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Do Generic Brands Have The Same Ingredient As The Brand Name One's?
Question: Had a Stroke (CVA) on (03 November 2004 @ 46-years of age); before this happened; 6-months prior, I was having problems with my (Hormones/Testosterone); body was very cold; ice cold, while it was -- 100+ degrees out here in (Las Vegas, Nevada), where I reside. Was given (Injections and patches) to see what would work for me; since then, I have come to find, that some of these were of -- (Generic, and that of Brand names).
After my (CVA); 2-straight years thereafter, I was still on these -- (Injections/patches) and had multiple, (TIA's), and have been diagnosed with all kinds of medical Jargon, if you will, i.e., Stenosis of the brain/Ganglia/Ischemic/MCA Territorial Infarction, Micro-vascular disease, White/Grey matters and so much more.
I have since deteriorated more with time. Before I forget, I had my stroke on the right back of my lobe and now, after all these years have passed-on, my health is sparring at a great rate! For sometime now I have been on -- PLAVIX and baby Aspirin (81mg).
I was an -- Army, Chief Warrant Officer, in the field of -- ("Special Forces/Rangers/Pathfinder/Sniper") etc, and the youngest to had been selected to be with ("Delta Force") long ago. I need to see if any of the GENERIC med's prescribed to me, along with Brand names back and forth, has had anything to do with that of my -- Major Stroke, in the very beginning; 03 November 2004; taking these MED's -- 6-months prior, etc?
I thank-you for your time and hope that you may be able to help? I'm a single parent to (4-girl's and one-son).
Just recently, I have seen so many lawsuits on this topic matter, but only wish, that my health is what it once was!
Respectively yours,
XXXXXXX XXXX
P.S. I just happened to had seen an advertisement on TV, about -- pharmaceutical company's being sued for similar conditions to that of mine.
I would have to gather some of my present medical history that are in various folders, etc. Can tell you that I have aged since my stroke and seem to be worse-off, by the day!
I guess, what I am to find, if being prescribed the following Medications back in (2004 through 2006) --has had anything to do with me having my Stroke in the very beginning? Injections -- 200-MG-per ML (ANDROGEN); understand, this to be a Generic name as oppose to being a Brand name?
Patches -- ("ANDRODERM -- 5Mg's"), for 24-hours.
I have since found that the Generic names that most doctors/Attorney's are looking for, are of the following: ("ANDPOGEL/DEPO-TEST/AXIRON); I believe I was on -- ("DEPO-TEST") at one time, but will have to locate my records on this one, and the other one that I have found to be of Generic name is the following -- (AXIRON).
So, in a nutshell, I was on -- ("Androgen/Androderm"), anywhere from (May 2004 through the end of --2006), and as mentioned, the -- DEPO-TEST, sounds very familiar.
As you know, I didn't have a choose on what MED's were needed at the prevailing time, and just did as I was told to take, by my -- ("Endocrinologist") back then.
Have tried to get the answer, if having been given a -- Generic MED, as oppose to be given a Brand name, would have made a difference, even though, I was given both, back and forth; well over 2-years?
Doctor, I just located my pertinent medical files that you have asked about; it is on a -- (CD-ROM) and looks quite lengthily at that! I would like to see if it would be possible for me to send to you, being I am no longer PC savoy, and would expect to pay you for your time. I am having bad times, and don't know if and when, I may be hit with a -- ("Hemorrhage and/or Aneurysm)?
After my (CVA); 2-straight years thereafter, I was still on these -- (Injections/patches) and had multiple, (TIA's), and have been diagnosed with all kinds of medical Jargon, if you will, i.e., Stenosis of the brain/Ganglia/Ischemic/MCA Territorial Infarction, Micro-vascular disease, White/Grey matters and so much more.
I have since deteriorated more with time. Before I forget, I had my stroke on the right back of my lobe and now, after all these years have passed-on, my health is sparring at a great rate! For sometime now I have been on -- PLAVIX and baby Aspirin (81mg).
I was an -- Army, Chief Warrant Officer, in the field of -- ("Special Forces/Rangers/Pathfinder/Sniper") etc, and the youngest to had been selected to be with ("Delta Force") long ago. I need to see if any of the GENERIC med's prescribed to me, along with Brand names back and forth, has had anything to do with that of my -- Major Stroke, in the very beginning; 03 November 2004; taking these MED's -- 6-months prior, etc?
I thank-you for your time and hope that you may be able to help? I'm a single parent to (4-girl's and one-son).
