Why are Brand Name Drugs more Expensive than Generics? | Patrick Kelly

Why are brand name medications so much more expensive than the generic version? Does the generic version work as well? Why can't we seem to get drug pricing under control? In this video, I'll take you through the history of drug pricing and generic regulation in the United States including events like the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Kefauver Harris Amendment, and the Hatch Waxman Act.
Subscribe to Mia's channel: @MiaMulder
🎤 Leechfest Podcast:
open.spotify.com/show/79uLYrs...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
☠️NONE OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD BE USED AS MEDICAL ADVICE OR OPINION. IT IS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT☠️
🔗 L I N K S 🔗
📱Instagram: / patkellyteaches
🐦Twitter: / patkellyteaches
💰Patreon: / corporis
🔬Main channel: / corporis
📚My favorite books docs.google.com/document/d/1w...
📜 S O U R C E S 📜
A line-by-line, fact checked version of the script can be found here. You do not have to be a Patron to view:
/ 64583734
💻 C O N T A C T 💻
If you’d like to sponsor a video or have other business inquiries:
patkellyteaches [at] gmail.com
#historyofmedicine #medicalhistory

[@liamfoxy]

As a Canadian, the entire thing around insulin infuriates me. One of the most brilliant and selfless minds of my nation created something to save millions, gave it away so more could live, and then corporations swooped in and destroyed all of that in the name of maximizing their quarterly profits, lives be damned.

[@JustDisc]

Yup! This video is very relatable to our current issue 👍

[@tjentertainmentstudio]

That happens to literally everything, ever, in a capitalistic market.😊

[@housemana]

nobody cares that you're a Canadian bro

[@epsilon8316]

im a diabetic and looking at this terrifies me luckily im an aussie so its mostly free for me but with how much i go through in just a week or two would send me into poverty like for example i go through one vial every 3 days that would cost on average 60 dollars in america which is horrifying to see because if i go without it for a day i can end up in the ER on life support i have been hours from a coma because i forgot insulin for two days i cant even imagine paying for it

[@anapopa5009]

Except insulin was actually discovered by a Romanian scientist who was stripped of the Nobel prize because of his political convictions. He discovered “pancreine”, as he named it, and started giving it to patients in Romanian hospitals, a few years before Banting and Best claimed they discovered it…check your facts, it’s really not that difficult

[@ginninadances]

As a pharmacist, I would like to say that some of our larger problems come from drug companies playing monopoly. I've seen the price of penicillin go from $4.50/bottle to over $420/bottle. That eventually corrected, but penicillin-G still costs $1,200 for a box of ten syringes and Pfizer has been getting away with it for years.

[@r3born206]

Same with the price of Epipens

[@Cerberus984]

@@r3born206Joe Manchin's daughter was former president and CEO of Mylan, Epipen maker, while the debacle of pricing occurred. Mises Institute had a thorough article about the depths of corruption which I'll copy and paste for you. Keep in mind before reading the original Epipen patent was issued in 1977 and each dose costs only a couple cents. ------------- A French pharmaceutical company offered an electronic device that actually talks people through the steps of administering the drug, but it was recalled because of concerns about it delivering the required dose. Just this year, Teva Pharmaceutical’s attempt at bringing a generic epinephrine injector to market in the US was blocked by the FDA. Adrenaclick and Twinject were unable to get insurance companies on board and so discontinued their injectors in 2012. Adrenaclick has since come back, but it is still not covered by many insurance plans, and the FDA has made it illegal for pharmacies to substitute Adrenaclick as a generic alternative to EpiPen. Another company tried to sidestep the whole auto-injector patent barrier by offering prefilled syringes, but the FDA has stalled them, too. Mylan has been repeatedly protected from competition, and it has repeatedly (and predictably) increased the price of EpiPens in response. Allowing all of these companies to compete in producing epinephrine auto-injectors would be the best course for all of the many patients who want a cheaper solution for severe allergic reactions. ----------

[@Qim2609]

They said they need money for developing new drugs, but i dont think that the real reason

[@ginninadances]

@@Qim2609 it's not if it's a generic manufacturer

[@dejausser]

Unrelated to your comment but I imagine you would know as a pharmacist (and presumably one in the US) - does generic omeprazole 10mg really still cost as much as USD$0.64 per pill in a US pharmacy?!? Here in New Zealand Pharmac pays NZD$2.06 (currently USD$1.22) per 90 10mg capsules (that's 2 NZD cents per pill), even 40mg capsules are only NZD$3.18 per 90. If they really are sold at any point for 64 USD cents that's more than 53x the price generic omeprazole is sold for here, which is insane! Monopsony really is a much better way of buying prescription drugs, if companies want to be able to sell their drug on the funded market in NZ (and basically nobody buys unfunded versions of the same medication because the funded version is completely free to the consumer, funded by taxes that are lower than those in the US!) they have no choice but to sell to Pharmac at a much lower price, and the quality of the drug has to be proved before Pharmac will agree to buy from them.

[@chicken29843]

At this point I feel like I just need to learn chemistry so I can just synthesize all of my own prescriptions

[@arthas640]

Sadly I've known some people who ended up doing that with meth as a replacement for ADHD meds or illicit opiates like heroin to replace prescription painkillers. People growing weed to replace expensive meds has been widespread in the US for awhile now and more and more people are starting to do the same with microdosing LSD or magic mushrooms to replace expensive medications. Recent changes to my states opiate prescription policy has lead to a lot of people switching to either illicit opiates or using weed or mushrooms to deal with chronic pain, doctors even started preemptively warning chronic pain patients about the dangers of fentanyl in illicit opiates and handing out suicide hotline cards to chronic pain patients. It's supposedly supposed to limit the amount of opiates on the streets but most of those were already heroin and fentanyl and those have been the main cause of accidental overdoses for years now, i think it was more about money and politics than about fighting any drug problem since it allowed the state and insurance companies to stop spending for a lot of costly drugs and doctors visits (here you cant get reflls for painkillers, you have to get a new prescription every month which requires a doctors visit).

[@gonzothawarrior]

And unfortunately you will end up in jail smh

[@sekedad4819]

Excellent video. Quick minor common misconception (KB made the same mistake) - diethylene glycol is very rarely used as antifreeze. It is much more common to use ethylene glycol, although a little bit of diethylene glycol does naturally form in such antifreeze as a breakdown product.

[@jhoughjr1]

Also I think diethylene glycol is less toxic as well. I suspect the deaths came from people drinking the whole bottle expecting to get drunk as a holdover from prohibition

[@CraftyVegan]

Ethylene and/or diethylene glycol aren’t commonly used anymore for antifreeze since it’s so sweet that toddlers, kids, and animals would drink it and either die or get extremely sick. It’s propylene glycol now, which is significantly less toxic and also significantly less sweet

[@Tyler11821]

@@jhoughjr1 Both are highly toxic. In fact, ethanol (what we call alcohol) is an antidote for it. We don't use either anymore, because of how they could be easily consumed by children as it apparently tasted good. We've replaced it with both a less toxic, and apparently much less tasty, compound.

