Seeing 2 sides of generics
I truly enjoyed your March 17 article [“Just as Good?”] in reference to generic drugs versus brand medication. As a practicing pharmacist for 34 years, I have insight into the marketing of prescription drugs, the so-called equivalent generic formulations compared with the brands, the predatory pricing and the failures in treatment when generics are substituted for brand-name products.
Personally, I have failed on generic Wellbutrin XL and the generic lisinopril (but have had my blood pressure controlled with the brand Zestril). I now pay retail for Lipitor because Blue Cross changed its formulary and wanted me to change to Crestor.
Henry Gotterer
Santa Ana
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My guess is that almost all if not the vast majority of “studies” relating to this phenomenon [of unequal performance of generic versus brand drugs] are in some way financially related to one of the larger pharmaceutical companies.
There are some big patents due to expire soon. The extra standards that are being proposed would delay the generics’ entrance into the market. If Big Pharma is able to delay the release of a generic for just six months, there is a huge amount of money to be made. Worse yet, higher costs to bring drugs to the generic market will then increase their cost to the public.
Stephen L. Cheshire
Ellijay, Ga.
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As a family physician, I was very pleased that you wrote about the other hidden side of generic medicine. All that is cheap is not necessarily good.
The other big related issue in my day-to-day world of trying to care for my patients is being told by insurance companies which drug I am to use for what disease. Of course, they all justify it medically, but it is related only to costs to them. This is becoming a nightmare. New formularies will mean a new round of drug changes, or the patient pays full price, which very few could.
I keep my fingers crossed every time I am forced to do this, hoping that they will survive the change.
Scott Macleod
Woodstock, Va.
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The efficacy of any drug varies widely among individuals and might be influenced by many minor variations in content and manufacturing.
Price is important but must be measured against performance. Only individuals, with the help of medical professionals, can evaluate their medications. We cannot just delegate all evaluation to the Food and Drug Administration and hope for the best.
Generic drugs are of ever increasing importance in providing more affordable options to consumers. Of course, that is only possible because of the innovation and diligence of the investors, producers and creators who developed the original brand-name drugs.
Richard E. Ralston
Newport Beach
The writer is executive director of Americans for Free Choice in Medicine.
