Generic medications are big business in the pharmaceutical world. According to the Huffington Post, 80 percent of the 4 billion prescriptions written in the U.S. were for generics. These med are usually 40 to 80 percent cheaper. Plus, they are supposed to offer the same benefits as name brand medications, but a recent misstep from the FDA has called that into question.
FDA Says Generic Drug Not Equivalent
Four years ago, the FDA approved Budeprion XL 300, a generic version of the popular anti-depressant Wellbutrin XL. Recent tests showed the generic version didn’t release the active ingredient properly and the FDA has asked Teva Pharmaceuticals to stop distributing the drug.
“There are approximately 10,000 FDA-approved interchangeable generics in the U.S.,” said Ralph Neas, the group’s CEO and president. “The recall by a single manufacturer of one strength of a generic drug should in no way cast doubt on the impeccable reputation of the generic industry or the FDA.”
Problems First Reported By Consumers
Patients that switched to the generic drug were the first to report side effects, but the FDA says consumer complaints are difficult to base decisions on.
“When these reports come in we don’t know exactly what is going on with the patient,” said David Read, regulatory counsel for the FDA’s office of generic drugs. “Is it a failure of the drug or is it a coincidence they are experiencing some sort of problem? It’s something to discuss between them and their physician.”
“The lesson is that everyone – from pharmacists to physicians to the FDA – needs to take these reports seriously,” said Dr. Tod Cooperman of ConsumerLab, a privately-held company that independently tests drugs and nutrition products. Cooperman added that the vast majority generic drugs work appropriately but that, “consumers will be the first to know when there is a problem.”
