Have you noticed a difference in the generic vs. brand? I would think so if you are choosing to pay more?

Did you need to request the brand? Our CVS claims not to carry it?

Also, any thoughts on the up an down we experienced on the meds? I guess it is maybe too short a time for us to know. Thanks.

We get the brand version at CVS in Potomac (Cabin John Mall). I also got the generic there and the pharmacists claimed it was the same exact medicine (I posted on this at some point). In any event, they are selling us the brand and it costs about $60 more than the generic.

Which pharmacies in the DC area even carry the brand name? My child is just starting on generic Concerta. After reading these posts, I was inclined to just pay more for the brand name. According to the pharmacist at CVS, CVS does not carry the brand name and has not done so for about a year.

Our child seemed to be doing very well on the medication for several days, but had trouble at school yesterday. Is this up and down common. I was very hopeful, but worried now. Thanks

Anonymous wrote:The Placebo Affect is alive and well. Funny how many people get hooked on Generic Vs Brand.

Even though ALZA's patent doesn't expire until 2018, due to a legal settlement, Watson Laboratories is allowed to sell an "authorized generic" version of Concerta.

This means that ALZA supplies Watson with brand-name Concerta tablets, which Watson packages and sells as a generic drug. Therefore, this generic version is exactly like the brand-name drug in every way, other than it being sold as a generic.

PLACEBO EFFECT. You can spend your money as you wish.

Anonymous wrote:In my 17 years of experience of being a certified pharmacy tech, I have found many people's "reactions" to the new generic is totally psychosomatic.

With all due respect, I think some of the contributors in this thread would do themselves and the readers of this forum a service by reviewing the definitions of such terms as "placebo" and "psychosomatic" (and sorry, using capital letters does not change the definition).

Both terms would imply that the subject, in this context, has knowledge that there has been a change in medication. In the examples where a parent is administering the medication to a child, it is not clear that the child has any knowledge that there has been a change, and the previous post provides at least one example where the child had no knowledge of the change at all.

It's also worth pointing out some very basic business facts .. it does not cost less to make the same product with a different process, it costs more. That is, unless some efficiency is achieved (either in the manufacturing process, ingredients, or packaging/marketing of the product). Outside of the packaging and/or marketing of the product .... if the generic costs less, its not the same.

I don't think a 6 year old that has no idea he has been changed from brand name Concerta to generic Concerta have psychosomatic reactions. My son was on Brand name Concerta for 3 months than switched to generic. It was the most horrible month for us! Worse than not being on meds. I was getting phone calls daily from school and his behavior at home was very erratic and aggressive. It started the day he went on the generic and ended the day he started the brand. Coincidence, I think not!

Once again, the company that makes the brand name is Watson, the same company that makes the "only authorized generic", so it is literally the same exact drug. In my 17 years of experience of being a certified pharmacy tech, I have found many people's "reactions" to the new generic is totally psychosomatic. Now that this is the same pill, markings and all (It would be trademark infringement by law if anyone used identical tablet markings/colors/ and name on pill without the authorization of the brand name manufacturer.)

Okay....I've been taking Concerta gradually from 36mg to 54mg over the past 6 years, and have never had a single problem. I just recently switched to the generic last week and everyday I have been dealing with severe fatigue, blurred vision, and extreme migraines. I am switching back immediately to true Concerta. I don't care if "they" say the generic is a carbon copy of the true Concerta...this change has triggered a poor reaction.

Am I the only person who had a the following physical reaction to generic 27mg Concerta? I was happy to try the generic back in May or June 2011 since my copay went from $69 to $7. However, I felt exhausted and argumentative for a couple of weeks after switching and ended-up developing bronchitis with fever after 3 weeks on the generic. Since at 57 years old, I had never in my life had bronchitis, and had been taking brand Concerta for 3 years without incident, my internist and I believe that it was as a result of an allergic reaction to the generic formula. I appreciate that the main ingredients for the pill must be the same, but I know also that fillers may vary when manufacturing the pills. I believe that I am severely allergic to a minor change in the formulation of the generic vs. the brand. Has anyone else had such a reaction?

"The first patent for Concerta is set to expire in 2018. However, due to a legal settlement between two drug manufacturers, a generic version became available in May 2011. Due to the settlement, Watson Laboratories is allowed to sell an "authorized generic" version of Concerta.
 
This means that the original manufacturer supplies Watson with brand-name Concerta tablets, which Watson packages and sells as a generic drug. Therefore, this generic version is exactly like the brand-name drug in every way, other than it being sold as a generic."

My 10-year-old daughter was was switch from Concerta brand to generic a couple of months ago, and I think it's actually better for her. She takes 27 mg. It might wear out a little bit earlier, but she has less side effects than from the brand name one: not as irritable, less headaches, etc. The generic seems to work for us.

I have to speak up on this topic since I've been on Concerta 54mg for over 10 years but in just the past two months of taking the generic brand, I've been having the worse headaches EVER. My head hurts so bad I feel as if it going to explode and it takes a couple days of stopping the meds before I can get it to go away.

I started on Ridalin and it gave me severe headaches but for last 10 years Concerta never did until I got the generic form. So I don't care what some folks are saying.........I know the pain of getting generic.

I had been taking Concerta 36 ER (brand name) because initially there was no generic version. For a brief period there was a generic, but my insurance company stopped covering it because [it] wasn't, according the the manufacturer's FDA application, listed as a generic, but rather a "copy" and therefore would not be covered. What's the story? Has anyone else had a similar experience? I have called and am awaiting a reply from Watson Laboratories medication communication department.

Thank you.

The Placebo Affect is alive and well.

Funny how many people get hooked on Generic Vs Brand.

Even though ALZA's patent doesn't expire until 2018, due to a legal settlement, Watson Laboratories is allowed to sell an "authorized generic" version of Concerta.

This means that ALZA supplies Watson with brand-name Concerta tablets, which Watson packages and sells as a generic drug. Therefore, this generic version is exactly like the brand-name drug in every way, other than it being sold as a generic.

PLACEBO EFFECT. You can spend your money as you wish.

33 Year old adult; been on Concerta for 3 years - 36mg dose. I was so excited to go on the generic version and save a lot of money. I realized that the generic did not have the same effect, time released differently, I didn't focus as well, made me very moody and tired around 4:00. Asked my Dr to write my latest prescription to be filled with a "Medically Necessary" brand name version. HUGE DIFFERENCE. It is worth the extra money to focus again.

Anonymous wrote:I think I am one of the pp's who reported that the generic and name brand were the same price. We switched insurance companies and there was a huge price difference so the pharmacist said to try the generic. They said it is the exact same manufacturer and if they mixed up the pills, they wouldn't have any idea which ones were generic and which name brand. I haven't given my ds the generic yet -- start this weekend. Curious to know if the symptoms the pp's described went away once they returned to the name brand.

The above post was mine. Today decided to switch back to brand. Both school and we noticed a difference in dc's behavior. It is worth the extra money.