Posted by ghost on September 28, 2004, at 11:49:34
In reply to Narrowing the search, posted by Emme on September 28, 2004, at 10:52:15
Not to scare you, but the FDA's website updates weekly generic manufacturers that are shut down (another reason why the US keeps closer tabs on drugs than most other countries) for not meeting standards. I'd suggest you just make sure that your drugs don't come from any of those sources listed. Generic manufacturers come and go VERY quickly these days, so it's hard to keep tabs on who the "good guys" are. If Abbott is still making some generics, they're very good.
An interesting aside:
Most pharmaceutical companies have very strict quality requirements for drugs. For example, if you take a 10mg pill, most major companies will say "okay, that pill needs to contain 99-101% of the 10mg it says it contains, or between 9.9 and 10.1 mg of the active ingredient." Generic manufacturers (in the US) only have to follow the United States Pharmacopaeia requirements, which are 80-120%. So basically, you could only be getting 8 of your 10 mg, or 12 mg even. The European Pharmacopaeia, as far as I remember, has similar standards.
Just something to consider. I use generics for some medications myself, but it's always something I keep in the back of my mind.
I feel like I'm very argumentative today. I'm sorry.
poster:ghost
thread:393735
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040927/msgs/396298.html