[@grinchyface]

@@CraftyVegan This is definitely not true. They just add a bittering agent to make it taste bad. Most antifreeze is still ethylene glycol

[@thepetrarcticwar2778]

@@Tyler11821 Ehrrr.. Propylene Glycol is a harmless compound that's used for vaporizers, drug delivery, and even as a food additive, I believe as some sort of thickener or stabilizer in the latter case.

[@diablominero]

Thalidomide is still used, but these days it's a chemo drug for treating blood cancer and some autoimmune diseases.

[@sadmermaid]

Hank ftw

[@Practicalinvestments]

Yes and a quick correction, Thalidomide is actually safe and effective just not the racemic mixture Only the left handed enantiomer (levothalidomide) is dangerous and poisonous and harmful However the right handed enantiomer is actually perfectly safe and effective, I certainly don’t know for certain but I can imagine they still use DextroThalidomide for certain things as you mentioned

[@diablominero]

@@Practicalinvestments they thought that for a while, but it turns out that humans have enzymes in us that convert back and forth between the two enantiomers of thalidomide.

[@arthas640]

It's actually good at its job, it's mainly just an issue if you stand even a chance of getting pregnant but the same is true, usually to a lesser degree, with tons of drugs. One thing crazy about Oncology is it's like the 1 exception to every rule since it's a field that pretty much demands risk taking since decisions often boil down to "either we do this or they die" or "it might be bad, but the chemo/cancer is worse so why not use it". I was given large doses of Thorazine which is something my grandma used to use on violent psychotics on the mental ward but it's used for nausea and some other stuff in Oncology. Kind of funny but I was so radioactive I was told not to take an airplane because I'd set off gieger counters the TSA uses and one time a non-oncologist questioned my doctor why a young man (I was a teenager at the time) was being given strong opiates my doctor just said "he's got stage 3 cancer, do you really think some painkillers are an unwarranted risk?" and another time he told someone "these drugs are harmful long term and you could have some serious problems when you're an old man, but I think you'll agree that doesnt matter when the alternative is dying before you reach age 30."

[@lavalamp6410]

It is still also used for those suffering Leprosy, but since that is a disease commonly seen in 3rd world countries there isn't as strong regulatory enforcement, women in some countries aren't being told not to fall pregnant so the issue is still present.

[@apocalypse487]

I wish I could show this to every patient and some of the doctors. What brand name drug companies do now is use what's called authorized generics. Basically brand name medication with generic labeling. People will still pay for brand name because of the stigma against generics even though that's what they're getting. The other side effect of the Hatch Waxman act is that generic companies are merging at an alarming rate.

[@nekomasteryoutube3232]

As a poor person, I usually go for generics, and they do the job. While Generics dont have some interesting packaging stuff, sometimes I can get stronger doses for cheaper, like with ibuprofen which seems to be the only NSAID that works for me.

[@sailormoon2937]

10:45 Doritos

[@arthas640]

The same happens a lot actually. With non-drugs tons of name brand companies use third party manufacturers and just slap the name brand logo on them. I've found a bunch of Under Armor products sold for a fraction the price and even found some top quality shooting gloves for $100 less because they had a different logo, not even similar gloves but the same EXACT same pair of gloves. Thats one reason why some brands are cheap but good, the same happens with a bunch of Costco's Kirkland Signature brand, they use a lot of the same manufacturers as name brands. Some companies like the Girl Scout Cookies buy all their products from giant factories that produce for multiple brands, same is true with chicken products who often all get their stuff made by Tyson.

[@ChandlerScarborough]

I, along with several family members, have had to hunt down a generic drug from a specific manufacturer multiple times. The reasons vary. Sometimes one generic causes drowsiness and the other one doesn't. Sometimes one generic doesn't work at all. The most severe example was with an anti-seizure medicine for a family member. Within days of switching to a different generic, the seizures resumed. And within days of switching back, the seizures stopped. Not scientific, but enough to make me worry about which versions of a drug I'm taking.

[@christianterrill3503]

I was a drug addict, in the drug using community this is well known. Some generics are litterally garbage and have less of the chemical then the brand name one. Oxycontin, Xanax and Adderall all three lf those Most people will seek out the brand name because most of the generics aren't great and you need to buy and take more to feel the same thing.

[@avhd187]

Thats why it should be exact copies of the brand. The winner to get the best generic should be awarded a brand copy.

[@TurtleFootMining]

Cannabis oil under the tongue cures my seizures. Hope this helps Mix it with honey so it doesn’t go all over and stays under the tongue

[@nialldoyle8206]

Chandler. Anti convulsants have a very narrow therapeutic index ( fine line between the correct dose or too much or too little). In addition different brands have different bioavailability (think absorption ). One should never switch brands of swap generics for this class of drug. I am a pharmacist btw. Nearly every other drug will be fine to swap. Please check with your pharmacist first as there are too many exceptions to mention here.

[@chewielewis4002]

So the issue is usually the binder being used. Especially with "time release" drugs, brand new drug will usually have better binders. The brand name time release tend to release more evenly and thus fewer side effects. Like in the video the generics just have to be close enough. I know that certain medications that can cause rapid heart rate I'd have to choose the brand name. This is pretty common, the doctor will have you try out the generic drug to see how well it works for you and if you dont tolerate the generic brand they will then specify on the script the brand name drug.

[@evertonc1448]

Here in Brazil the generics law is way more agresive than the USA, the difference in prices can easily get in the 500% or even more, lol. Insulin for example here is virtually free. Plus nobody actually cares about buying name brands.

[@jpet87]

Eu me importo, dependendo do remédio.

[@zoze1996]

@@jpet87 pagando mais pela mesma coisa kkkkkkkkkkk

[@jpet87]

@@zoze1996 Você que acha que é a mesma coisa. O problema no Brasil é o controle de qualidade. Muitas vezes o produto não tem a quantidade do princípio ativo que diz ter.

[@zoze1996]

@@jpet87 não é o que EU acho, o que está em ponto aqui não é um achismo, medicamento genérico possui a exata mesma composição do medicamento de referência, isso é um fato, pergunte a qualquer um que trabalhe na indústria farmacêutica, o setor farmacêutico é muito rigoroso, não existe falta de controle de qualidade para medicamentos, visto que a multa pra tal é pesadíssima (com risco até de fechar laboratórios/fábricas). Tenho familiares que lidam com isso, que entendem do assunto e podem afirmar categoricamente o que digo, sua opinião de conspiracionista é inválida. Se você paga mais caro só pra ter "o nome da marca", está gastando seu dinheiro totalmente em vão.

