Generic vs. Brand Dilantin - Epilepsy Message Board

Art_930 · 10-28-2003, 07:49 AM

Just a heads-up for everyone. When I went to my neuro last week, he was angry that his partner had called in my refill of Dilantin without specifying "dispense as ordered", so I've been taking the generic version for the past 6 weeks.

I asked one of my physician co-workers why that would make the doc mad, and he said that generic drugs have looser parameters when it comes to the amount of chemicals per capsule. He said that this doesn't matter when it comes to things like antibiotics, but when you need to maintain a specific level of drugs in your blood it can matter a lot.

When I was on the brand-name version of Dilantin, my blood level was 8.3. After six weeks of generic, it is 5.0. I have not missed a single dose.

Interesting, don't you think?

[This message has been edited by Art_930 (edited 10-28-2003).]

LisaGuthrie · 10-28-2003, 09:52 AM

Hi Art,

When we left the hospital last year with a Rx for Dilantin it was horrid. All the the pharmacies carried was the generic. We used it for 3 days until our order came in.

The Neuro was very specific with his Rx and also told us that we should not agree to the generic even if it was pushed by insurance.

There was a question with the insurance company since we started the generic in a pinch... but, I told them that they could either approve it as the Rx was written or I would get the Dr's orders and fax them over for Jake's file.

There was never another question after that.

Besides... the name brand tasted much better and he took it better.

Don't you just hate all the red tape...

Love and light

Lisa

kayakmom · 10-30-2003, 05:33 PM

Good point. We were told that this was important. WHen Sam was on the generic, his levels were all over the place, any little illness would throw him way off, etc. Dilantin is more stable and the better form....It is a pain when insurance wants generic or the pharmacy only carries the Phenytoin...