Comments on: It’s a carnival! http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/its-a-carnival The chief of the Inner Station Thu, 24 May 2012 10:55:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: bobo http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/its-a-carnival/comment-page-1#comment-345 bobo Tue, 30 May 2006 19:49:13 +0000 http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/its-a-carnival/#comment-345 tried walgreens version but didn't help at all; same ingrediants as claritin though tried walgreens version but didn’t help at all; same ingrediants as claritin though

]]> By: Gil http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/its-a-carnival/comment-page-1#comment-340 Gil Sun, 28 May 2006 14:37:05 +0000 http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/its-a-carnival/#comment-340 Claritin's a special case, because it's now over-the-counter (OTC). I've used the OTC version and it's been just fine. I've talked to medicinal chemists at major pharma companies who swear that there's no way on earth that Clarinex can be more efficacious than Claritin, based on their method of action. But, because it's a different formulation (the active molecule is "right-handed" instead of "left", or vice versa), it has patent protection after Claritin's expired. So, if it's just prescription/OTC allergy medicine, you're likely to just fine with the generic OTC Claritin. In general, generics should be just as effective as brand-drugs. There's always anecdotes of less effective generics, and some generic companies have a less-than-sterling quality reputation (see <a href="http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2005/NEW01182.html" rel="nofollow">Able Labs</a>), which can factor into the branded-vs.-generic decision (but not as much as whether your insurance will cover the branded version). Unlike my previous business-to-business magazines, unfortunately, I don't get free samples of the merchandise. Grr. Claritin’s a special case, because it’s now over-the-counter (OTC). I’ve used the OTC version and it’s been just fine. I’ve talked to medicinal chemists at major pharma companies who swear that there’s no way on earth that Clarinex can be more efficacious than Claritin, based on their method of action. But, because it’s a different formulation (the active molecule is “right-handed” instead of “left”, or vice versa), it has patent protection after Claritin’s expired.

So, if it’s just prescription/OTC allergy medicine, you’re likely to just fine with the generic OTC Claritin.

In general, generics should be just as effective as brand-drugs. There’s always anecdotes of less effective generics, and some generic companies have a less-than-sterling quality reputation (see Able Labs), which can factor into the branded-vs.-generic decision (but not as much as whether your insurance will cover the branded version).

Unlike my previous business-to-business magazines, unfortunately, I don’t get free samples of the merchandise. Grr.

]]> By: bobo http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/its-a-carnival/comment-page-1#comment-338 bobo Sun, 28 May 2006 13:09:43 +0000 http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/its-a-carnival/#comment-338 In your professional opinion, are the generic allergy drugs identical to their brandname counterparts (i.e. Claritin)? In your professional opinion, are the generic allergy drugs identical to their brandname counterparts (i.e. Claritin)?

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