[@amarantemariana1]

Só se paga pelo copyright do nome a fórmula não muda

[@pkre707]

The only issue I’ve ever had with generics is with XR medication. I felt a significant difference between Wellbutrin and it’s generic equivalent. And I’m someone who 99% of the time doesn’t care about generic v brand I think it has to do with the binders involved in the extended release instead of the active ingredient it’s self.

[@suspectsn0thing]

Additionally, sometimes if the name brand XR formula was introduced later than the original drug, that specific formula might still be under patent. A good example is Adderall; generic amphetamine salts are available in both instant and extended release, but the newer extended release formula "Mydayis" is still under patent. It's possible that the specific release-extender formula for your brand name XR Wellbutrin is under patent, so generic manufacturers have to use a different formula for extending the effects, which is less effective for you.

[@thysonsacclaim]

The XR portion is often another technology with its own patent.

[@gisele_for_president]

I had the same experience! Now I use Voxra, which is manufactured by the same company.

[@patriciajump9511]

I mean, even with the same generic brand, I know from decades of expetience (cuz I am old now, 73) that a drug's effects may vary from time to time. I know that at least some meds are legally allowed to vary in strength by a certain small petcentage,, so at least some of the variance may be due to that. Also, I wonder (but this is a guess) about wherever they source their binders, whether that makes a difference in the med's strength or effectiveness ... like, what if xyz binder from India is not exactly identical to the same xyz binder from Africa. Also, I know some meds are more complex to make than others, which might leave room for variances.

[@davak72]

@@suspectsn0thingFascinating! I took generic Adderall XR until the shortage forced me to switch to a different medication. I had great success with the generic from Sandoz, but when I switched to a pharmacy that was more convenient, I quickly learned that not all Adderall XR genetics are the same! I had really bad cold-sweating, headaches, and no focus benefit. I switched back to the previous pharmacy ASAP!!

[@davidtrindle6473]

Inactive ingredients also have an effect; how the active ingredient is delivered, allergic reactions, ability to be absorbed into the blood.

[@rockcat5000]

Unfortunately true. The liquid form of my thyroid meds (not generic) works better than the pill form which is available in generic form. The difference is getting rarer, however.

[@erraticonteuse]

My insurance company has a way around the trust issue: they cover 3/4 the cost of generics, and only a third of the cost of name brands, even if there isn't a generic on the market yet! So it doesn't matter what I trust!

[@mangos2888]

Well, and those dollar amounts might be the SAME between brand and generic even if the percent covered is drastically different.

[@arthas640]

@@mangos2888 I wish that was the standard. My insurance company fights me constantly over my sleeping med even though they pay nearly exactly the same for 2 different generic medications but fight me because the med i take has a much more expensive name brand, but thats what they focus on even though the generics are about the same cost either way. I've also faced issues in the past with them not covering certain things even though they're the same cost as the alternative they do cover. It'd be easier if they just said "we'll give cover X amount and you and your doctor can decide which to use".

[@phantomkate6]

​@@mangos2888For your statement to be true under any possible circumstance , the name brand would have to be cheaper than the generic. Does that make any sense?

[@nalanl]

With regards to people's perception of generic vs non-generic efficacy... The placebo effect is very powerful.

[@arthas640]

yeah there's sometimes differences in extended relief meds (sometimes the extended release is patented so generics have to use a different extended release method), and sometimes generics may use a different delivery method like capsules vs gelcaps vs pills, and sometimes people can be allergic to different inactive ingredients, but I think more often than not its the placebo effect in play. My grandma always claimed generics didnt work as well or made her sick but didnt notice a couple times when they changed her to a generic drug on certain meds. I dont care about name brands on 99% of things, drugs or not, and rarely notice any difference with my generic meds, but i also dont have any allergies.

[@vismortis]

Or the generic is different enough it doesn’t work or is deadly. Topamax for instance I can take the brand name just fine some generics too. Other generics cause me to have seizures. The size and even shape of a pill can impact how it breaks down and the speed it works at. Generics are not the same thing as much as people want to think they are

[@wiskeeamazingdancer4964]

Also bioequivalence only requires concentration in blood. Any drug supposed to effect beyond the blood brain barrier, generics are hit and miss.

[@ghw7192]

Several years ago, I shattered my left arm and shoulder in a bad fall. The surgeon advised me to take Motrin instead of generic ibuprofen. His explanation was that there was something in those inert ingredients that don't do anything that do something. I have compared brands and he was right.

[@emiliegatfield2918]

Extremely interesting and well formulated. I do have a couple of quibbling criticisms, mostly about things like extended-release patents, and extrapolations - things like Wellbutrin XL, where the extended-release mechanism is still under patent, and the generics keep getting pulled from the market because the AUC isn't in range, because they extrapolated from other dosages, rather than testing each level. Insulin, especially the pre-filled syringes, is another area that seems to get complicated, although I'm less familiar with that. What I'd really have liked to see, though, is a discussion of why drugs can cost thousands of dollars here, yet sell for a fraction of that in Canada. I cannot imagine Canada is more lax than we are, and yet the contrast is shocking.

[@davidmiller9485]

Rebates. Most International governments have agreements involving rebates for medications. The AIDs epidemic in Africa is a good example. It's a cocktail of three different drugs (or used to be, i haven't kept up with it after my friend died) that are way cheaper than here in the states. Africa has a rebate program with the manufacturer that allows them to get the drug cheaper. The manufacturer doesn't advertise it because if it can be gotten for cheaper then that rebate should be accessible here as well. (they get the difference as a tax right off by the IRS which is the real reason the manufacturers do it. It helps them balance the books when the drugs here in the states aren't selling due to the price so that the stock price stay's high. Now i feel like i've spent to much time in the boardroom)

[@arthas640]

I'm not an expert but sometimes it's the delivery methods that are trademarked and not the drug, like Epi-Pen which you can get for cheaper in a regular syringe. Some drugs also are generic but the production method is trademarked which is why a generic like Insulin is still effectively trademarked by a couple companies

[@BaalFridge]

Canada has standards. The US dont care. That's about it.

[@travelinman70]

Canada government actually cares about it's population. Here in America, in one day GOP control will upend civic endeavors that take years to set up. Why? greed. GOP is run by corporate donations that don't see citizens as a government should. That's why all MAGA politics must go and never come back.

[@Liquid_Mike]

It's crazy when American companies, sometimes funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, will charge thousands for a drug here - yet sell it overseas for a dollar. It's crazy how we have zero protections despite regulatory bodies being abundant here...

