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Generic Medications: Are they bad?
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San José, Costa Rica. May, 2015.
The main active substance that a generic medication contains is the same one as the original, so that it can treat the same diseases. They do not put the health of the patients at risk, since their production should follow the best manufacturing practices, except if they present adulterations or have not shown the same effectiveness.
In certain complicated diseases, it could be required that the generic has undergone studies that show an equal effectiveness to that of the original, in order to be a therapeutic option, commented Dr. Josué Castro Ulloa, pharmacist at the Clínica Bíblica Hospital.
Generic medications are legal, as long as they have been registered and receive a sanitary registration issued by the national sanitary authority, in the same way as all the drugs on sale must have.
“Generics may be effective, since they contain the same active substance as the originals with the same dosage. The response will always depend of each patient, since not everyone is the same, so that, in the same way as the original ones, there will be people for whom they will not be effective, as well as other for whom they will,” added Dr. Castro.
It is important to say that in the same way as all medications, generics can also have secondary effects, which are, in theory, the same ones as the original.
In most cases, they use the name of the main active substance they contain with the name of the laboratory as a “surname”, although in others, the manufacturer may use its own name for its generics.
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Generic medications are those that use as their basis, the formula of an original medication, which has been previously produced by another laboratory.
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When purchasing and consuming generic medication, you should consider as a minimum the following:
- That it is the medication you need, whether by indication of the physician or by advice from the pharmacist, since that way you ensure that certain factors are taken into account such as ailments, allergies and other conditions that could affect the activity of the medication.
- That you use the correct dosage and frequency.
- That you use the correct way and technique for administering it.
- That the medication has not expired.
- That the medication appears undamaged, that is, that it does not show visible damage to the packaging as well as to the medication itself, as well as no alterations, absence of the sanitary registration noted on the package or other conditions that may make you doubt about its origin.
- That you purchase the medication exclusively at pharmacies that have the respective permits both from the Ministry of Health as well as from the Professional Association of Pharmacists.
- In case of undergoing any adverse effect, notify the trusted physician and/or pharmacist to assess the possible cause of this, whether due to the main active substance or due to the excipients, which are the additional components to the main active substance necessary in the manufacture of medications.
For further information or for requesting medical attention, please call the number 2522-1000, or write to the email citas@clinicabiblica.com or contact us via chat at the website: www.clinicabiblica.com.
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Clínica Bíblica Hospital
