Hi beatle,

Thanks for this thread.

I went through almost EVERY generic pill on the market for a particular condition and none worked. Finally, I was put on a BRAND name and it worked perfectly.

My insurance "allows" it ONLY because I have proven over years of taking the generics with lab results PROVING the generics did not work and the brand did. BUT, they pay very little on it and I have to pick up most of the tab. Do they really think I prefer to pay out of my pocket $98 each month for the brand name drug if I would only pay about $9 for the generic?

Almost monthly, I get a letter in the mail from my insurance company "alerting" me to the availability of the generics for this medical condition and suggesting that I change to the generic.

I take 14 meds, and 4 of them are BRAND name drugs as I have tried the generics and did not get the results needed. My insurance sends me letters suggesting I switch to the generic on 3 of the 4 brand name drugs. I guess I will soon hear about the 4th one.

Technically, there shouldnt be any different in formulation between a brand and a generic, but the packaging could be differe. The generic version carries food coloring, which could cause allergies, and fillers, which the brand name doesnt have.
the insurance will no way pay for something that cost 98$ or hundreds of dollars when theres a generic involve

What I don't understand is why the prices don't come down on the brand once generics are on the market since they now have competition. But even generics have increased in price lately. I've read there's now less competition amongst the makers of the generics which allows them to up prices. Too many mergers perhaps?

Patent
 

There are NO generics with the same formulation for brand name drugs that are still under patent. That is the whole purpose of the patent. It is only once the patent has expired that generics are marketed with the same formulation.

However, there are "different" drugs that are used for a particular medical condition.

Let's use anti-hypertensives as an example. There are various classes of them. Beta-blockers, ace inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, etc. They all treat hypertension but each class has a different action and formulation.

If a NEW anti-hypertensive in a particular class of them is made and patented, there are generics on the market, but they do not have the same formulation as the new drug under patent. So, yes, there are other drugs that treat the medical condition but may not be effective for the patient. If they were all the same, everyone with hypertension would take the same "generic" drug.

There are generics that are used for some of my medical conditions but I am taking a brand name patented medicine for some medical conditions that do indeed have different formulations from the generics on the market that also treat some of my conditions. I DO take many generics that work for some of my conditions but I also take some patented drugs for which there is no generic on the market that produces the same results.

I am sorry if I did not make that clear in my post.

I did not say the drug "costs" $98, ..... the drug costs much more. The $98 is the amount for MY portion, not including what the insurance pays on it.

My point was it would be foolish of me to pay $98 out of my own pocket if there were another drug that gave me the same results for which I would only pay $9. Does my insurance company think I am that stupid?

They keep suggesting that I take other drugs that I have already tried and did NOT work.

I use the medical establishment very carefully now. They mostly are not my friends and could care less about me unless I don't pay the bill. That's a reality that should send folk searching elsewhere for answers. I have found most of the things I'm using successfully doing internet searches.