[@LaGuerre19]

One of those digitalis brand names from 1938, Digitos, sounds like what you'd call the extremely rare experience of finding a severed finger in a bag of Doritos. E.g., "I opened a bag of cool ranch today and experienced Digitos."

[@mandycorbett9634]

😂

[@tydshiin5783]

It took me a second to get that "Digitos" is just Digit + Doritos Now that's a good one

[@arthas640]

now im hungry

[@allie-ontheweb]

I thought it sounds like what your fingers are after eating a whole bag of Doritos. "Sorry, I couldn't text back, I had digitos"

[@SarahMaywalt]

Here’s the thing. There are some drugs that do have problems as generics. This doesn’t stem from the generic active ingredient, but the generic company’s quality controls. I was put in a position recently where I had to find a pharmacy that allowed me to request a specific generic manufacturer of a drug to obtain a drug that would be both covered by my insurance and not run the risk of symptoms of withdrawal or a dosage increase every time I refilled my prescription. For the name brand drugs, profit margins are very large, so there is less incentive to save a penny or two a pill cutting corners on quality.

[@dillonventola408]

Totally agree, for example zrytch generic doesn't work for me no matter what. It's literally the only drug I've ever had an issue with.

[@grapetoad6595]

The video literally talks about this??? There were lots of studies showing there were no differences between brand and generics regarding efficacy or side effects. Perception isn't truth, which was the whole point of the video.

[@tylerpeterson4726]

Have you filed a report with the FDA's MedWatch program? I know they use that when deciding where to send inspectors. This is especially true for genetics because an ANDA application doesn't require a pre-approval inspection, so reports of a QC problem can get a generic manufacturer inspected sooner than would otherwise happen.

[@nicoledoubleyou]

Was it Adderall? Generic Adderall is all over the place depending on the manufacturer

[@swayback7375]

@@nicoledoubleyouseems unlikely since they mentioned overdose/withdrawal each refill.

[@christopping5876]

Excellent video. Thank you. My experience with generics, which I always ask for, has generally been very positive. I spent around 35 years on 'Prozac' (intially) then the generic equivalent. I did find I preferred some generic manufactures over the others regarding efficacy. However, the far lower costs always made me feel a lot less depressed!

[@AlzCustomz]

What would happen if you stopped prozac? 35 yrs seems like a very long time

[@scirvy]

@@AlzCustomzIf you went of it slowly, I doubt anything would happen, there’s not many withdrawal symptoms due to the amount of time fluoxetine takes to build up and then break down in your body, I.e a long half-life (1-4 or 7-15 days)

[@cybersentient4758]

Jesus Christ prozac for 35 years ?, man your withdrawals must be insane I was on a pill with clonotril and fluoxetine for about 7 months and I went into crazy withdrawals Can't imagine what you would go through

[@lovetodocoolstuff9309]

Oh yeah, there’s a difference between generics. Where’s all my ADHD people??? 😂 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@onionshark]

I've known for almost 2 decades there was no difference between name brand and generic and never cared. Then I was diagnosed ADHD late in life, and let me tell you the way I track manufacturers on my meds... I have a spreadsheet. I still don't care about name brand but I have huge preferences for manufacturers and a few I refuse to accept because I'd rather just go unmedicated for a month than take extreme anxiety-inducing garbage.

[@kicunya12]

@@onionshark 🫂 Ditto. I was always in "generics are as good as brand name camp", then I encountered that some that acted sufficiently weaker overall or results lasted for just 2-3 hours. I still thought "it's me", I probably just imagining things or something else I do or in my life affects the medication. And then I was dispensed The One. It completely put me "on edge": anxiety, irritability, unable to collect thoughts, on top of terrible headaches.

[@Stina.Buscus]

GENERIC CONCERTA IS NOT THE SAMEEEEE

[@KWifler]

Funny enough, the generic of Prilosec doesn't work for my dad's heartburn! He has to buy the brand name. Possibly because it's time released.

[@NotSoNormal1987]

Same. I've had to use it to treat stomach ulcers. Fun times

[@mangos2888]

I do respond differently between name brand and generic. Those inactive ingredients matter more than they're given credit for. Sometimes it doesn't make a huge difference - like ibuprofen - but any extended release and some antibiotics really affect me between the two. 😢

[@harikrishna69]

Try and visit your local witch doctor. I'm sure you will get a better result.

[@bigred9428]

Exactly! I was taught in school "Aspirin is aspirin", so I would by the generic, and they worked...ok. Then I had to by Bayer, and there absolutely was a difference! It was the same way with sudafed.

[@robinpollard7629]

​@@bigred9428buy is not by

[@arthas640]

@@harikrishna69 you can often just switch generics, sometimes they use different inactive ingredients and sometimes people can even have allergies to those inactive ingredients. Also there can be a major difference with extended or delayed release meds since even if the _drug_ is generic the methods they use to provide the extended/delayed release can still be patented and trademarked forcing generics to use different methods. As some people mentioned in the comments Welbutrin is a well known example of an extended release being different from the name brand and generics.

[@brandon9172]

Placebo

[@ajzmn3538]

I did not expect to see @MiaMulder here😊

[@drewsey5733]

I’ve never had any issues with the generic ADHD meds I take. Unfortunately due to the shortage of ADHD meds right now I haven’t been able to get the generic meds for months now. Haven’t noticed a difference between the name brand I’ve been taking now and the generics I took except the name brand prescription costs 107$ With insurance to fill and the generics were 25$ tops.

[@adityanadgauda]

I have been prescribed Methylphendiate for ADHD. Here in India the generic medicine costs about Rs 600 for 30 pills, around $8.5. And the branded concerta costs Rs. 4500 for a bottle of 30, almost $60. That's 6.5 times the price of the generic. I've tried generic and I've tried concerta. The difference is massive. I almost don't feel anything with the generics, and with the ones I do, the side effects are pronounced. Concerta works like a charm. I guess it depends from country to country as well.

[@Dude8718]

@@adityanadgaudawell that's because concerta is a time release and methylphenidate itself implies the regular instant release kind. They feel very different.

[@adityanadgauda]

@@Dude8718 yeah I get that. I've tried other Indian extended release brands as well. None worked as well.

[@blackheart909]

@@adityanadgaudais adderall available in India?

[@LegendoftheGalacticHero]

The thing with adhd meds is that somehow some react differently to each one. Some do better with in generic, one to adderall, one to concerta.

[@OldieBugger]

In this country the doctors fill the prescriptions with brand name drugs, but the pharmacists are allowed to do a substitution to a cheaper generic product, according to a list our Drug Administration has provided. They usually ask me the first time if I want to have a substitution; modern computer tech helps them to know my previous choice.

