patients whose depression returned after switching to paroxetine, the generic version of Paxil.
• Studies have also shown that the generic version of the anti-anxiety drug Valium (diazepam) is less potent and takes longer to start working.
• Many epilepsy patients are no longer able to control their seizures after switching from brand-name drugs to generic.

Generic drugs are not necessarily identical to their brand-name counterparts. Makers of generics are allowed to copy a brand-name drug's formula but can't always duplicate its "delivery system," or method of releasing medicine into the blood, which may be protected by a patent or be a trade secret. As a result, generics may dissolve and enter the bloodstream at a different speed.

Generics work for some people but if you feel the less expensive medication doesn't work for you speak up and say something to  your doctor.