Genric or Brand Plaquenil

[Yan]

:P Hello

After taking Plaquenil for 2 weeks, I had very serious abdominal cramp and vomitting for a day. Then I stop it and all the side effect gone after couple of days.

I read the info in lupus.org. People can change to the brand one before trying some other anti-malarial drug. What the different with the generic Plaquenil and the brand Plaquenil in side effect and effectiveness?

And how can I tell whether the rheumy gave me the generic one or the brand one. I didn't ask him but I will when I see him next week. He once told that it was hydroxychloroquine. Was it the generic one?

Thanks
Karen :thumbs: B)

[Clare.T]

Hi Karen

I think you will have to ask him which you had.

Some people say they have responded better to the brand and some doctors like Dr Wallace think the brand is better.

There seems to be no real explanation for this as the active chemical has to be the same . But the fillers can vary

I would go for the Quinacrine if I had had such an extremely bad reaction as you did.

An alternative is to start again with whatever you didn't have the first time but increase very slowly indeed. This sometimes works


Good Luck !
Clare

[HelenS]

hi, my drug plan covers generic rather than the actual brand unless stated by the dr on the prescription. i try to mention it when the prescrip is being written but dont always remember. i have asked the pharmacist if its the same and she said there was no difference. but i have to wonder.

you dont mention what dose of plaquenil you were taking. i can't tolerate 400mg a day but am ok on 200mg.

take care. helen.

[Dnabella]

My understanding is that Plaq is the name brand..if your prescription says this its probably not generic but to be really sure please call your pharmacist he/she can answer that question for you with no doubts

My generic form of Plaq is called Hydroxycloroquinine.

Whichever form you take they do tend to cause gastro problems especially in the first few months after starting the medication.

You state that you stopped taking plaq... I hope that you didnt mean that you stopped it on your own. you should NEVER stop taking plaq without first talking to your doctor about it.

Good luck and hang in there! it will get better
D

[confused1]

I don't know about Plaquenil, but I can tell you that with cyclobenzaprine it made a huge difference when my pharmacy switched from the generic to the brand (Flexeril). For me, the generic worked much better and I could tell a difference. I had to ask to have my prescription marked for generic with no switching. The pharmacy here typically will give the generic rather than the name brand unless the dr. specifies the brand.

Sunny

[Kspirits]

Hi!

Lots of good information here! :)

I can tell you from my own experience... I tolerate the brand name drug much better! :)

The brand and the generic may have the same active ingredient, yet they are not exactly the same... all in all!

Many people report better tolerance to the brand name.

Good luck! :flowers:

[Lily]

I can't comment on the Plaquenil scenario. But I have to agree (and I don't know why) taking the brand is preferable to taking the generic ....................I had a generic brand of my Naprosyn and it upset my tummy something awful, which stirred everything else up. I don't think the coating was as good on the generic. And same with Dothiepen when I was on a short course. They gave me the generic and it didn't work as well for some reason. Ingredients supposedly the same with generic and brand for both these drugs, so I don't get it. But, Lupies are super sensitive to meds, and I think it did make a difference to me at least.

love
Lily

[raggedyann1]

Hello,

I was told by Dr.Wallace that I didn't need the brand name Plaquenil unless I was having stomach problems with the generic. He told me that the brand name creates less stomach problems than the generic.
Since I am having no problems with the generic that is what I am still taking.

Karen

[Yan]

:D Hello,

Thanks for all your information. I think I am taking the generic one but I will ask my rheumy this week. I really hope that I can find a meds that fit me well ... at least no strong side effect. I am only taking Vioxx now and I should find a meds as soon as possible.

My stomach is very sensitive to meds and that is bad. Because I need much longer time to "search" for a right meds.

Thanks
Karen :love: B)

[gladm]

I take 400 mg of brand plaquenil and have never had any stomach problems with it. Thank goodness. love gladm.

[Yan]

I just check the price for generic and brand plaquenil and the brand (US$297 per 180 tablets) is much more expensive than the generic (US$8x).

My insurance didn't cover the brand one, so I need to pay for it if I want to take it. But I don't mind spending more on meds if it is good for me. Going to see the rheumy at this Friday. Really want to find out whether it fits me or not.

Karen :rolleyes:

[jenmooch]

Oh best of luck. it does sound like youwere on the generic form, as I am. I experienced the same things that you did in the beginning. I started off taking 400mg in the evening then it was just wiping me stomach out then they split it up 200mg in the morning nad 200mg in the evening and it still caused good and bad days. Do be careful with the medications!
HUGS

Jenn

[Clare.T]

Many people have problems with starting on the full therapeutic dose of 400mgs. Why docs don't suggest starting at 200mgs and gradually building up is beyond me It takes several months to kick in & taking it could be for life so what is the point of suffering and maybe giving up on the stuff

This thread is almost 4 years old, by the way.

Cheers
Clare