[@arthas640]

If i remember right the US or at least certain states are the same. I normally just go with generics regardless since my usual meds have no difference between generic and name brand as far as i can tell but in the past I had some where there was a difference, and the doctor had 3 options: name brand, name brand required, or generic. With name brand you could opt for generic when you got the prescription refilled, generic meant generic, and the name brand required was a non-standard override in cases where a specific brand was required like if the patient had an allergy or something and needed a specific brand (sometimes different manufactures use different inactive ingredients for the same drug).

[@OzSteve9801]

In Australia a lots of doctors write a prescription for the active ingredient. When you get to the pharmacist they will ask if you want brand name or generic. If the drug is covered under the pharmaceutical benefits scheme the cost is the same but for non-PBS drugs there can be a huge gap.

[@alexandradogariu5736]

The cost is not always the same, even on PBS. There is still a brand premium, but it is small, couple of dollars in general. And the doctors are meant to prescribe only the active ingredient. The only time you see a brand name is on private scripts from old doctors.

[@phinhnanthasone1231]

For my prescription of antihypertensive drugs I receive whatever the pharmacy has in stock. I never had any problems no matter which generic medicament

[@bigred9428]

I've had plenty of problems, even with side effects. Amlodipine, for example, I was taking one pill, it worked and it even had a nice, calming effect, like chamomile tea. After that, I had several others, and I had every side effect in the book.

[@80sidd]

No problem with generics😊

[@otterotterotter]

Great video as always! I actually recently participated in a research study on the topic of people's opinions and perceptions of name brand vs generic. I also did mention in the "any comments for the researchers" that there is a major consideration outside of the name brand vs generic decision, and that's with allergies to the inactive ingredients/bulking agents in medications, as this has a serious sway on drugs in some situations for me. As an example, I am severely allergic to eggs (multiple proteins associated with birds in general, I can't have anything to do with anything derived from a bird), I have allergic reactions to it from skin contact and ingestion, and I find getting the flu vaccine stressful because many flu vaccines use egg derived ingredients. There are not as many options for egg free flu vaccines, and the options are not always available at say, the local pharmacy offering flu vaccines. Thankfully a flu vaccine isn't a daily consideration, but it does add considerable time to both the appointment to get a flu vaccine and the time actually getting it, as I always wait in clinic just in case someone accidentally gave me the wrong thing and I have an allergic reaction, hasn't happened thankfully but I still find the experience stressful. Of course, having an allergy to inactives can also extend to any drug, and since the inactive ingredients are not as familiar to the general public, it's not nearly as easy as processing food labels. I think too with food allergies becoming increasingly more common, this is definitely a situation that would have to be integrated into the ways we look at and handle drugs in the future, as people not understanding what in their medications caused an allergic reaction could further the distrust of generics or the pharmaceutical industry in general.

[@arthas640]

Yeah that's why many manufacturers use the most generic, least offensive inactive ingredients as possible like cellulose as a binder. It's kind of crazy what gets used in some drugs, I was on a medication for awhile made using genetically modified rats or mice.

[@haileycandeza-solano]

Off Topic, but why would you concern your self getting flu vaccines? It's been decades since i got a flu vaccine, and I'm fine. I never even had COVID even once even though I'm also unjabbed. These Americans (or Western countries) will literally take anything being told by any doctor even if it doesn't give them benefits, if not dangerous to their health.

[@scarlettanais5429]

influenza can be fatal, but the likelihood of catching and then having large complications/death from it is very low for the average person. So generally, the flu vaccine isn't worth the trouble/risk of an adverse allergic reaction for the average person. However, if you have a higher rate of exposure (doctor, nurse etc.) or you have a higher risk of complications/death (lowered immunity, elderly etc.) it's definitely worth it. Most countries require doctors/nurses to have their flu vaccine yearly, I would be surprised if yours doesn't. This "I didn't do it and I'm fine" mentality literally means nothing in the context of medicine lmao, anecdotes are not viable in any discussion of vaccine safety.@@haileycandeza-solano

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

​@@haileycandeza-solanookay, well, the next time a more virulent and dangerous strain of influenza comes through, you just tell it that and hope it listens to you. 🙄😒

[@wandamanske8667]

I have chronic insomnia and the generic doesn’t work as well as name brand. Very good program

[@casparcoaster1936]

Great chanrnel, many thanks. I take Buphrenorphine (Subutex) every day, and switched to a manufacturer that made the same dose (8ml) that is a much smaller pill, much less filler. Noticed immediately less urinary retention problems... Hope you will someday do a history of cobalt 60.... I was treated w/ gamma radiation at age 12 (nasopharynxal fibroma), age 37 (seminoma), age 59 (menigioma), never been able to find much about it's discovery and application in medicine.... and I am (now) a sub!!

[@Kate-jx8ur]

I just started the generic vyvanse and it affects me really bad. The brand name kept my mind clear and focused but the generic makes me feel like I’m sleep walking and I can’t focus at all with increased depression symptoms. I don’t know exactly what’s different between both of them but my body really doesn’t react well to it.

[@therideneverends1697]

as someone also perscribed those types of drugs, that symptom set makes me think it spikes in blood concentration quicker, which for a all day med like vyv, can be an all day problem

[@CHiCguitar]

I would definitely explain this to your physician. Insurance may be willing to go back to the old product if you've tried this one with poor outcomes. No guarantees but it's always worth a shot.

[@roxcyn]

Go back on the name brand.

[@user-fg5my3wt9m]

Another great video! You're turning me into a medical history nerd.. Super well explained, as always. Thank you (and for introducing Leechfest Podcast)!.

[@eloujtimereaver4504]

Comments are not just a measure of public opinion, but also affect it, making paid comments and reviews very valuable on widely read source.

[@brendancarson8587]

I never really knew anything about generics nor cared as a canadian. I had been on cipralex for about 4 years which always just came in a bottle. I had zero issues with the medication and the only sides i would get were these brain shocks when i forgot to take my pill for a day. One time i had my script filled and after around 5 days i started getting those brain shocks. It kept happening and I went to my doctor as i thought cipralex had stopped working. Turns out the pharmacy had filled my script with TEVA brand generic. I had no idea and my doctor suggested i go back on the name brand. Within 24 hours the brain shocks were gone. I am sure they are close to identical but when it comes to some meds its best not to switch between brand name and generic. If your on generic stay on it and vice-versa.

[@Lorentz_Factor]

You should do a video on the lack of generics in biosimilars and their difficulty in approval from the FDA and replicating them as a generic analog

[@mrdanjr0824]

As a pharmacist in the U.S., I commend his fairness and balance.

[@erikh8685]

As a clinical pharmacologist working at a drug company this was a very good introduction!

[@zaggnutt]

Another great video! You're turning me into a medical history nerd.

[@spiderplant]

Super glad you mentioned that corporate greed played a huge part in all of this, and mentioned some drug companies deciding to skyrocket prices once they realized they could legally stifle competition

[@JBoo]

As someone who's taken medication their whole lives can say nothing but positive experiences and I almost always get given the generics.

