#44887 - 08/07/06 10:10 AM
Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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Cookie
Registered Visitor
Registered: 08/09/04
Posts: 1070
Loc: Boise, ID
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Last Friday the pharmacist switched me to generic Mobic. This weekend I went into a full blown flare - the first in a long time. I'm having tons of lung problems, too. I'm doubling the generic Mobic and supplementing with Prednisone. I also have an e-mail out to my Rheumy.
Is it just a co-incidence or has anyone else had this problem?
I was doing so well!!!
_________________________
 Diagnosed May, 2004 with undifferentiate spondy. Now have AS diagnosis. HLA-B27 negative female with no family history of spondy. Taking Mobic and Cymbalta. Discontinued Enbrel, Oct 2005.
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#44888 - 08/07/06 12:17 PM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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IrishElf
Registered Visitor
Registered: 01/14/04
Posts: 5606
Loc: Upper Midwest
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I don't care what they tell us, some of the generic equivalents just are not the same as the brands.
I had the same problem, my DH's ins requires generics unless the doc requests brand. I always try them, but not all are the same.
Call the pharmacist and tell him you are having problems with the generic. Ask what he can do for you. It is possible if you return the generic he may fill the remainder with the brand, with you paying the difference (if any) of course.
One question though, why did the pharmacist switch you? Was it your ins company's directive?
Hope your flare is short.
_________________________
 As you slide down the bannister of life...May the splinters never point the wrong way.
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#44890 - 08/07/06 02:40 PM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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PerennialOne
Member
Registered: 06/21/06
Posts: 36
Loc: USA
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Generic pharmaceuticals have the same ingredients as the brand name BUT there are MANY other considerations as to how they work for an individual, such as how tightly the pill is compressed, any coatings on the pill, other ingredients (fillers), ect. You wouldn't think that that had anything to do with how the drug would work, but it does. For example, generic albuterol does not work as well for my asthma as Proventil. I have to take 3-4 puffs of generic albuterol sulfate to act as well as 2 puffs of brand name Proventil (albuterol sulfate).
Go figure!
_________________________
Best Wishes, PerennialOne  "In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity." - Richard Baxter "Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
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#44891 - 08/07/06 02:49 PM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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PerennialOne
Member
Registered: 06/21/06
Posts: 36
Loc: USA
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FYI - It usually IS the health ins. co./pharmacy benefits management co. (PBM) who calls the shots on generics vs brand names.
_________________________
Best Wishes, PerennialOne "In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity." - Richard Baxter "Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
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#44892 - 08/07/06 04:31 PM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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Cookie
Registered Visitor
Registered: 08/09/04
Posts: 1070
Loc: Boise, ID
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The insurance company is trying to make the switch. This isn't the only med they want to go to generic.
_________________________
Diagnosed May, 2004 with undifferentiate spondy. Now have AS diagnosis. HLA-B27 negative female with no family history of spondy. Taking Mobic and Cymbalta. Discontinued Enbrel, Oct 2005.
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#44893 - 08/07/06 07:48 PM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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IrishElf
Registered Visitor
Registered: 01/14/04
Posts: 5606
Loc: Upper Midwest
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Some of my meds are OK in generic. I get generic accupril and it works alright. Generic hctz works OK. But I've told them I will not go generic on the TegretolXR. It's way too much like Neurontin and it did nothing for me.
If I do have a problem with generic drugs I tell my doc. Then he'll note on the rx *brand medically necessary*
That's all the doc has to do to make sure they don't switch to generic.
_________________________
As you slide down the bannister of life...May the splinters never point the wrong way.
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#44894 - 08/08/06 12:06 AM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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Kay101629
Registered Visitor
Registered: 02/10/06
Posts: 565
Loc: Midwest
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I have to second PerinnialOne on some generics. The very one they mentioned for Proventil, my mom took nearly and it nearly did her in when they switched from the brand name. She had some dementia and they even once had me put the generic refill in her inhaler, to see if she still had the problem. The creeps blamed it on her "anxiety" over the medication switch! AFTER, that did not work, her doctor finally admitted that is not that uncommon. He appealed to the insurance company and we paid for the Proventil until then, but they finally covered it.
Another example, my birth control bills must be generic for insurance to cover them. They swear they are the same ingredients, etc., but when you read the insert, listing the numbers of failures, the generic has a higher incidence. They then say these studies were on different people, different set of outside factors, etc. but I am not buying it for something so important.
My Lortab had always been generic. My pharmacy recently switched to a different supplier and they no longer look the same or dissolve the same. I don't think they work as well either. I know they claim that over time, the Lortab is less effective but this happened with my second dose of the generic and has continued. I even found some of the old, original ones in my purse from when I took the lower strength ones. I swear they worked better on my pain despite being lower in dose! So, I don't even believe all generics, even in the same drug, are the same.
My point? I do not doubt you for an instant but what you can do, I am not sure. Like I said, with my mom's medication, her insurance paid once he wrote the letter. I do recall this letter had to be written every 6 months or so, each time a new script was taken in as opposed to just a refill. Also, when she went in the hospital, same problem. I got in trouble for smuggling her brand name Proventil in so the poor woman could breathe because they wouldn't let me pay cash at the hospital for it, it had to be put on her bill and then we were back to the insurance thing! Perhaps you could try a letter? Good Luck!
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#44895 - 08/08/06 09:31 AM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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jimbd
Registered Visitor
Registered: 07/07/05
Posts: 54
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Hmmm, this is concerning - as I just received the letter yesterday from the medical plan I have about switching to the generic. The Mobic generics literally just hit the market - and I do not want to move to something new so quickly (this thread an example of the reason why). Knock on wood I have not had stomach issues with Mobic - and am very leery about trying something else just because...
An option appears to be for me to pay the cost difference between the Mobic and the generic equivalent - not clear if the doctor has to also agree to this or whether it is a personal choice whether to pay the difference. Time to look into this more closely...
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#44896 - 08/08/06 09:45 AM
Re: Generic Mobic doesn't work as well?
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IrishElf
Registered Visitor
Registered: 01/14/04
Posts: 5606
Loc: Upper Midwest
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Jim,
Each person metabolizes meds differently.
If my ins wants me to try switch to generic I try it for 1 month. If it does not work I tell them I can't use it and have my doc fax them a note that says "brand medically necessary".
_________________________
As you slide down the bannister of life...May the splinters never point the wrong way.
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