Just recently, I have seen so many lawsuits on this topic matter, but only wish, that my health is what it once was!
Respectively yours,
XXXXXXX XXXX
P.S. I just happened to had seen an advertisement on TV, about -- pharmaceutical company's being sued for similar conditions to that of mine.
I would have to gather some of my present medical history that are in various folders, etc. Can tell you that I have aged since my stroke and seem to be worse-off, by the day!
I guess, what I am to find, if being prescribed the following Medications back in (2004 through 2006) --has had anything to do with me having my Stroke in the very beginning? Injections -- 200-MG-per ML (ANDROGEN); understand, this to be a Generic name as oppose to being a Brand name?
Patches -- ("ANDRODERM -- 5Mg's"), for 24-hours.
I have since found that the Generic names that most doctors/Attorney's are looking for, are of the following: ("ANDPOGEL/DEPO-TEST/AXIRON); I believe I was on -- ("DEPO-TEST") at one time, but will have to locate my records on this one, and the other one that I have found to be of Generic name is the following -- (AXIRON).
So, in a nutshell, I was on -- ("Androgen/Androderm"), anywhere from (May 2004 through the end of --2006), and as mentioned, the -- DEPO-TEST, sounds very familiar.
As you know, I didn't have a choose on what MED's were needed at the prevailing time, and just did as I was told to take, by my -- ("Endocrinologist") back then.
Have tried to get the answer, if having been given a -- Generic MED, as oppose to be given a Brand name, would have made a difference, even though, I was given both, back and forth; well over 2-years?
Doctor, I just located my pertinent medical files that you have asked about; it is on a -- (CD-ROM) and looks quite lengthily at that! I would like to see if it would be possible for me to send to you, being I am no longer PC savoy, and would expect to pay you for your time. I am having bad times, and don't know if and when, I may be hit with a -- ("Hemorrhage and/or Aneurysm)?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Testosterone is not much associated with stroke, at least not directly, may increase the risk somewhat by causing high blood pressure or venous thrombosis.
It seems that what bothers you most is the fact of having received only generic testosterone and not a brand name, whether generic products have a higher probability of causing side effects such as increasing the risk of stroke.
Now in theory generic brands have the same active ingredient as the brand name ones, with the same efficacy and the same rate of side effects. Of course in practice there may be minor differences but not beyond a threshold. Manufacturers should pass quality controls for that purpose to guarantee that.
So one can't blame the fact of the product being generic for what happened to you, in theory generics approved according to regulations are identical to the brand. Even if there is hypothesized to be a difference the physician can not tell that. There are appropriate authorities like the Food and Drugs Administration in the US who revises the equivalence process and guarantees that it has the same efficacy or in your case the same rate of side effects as the original product.
Actually even if us physicians wanted to prescribe the brand name often we are not permitted by health authorities because our contracts force us to prescribe the cheaper generic products since it is of an equal quality. So there is no suing basis on that regard.
As for the information I would gladly look at it. As the most simple way to send it to me, you could insert the content in a single zip file, upload it in a file sharing service such as Dropbox for example and send me the link (as you have 2 free follow up questions to this which you can use to send the link).
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Testosterone is not much associated with stroke, at least not directly, may increase the risk somewhat by causing high blood pressure or venous thrombosis.
It seems that what bothers you most is the fact of having received only generic testosterone and not a brand name, whether generic products have a higher probability of causing side effects such as increasing the risk of stroke.
Now in theory generic brands have the same active ingredient as the brand name ones, with the same efficacy and the same rate of side effects. Of course in practice there may be minor differences but not beyond a threshold. Manufacturers should pass quality controls for that purpose to guarantee that.
So one can't blame the fact of the product being generic for what happened to you, in theory generics approved according to regulations are identical to the brand. Even if there is hypothesized to be a difference the physician can not tell that. There are appropriate authorities like the Food and Drugs Administration in the US who revises the equivalence process and guarantees that it has the same efficacy or in your case the same rate of side effects as the original product.
Actually even if us physicians wanted to prescribe the brand name often we are not permitted by health authorities because our contracts force us to prescribe the cheaper generic products since it is of an equal quality. So there is no suing basis on that regard.
As for the information I would gladly look at it. As the most simple way to send it to me, you could insert the content in a single zip file, upload it in a file sharing service such as Dropbox for example and send me the link (as you have 2 free follow up questions to this which you can use to send the link).
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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