[@kaiakakos]

Super well explained, as always. Thank you (and for introducing Leechfest Podcast)!

[@NickBRZ_513]

Awesome job! Your channel deserves massive uptake in subs! I feel good things coming your way, keep up the amazing content.

[@karenkalweit6018]

They are not always the same. When they are not the same it’s a big problem.

[@hollenfeuer1]

Great video man. Random pop up, and I'm happy for it! Keep it up!

[@yuso-cc8884]

Thank you so much Key, for the quality content. I'm so glad I found your channel, this is the kind of content I wnjoy watching.

[@nikevisor54]

Doing work for a national pharmacare project so your timing is impeccable

[@ashraftan7443]

i love your video. cant believe you only had 48k subs. thought at least half a mil. love the quality. subscribed

[@RubenKelevra]

I think the whole process should be redeveloped: A company who wants a drug to be sent to clinical trials need to file for that in a public process, sending out the recipe for the drug creation. The drug is then independently created based on that and trialed. Once approved based on the trials, every pharmaceutical company can bring this drug to market - under the approved name. This reduced the amount of confusion by the consumers, which drug is equal to each other. To support the development of a drug, a fee is established and charged by the pharmacy for the drug - say 5% - and the company which filed the recipe receives this.

[@GunnaRx22]

I agree the system is in dire need of a revamp and that is an interesting approach. Building on it I was wondering what your thoughts were on a few things. Who do you think should do the trials / how would they be funded? Also what would stop pharmaceutical companies from spam submitting potential drugs to try and claim the finders fee? I'm not trying to poke holes in your idea (if there was a simple solution we wouldn't be where we are) just really curious about other people's perspectives.

[@Virtuous_Rogue]

"the drug is then independently created based on that and trialed" The problem with that is developing a process to produce a drug is it's own massive expense and each drug needs a different process. And FDA reviews the processes as well as the clinical safety and efficacy. With ramping drug quality requirements at each phase the only company that can produce the drug is the one that is going to profit from selling it.

[@CHiCguitar]

I just don't think this necessarily incentivizes the creation of novel drugs. There is a reason that SO many of the new drugs and new drug ideas come from the US and that's due almost entirely to a system that allows people to be greedy. As a future pharmacist, I hate it. But patients NEED new drugs, and the way our system works motivates greedy companies to develop them.

[@PeaceLoveUnityRespect]

But I work at a pharmacy in Canada by law generics have to be at least the same dosage plus or minus 10%. Meaning 100mg Brand Name = 90mg - 110mg Generic

[@AG-iu9lv]

That's still too wide of a range for some meds, like T4. I am all for generic zyrtec and ibuprofen, but I'm stuck taking name brand synthroid for this reason. ☹️

[@ae2948]

More like Name Brand 100mg. Generic 85mg.

[@PeaceLoveUnityRespect]

@@AG-iu9lv funny you say that I've only been on brand Synthroid but I think it's because the generic is the exact same cost in my case.

[@harriswong2137]

Brilliantly explained. Thanks for the great vid

[@PatKellyTeaches]

Glad it was helpful! It was a fun one to make

[@sneakylemon8513]

I've been on 5 daily meds for a decade now and always take the generic when it's in stock and never noticed a difference. Except that the generic is generally half or less the price. Like one drug was new and used to cost like R1000 a month and the new generics cost like R200 per month (ZAR). (From a cost of living perspective, my rent is R8000 per month). My mom's a doctor though and always told me that it's the exact same chemical so it's the same thing, so I had that expectation going in. I wonder how much difference or no difference is due to placebo.

[@relight6931]

You are from Republic of South Africa? I thought the generic vs brand name was only USA thing. In my country, we only got brand names..

[@sneakylemon8513]

@relight6931 oh yeah we have generics. But we import most of our meds. I think they mostly come from India these days. Where are you from?

[@relight6931]

@@sneakylemon8513 Balkans. Serbia to be exact. But I think we half produce localy, and probably got some import too.. But it's only ever either domestic or foreign brand name.. Thanks.

[@tudibelle]

This is a really interesting video, thank you. I feel like part of this is cultural, based on my experience as a patient in the UK Vs my visit to the US last year and conversations over the year with American friends. Over here, we refer to common drugs such as pain killers by their generic names, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, even though Anadin and Neurofen, etc. exist. And my GP prescribes me an antidepressant and a gastric medication, but each month is probably from a different manufacturer. It is common, and I don’t know anyone who has an issue with it. My limited experience from American friends is that medicines are more likely to be referred to by their brand name (Tylenol), and people are unhappy when they don’t get the brand name prescribed. All anecdotal, but your vide gives interesting insights into why this may be the case.

[@nichole9677]

Anecdotal? Is that tylenol? acetaminophen = tylenol in the U.S. I'm curious if we have different generic names?

[@tudibelle]

@@nichole9677 acetaminophen is only ever called Paracetamol. We have Panadol, but I had to Google to remember what the brand was called. And Ibuprofen is apparently your Advil and Motrin. Neurofen is the common brand here, that trades in a reputation of efficacy, but most people I know just buy the supermarket own brand ones. And in my house they're called parrots (as in parrots-eat-em-all) and ibu. But we're weird 🤣

[@tudibelle]

@@nichole9677 and by anecdotal I'm saying I don't have evidence for my claims, they're just observations.

[@phantomkate6]

​@@nichole9677Yes, paracetamol is the UK name for acetaminophen.

[@deus_ex_machina_]

​@@nichole9677 Anecdotal in this context means “based on reports or observations rather than proven facts”. The generic name for Tylenol in the rest of the world is paracetamol, and it, acetaminophen and Tylenol all derive from different parts of the IUPAC name of the active ingredient-N-acetyl-para-aminophenol. As for why the same drug has different names in the US and the rest of the world, my best guess is that it became widespread before the WHO existed to standardize generic drug names. I just came from a video by Name Explain which described the process.

[@Lorentz_Factor]

We also get a video on rebates battling, insurance company preferential drugs, insurer owned PBMs, pharmacy preference, and the effect of these aspects on stuff prices

[@RouteBGP]

I've always wondered if synthesis byproducts of the active ingredient were ever checked. Presumably there's more than one chemical pathway to the drugs manufacture. Starting with different products, using different methods, could arrive at the same drug. The impurities contained in that drug could be quite different though. Some of those side products might even be bioactive in unforeseen ways.

