Issue with generic BP meds - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

tsclc · 06-17-2008, 01:12 PM

I was taking Lotrel a while back. I came off of it and controlled the BP with weight loss, diet and supplements. I needed some minor surgery and the docs made me come off the supplements and yup...the BP soared!
So now they put me back on meds so I can have the surgery(no supplements before surgery but meds OK~~~go figure

Doc prescribes Lotrel(same dosage), but now amlodipine and benazepril is available generically from Teva~~~it simply does not seem to work.

Anyone else with this issue? I researched the generic and it seems the big difference is how the 2 active ingredients are physically separated in the capsule...no other reported issues such as effectiveness, but it may be too soon(it was only released last year)

Edelweiss · 06-17-2008, 09:46 PM

WHen I've gone for Post Admission Testing, one of the first questions asked is whether or not I'm taking any "natural supplements'. Apprently, they can intefere with anesthesia.

From what I understand, generic forms of the same med, must have the same active ingredient; however, inactive or filler ingredients can vary. It is possible that because of an inactive ingredient, the bp med is not as effective for you as the name brand.

Is there any possibility of getting back on the name brand at least until after your surgery when you'll have time to sort things out.

My best to you...

tsclc · 06-18-2008, 11:40 AM

I'm going to have the doc write a script as 'daw' to get the Lotrel...
we'll see what happens

famnd · 06-18-2008, 11:00 PM

I took labetalol for about 3 yrs & started having problems with it not keeping my b/p down. It seems Krogers switched the manufacturer of the generic I was taking because it was cheaper. So I had to hunt around until I found another pharmacy willing to purchase this particular drug from the same manufactuer. Luckily, I was checking my b/p so I knew it wasn't working. That's when I discovered the switch with the new manufacturer on the bottle. Fam

tsclc · 06-30-2008, 08:34 AM

well, got the doc to write it "daw" after doubling up on the generic(2X a day) for over a week with no significant change in pressure
3 days on the same dosage Lotrel 1X day, BP readings morning and night now 120s/low 80s...

so there's the proof IMHO that there IS a difference.....