Reply To: different manufacturer = less effective?

[Robbo]

Those video’s are for premium members only.

In almost every case that we’ll be talking about here. The generic medications are going to be almost exactly the same. I know that we can also count on some unknown amount of “placebo effect”. It’s a good idea to google “placebo effect” too. This can be a hard topic to talk about because our opinion and what we believe a medication will do come into play much MUCH more when we’ve got a very active imagination. I bet I’m not the only ADDer with a very active imagination. A good imagination can make a difference with some solutions, that’s how we get tricked into all kinds of “snake oil” type remedies.

It sounds like Concerta may be one of the few exceptions to the so called “rule” that we can almost always expect generic meds to be just like the original meds. I’ll bet they’re working on that too.

It’s also important to remember that while medications make all the difference for many people when we start dealing with our un-diagnosed ADHD, or other medical problems. Later on when we develop a good support network. More than just the many friends we find here and elsewhere on the Internet. We learn many other very useful tools and coping strategies along the same path. It’s a debatable statistic. But I think medication is about 20% or 30% of the solution for most of us. Of course there are exceptions. In general medication is kinda like training wheels for lot’s of us.

I had an appointment today with a new social worker. A psychologist working on her Masters degree who’s serving an internship at the clinic I go to with my medical/medicare. I take Wellbutrin. I used to take Ritalin (the generic is methylphenidate, and the generic wellbutrin is bupropion) I stopped taking the Ritalin because… well mostly I felt like it wasn’t helping all that much. Had a lot of questions about dosage that I wasn’t getting answers to. And the truth is I gave up because it was too much dang hassle to go through all the waiting process to eventually see a psychiatrist about specific changes I wanted to make with the Ritalin dosage. Unfortunately my general practice doctor. While being an excellent doctor. Has certain limitations in his knowledge about ADHD treatment.

I think he was just afraid to make a dang freaking decision! and Yep, that really pissed me off. So I just said “screw it” and called to cancel that prescription. In hindsight, I realize I should have waited for the next available appointment. Even if it was 6 freaking months… DGMS.

So, yeah… I’m still working with some patience problems. We’ll get there.

One day.

For now I’m not under all that much pressure to produce anything at all in my life. So it’s no emergency. I do have a lot of very important (to me, and people in my life) projects going. I’m very active in my community in several different areas. But it’s not a matter of life and death. So… I take the medical care that I can get. I try to be grateful too.

I ain’t all that good at it. I try. 🙂

If you have any more un-answered questions about your medications. Basically, accept for a few kinda rare situations. You can count on the generic being very close to the original medication.

You can call just about any pharmacy for decent advice. I’ve called more than just a few over the years. I’ve been taking medication of one kind or other for depression and ADHD for over 20 years.

Remember you can call more pharmacies than just the one you get your medication at. As a common courtesy, any pharmacist will give you good advice about any medication you are taking, call for a second opinion at another un-related pharmacy. The good advice is part of the service you should expect when you’re paying a retail prices for the medications.

The pharmacy makes a profit on all medication. So pick the pharmacy that seems to have the best knowledgeable advice you can find. Call more than just a few even after you think you’ve found a good one. Also remember to ask you doctor any questions you don’t find an answer to. It’s just your basic right as a patient.

Hope I didn’t rattle on and on too much here.

R-

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