[@RouteBGP]

See ranitidine as an example

[@EarlGreyLattex]

You're correct. Any self respecting chemist would tell you that generics are not always the same as name branded drugs. For example some specific drugs like anti epilepctic ones are only ever given the branded names not generic ones

[@avroday949]

​​@@EarlGreyLattex"Due to interindividual pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability, measured differences between innovator and generic drugs may be the same as differences between different lots of the same brand. Studies from several countries based on insurance data have reported an increase in health care usage after switch from brand to generic AEDs; switchback rates are significantly higher for AEDs compared to other compounds. Patients may be confused, and nonadherence may increase, when AEDs are switched between manufacturers, perhaps due to changes in medication shape and color. But clinical studies do not report changes in seizure frequency and tolerability attributable to generics. " - Epilepsy-Center Berlin-Brandenburg, Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

@@EarlGreyLattexTrue.. 80-120% is “equivalent”

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

Exactly.

[@dvtt]

There are several problems with generics that I have personally experienced: 1. Because most generics and feed stocks are made in countries where quality control is worse and the FDA hasn't been able to inspect factories in years due to pandemic era restrictions. 2. Many drugs have different balances of enantiomers with different behaviors and the brand names may have different balances than generics causing them to have different effects. 3. The brand name costs $500 the generic costs $490, the generics give me side effects that it shouldn't and is less consistent but insurance only covers the generic.

[@EarlGreyLattex]

Yup! I mentioned the enantiomers in my comments but it doesn't seem to be picked up as much as your comment has been. Enantiomers is very important in how pure a drug will work and quality control for generics us nowhere near brand named

[@therideneverends1697]

@@EarlGreyLattex I was during a shortage given a substitute brand of mixed amphetamine tablet and i am confident that thing was almost entirely L isomer, No positive effects, but unbareable vasoconstriction that almost got me to drive to the hospital, hands and feet numb and cold, raceing heart, ect ect. Compared to the leftover from the month prior which i took the next day, which had no issues and did what it said on the bottle

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Thank you for stating that generics can contain anywhere from 80-120% of the original to be considered bioequivalent. It’s a good explanation why generics vary from one manufacturer to another. Interesting: I worked in Pharna for 15 years and never knew about the Orange book.

[@johnnyjoyce100]

Loved this video! You’ve earned a sub

[@Caroline-pb8xx]

whoever that is in the middle of the video, you have THE BEST HAIR IVE EVER SEEN

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks for another interesting vlog very informative 😊

[@JellyBeansMystreyMachine]

How does this channel have more followers. I 've binge watching all day. Keep up the we ama

[@ettinakitten5047]

I feel like the sulfanilamide issue should've twigged people that assuming generics have the same effect as the brand name drug might not be accurate.

[@trevor2975]

Crazy that generic inactive ingredients often contain common allergens (namely lactose) and there's no clear labeling rules

[@blackshawsfam3885]

Thank you for an excellent summarisation on an issue that affects us all!

[@Liquid_Mike]

Serious question: Have there been ongoing tests showing that generics have the EXACT same chemical makeup as name brand medicines? Like are they held to account by someone or some group?

[@Zerviscos]

"insulin belongs to the world, not to me" It's amazing how a man's moral compass has let him made something to save lives, but due to other people's greed has severely let something like insulin just be a corporate profit.

[@crptpyr]

weirdest thing I ran into the other day was two decongestant sprays, both the same brand, but one says "blocked nose relief" and the other says "sinusitis relief". Exact same active ingredient, same dosage, couldn't see any difference in the other ingredients either. The 'blocked nose' one was more expensive,,, for some reason

[@martinkurien8813]

It is so cool you collaborate with Mia!

[@josephinedykstra3383]

What I'm curious about is the effect that the insurance requirement that generics be used when available has on generic usage

[@moonykash]

As a health care worker, this is highly informative. Thank you!

[@wesley61]

It’s informative for anyone. Get off your high horse, you’re nothing special.

[@micorp01]

Before buying medications, I review the generic alternatives, look for images of the packaging and check the name of the laboratory on the packaging. On many occasions you will find a generic brand that is made by the same laboratory that makes the patent medicine 😎

[@stokesnotes2263]

watched for the answer, stayed for the history

[@srdjan455]

Coworker of mine got a prescription for a medic once, she went for a generic brand at first but apparently that caused an allergic reaction and a pharmacist told her that she has to get one specific brand version to avoid further reactions.

[@madeline.]

Just started working in a pharmacy a month and a half or so ago as a clerk, and am now going to start preparing for the ExCPT. Was surprised to see this video on my youtube homepage because Ive been asking myself this same question, but havent really interacted with pharmacy-related content outside of work. and also because xarelto, eliquis, and insulin end up costing patients hundreds of dollars and it just seems so unreasonable to me

[@heathero.7643]

The one exception to this whole video is Biologic medications. They are the only class of medications where by law you cannot create a generic version. As someone with an autoimmune disorder, I’ve spent years on biologic medications and, let me tell you, they are some of the most expensive medicines in the world. When I first started on Orencia Abatacept, yearly cost for the drug was around $50k per year. Five years later, the cost has steadily risen to in excess of $70k per year. This being for a drug which has been on the market for 20+ years, plenty of time for the manufacturer to have made back their research costs and have brought down the manufacturing cost as well. I firmly believe the price for biologics is simply an insurance scam, seeing as how the manufacturers always have a price reduction program on the customer side to make your copay $5 after your insurance pays the manufacturer thousands of dollars for the initial prescription refill. Not only that, but, for every biologic I’ve ever been on, the side effects of taking the medication long-term have always been much worse than the disease they’re treating. The medication degrades your immune system in order to halt the autoimmune response you’re having. However, the halt is system-wide, meaning even the slightest cold is made much worse when your body has no pathway to fight it. The drugs simply cannot distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate immune responses. Perhaps this has something to do with why there aren’t generics for them, but I tend to believe it has to do with clever lobbyists more than anything else.

[@dr.michaellittle5611]

This comment about biosimilars isn’t quite accurate. While there is currently no generic version (likely due to patent) of Abatcept, there are a number of companies (Sandoz, and others) that produce biosimilars. There are different regulatory hurdles for biosimilars because they aren’t synthetic compounds requiring a simple AUC readout, but rather because they are complex biological macromolecules produced in cell culture. FDA has guidance documents on the requirements.

[@arthas640]

I can never tell the difference between the 2. Chemically they're identical so often the only major difference is what kind of coating they use and how they deliver it(capsule with powder, compressed powder pill, gel cap, long release, etc.).

[@PeaceLoveUnityRespect]

Different Isomers are used in different generics which affects both bioequivalence and bioavailability...

[@EarlGreyLattex]

You're correct. Any self respecting chemist would tell you that generics are not always the same as name branded drugs. For example some specific drugs like anti epilepctic ones are only ever given the branded names not generic ones as the generics are not as good. Enantiomers exist (thalidomide's enantiomers was the cause of the deformities and purification to remove the X enantiomers would have avoided all the damage to the poor babies born with deformities. It's also a known FACT generics factories might not purify the drugs to the same level as branded factories, the drugs don't have to be 100% similar, I believe they have to be at least 85-90%, that 10-15% differene can be significant for drug effectiveness depending on the drug type/class. Fillers/inactive too and other non theraeutic additions are different between generics and brand names, and these will interact with your body in different ways. So there is definitely a difference between name branded and generics, if generics work for people with no issues then that's great

[@PeaceLoveUnityRespect]

@@EarlGreyLattex thanks so much for your reply! And coincidence or not but I am on a specific isomer of thalidomide at the moment for my multiple myeloma! Kudos to science 👏

[@therideneverends1697]

@@EarlGreyLattex When Thalidomides enantomers are broken down in the stomach dont they all end up the X enantiomer anyways by product of metabolism?

[@05Matz]

Doesn't the USA allow pharmaceutical patents to be _renewed indefinitely_ as long as regular "change of form" or "change of manufacturing process" forms are filed? That's just such a perversion of even the theoretical idea of patents, even if you do believe in monopolies-as-a-reward. That limits the number of drugs that are even off-patent for generics to be created even if there is demand, quite significantly, with highly-selling drugs effectively never going off-patent, though clearly there's plenty of issues 'downstream' of that as well.

[@AG-iu9lv]

Yes, this American life did a great 2 episode breakdown of this very point, highly recommend.

[@dr.michaellittle5611]

Not true. The patents for the active ingredient (composition of matter) tend to be the most important in terms of protecting the value, but these patents, like all patents, expire at 20 years. What pharmas do is build a brick house of patents in this foundational patent that also includes active ingredient formulations such as oral, injectable, etc, dosing for treating certain conditions, etc. Each of these individual patents also run for 20 years, however because they tend to be filed once there is dosing (amount per day or per individual dosing) and clinical information (later in development than when the original compound is patented), it’s not unusual to see the whole family expire much later than 20 years. But generics can beat his by simply having slightly different doses per tablet and other workarounds.

[@Jo-Heike]

I do feel like inflating the price of life saving drugs in the name of profit is quite sociopathic.

[@April-yq5oz]

The graph animation at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="938">15:38</a> 😍

[@JohnWilliams-gy5yc]

Patrick: How come somebody owns chemicals? Walter White: Dedication, to say the least.

[@knuckle12356]

The fact that these acts are being written in the 20th century, during a decade which was once eponymous for modernity (Hey, it's the 90's!) is boggling to the mind.

[@marthameigs9933]

Thank you for explaining why the namebrand vyvanse cost more than its generic. But because it’s so new, the generic, I’m still struggling to except it because I’m so used to getting the namebrand.

[@HogwartsBasement]

In the uk the only way you’ll have a go prescribe a specific brand name is typically because that’s the only company that makes that medicine. All public is aware that paracetamol at 16p is the same as Panadol at £2.99

[@abed-ral-sawuidi7021]

Nice,thanks a bunch 🌱

[@NotSoNormal1987]

I've noticed differences between brand and generic meds, and differences between different generics. But I also am on psychiatric medications. So that might be why I notice more easilly. And I have been on generics that the fda later pulled because it wasn't as effective as it was supposed to be. And that meant struggling more till I got to the next refill.

[@DrumsFosho]

The way the active ingredients work with the inactive ingredients, or the preparation method for making the drugs, etc, all change the effectiveness or behavior of said drug. In my experiences, the original has the more expected behaviors of said effects of them but are almost always higher price. Pick your poison 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Gandhi_Physique]

I know someone that said something about taking a generic version of a drug. They said the generic didn't work/gave them a headache. Something like that. It could be possible I guess, but very likely placebo.

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

I can tell you stories of bad or disappointing experiences in switching from a generic I was used to to a brand I wasn't. It's mostly a placebo/nocebo effect, possibly mixed with a minor adaptation period to non-active ingredients.

[@roxcyn]

Some name brands are tested and made well while generics are not.

[@aryac5599]

Like how detailed the video is

[@pmzmdf]

Thank you for the video.

[@marcz239]

It's like asking why real Jordan's cost a couple hundred as opposed to my fakes I got for 40$ that nobody has ever been able to tell apart even while holding them and trying to bust me for something bc I tell everyone they're fake

[@IDGAF56852]

I’ve noticed a big difference between generic Valium and brand name Valium,the brand name Valium works way better and is only a couple of dollars more.

[@siberx4]

An additional gross detail from the Daraprim case: the manufacturer also made efforts to block other prospective manufacturers from obtaining samples of the drug to stymie efforts to introduce alternative generics. You can't show bio-equivalence if you can't test your own drug against the reference sample, and if you can't get a hold of sufficient quantities of the reference sample then you can't run your comparative trial... The sneering biotech bro who bought out the company in question and jacked up the price eventually went to jail, but for financial fraud not directly related to the Daraprim case. The system in action.

[@pizzablender]

I don't think he's a "biotech" person.

[@SilveniumTheDrifter]

"Whoooosh"

[@SilveniumTheDrifter]

That sounds like an amazing case; is there an in-depth dive on it somewhere to watch or listen to? :) I would love a link.

[@xnikolai09x78]

Glad to see people making good educational videos like this. Good contrast to seeing hullshit videos of people recording a car driving by on a highway with no context lmao

[@douglassmalls6934]

Wow I'm surprised Kentucky was the first to allow generic substitutions in pharmacies. We're usually one of the last to do anything, especially when it comes to drug laws

[@mldagencyinc.3342]

This was a great video.

[@drjoseed]

Excellent video 👍🏼

[@ThatDepressionGuy]

I live in Australia and have a number of medical and mental health issues I only pay $6.30 per script and I'm so glad otherwise I don't think I could afford to buy the meds at full price!

[@NyanyiC]

I'm a health informatician and a EHR company I worked for could understand why we needed to make it so that pharmacists could dispense any equivalent drug. I got tired of trying to explain

[@elizercat]

Im so lucky my pharmacist is amazing- every single time my doctor has prescribed me something expensive, he calls me to make sure I know the price point and if he is able to make/order a cheaper alternative. Most recently, my doctor prescribed me a drug that would have cost 700 dollars per 24 pills. Not even a full month. My pharmacist called me and told me he could actually make the generic compound in house, and asked my permission to talk to my doctor about it (which I granted). She approved. The new drug is 70, literally 10x less expensive.

[@phantomkate6]

A compounding pharmacy that offers medications at competitive prices? You are so lucky! ❤

[@frantzthomas3373]

I was just talking about this a moment ago and felt like my opinion was not too accurate but Lord and behold, this video pops up 😮

[@CarlosFloresP]

What an amazing video. Very interesting