Could I be allergic to generic meds?

[alias_sqbr]

Asking outside my health filter since this is less a personal thing and more a general question of science.

Recently I've tried a bunch of blood pressure meds with different mechanisms/chemical properties and had what seemed to be a similar allergic reaction to almost all of them. Pondering if there's some underlying cause, it occured to me that they were all from the same generic meds company Apotex.

So now I'm wondering if it's worth asking specifically for the name brand version and seeing if I have an allergic reaction to that, or if that's likely to be a waste of time and money.

I'd ask my doctor but she's on holiday for two weeks. Though I could make an appointment with someone else as a stop-gap, or ask the chemist/pharmacist. Still, that's a lot of trouble for a question that might have a simple yes/no answer so I thought I'd see if anyone else here knows first.

The meds I had an allergic reaction were amlodipine/Norvasc, Tritace/Ramipril and Candesartan.

I have been on another unrelated Apotex reflux med for years, but also have had varying general, if less extreme, allergic Stuff going on for my whole life that could mask any effect from that. And different types of meds use different fillers, which would have to be the thing I was allergic to.

I tried looking up the exact ingredients but the specific relevant meds didn't have anything available.

I have had noticeable reactions to generic meds in the past, though that was just the med not working at all rather than an allergic reaction.

So yeah! idk! A box of the name brand version of one of the blood pressure meds would be like $30, so it's not the end of the world if I try it and fail. I'll definitely ask for the name brand version of my reflux med next time I refill that, since why not.

I looked up whether generic drugs can cause allergic reactions and just saw that it is very rare. So idkkkk.

Comments

[rdm]

Potentially, in that a given company is likely to use the same fillers/coatings from the same sources across their range.

If you are having a reaction to one of the supposedly inert components, that would fit.

That said, the inert components are supposed to be that.

On the gripping hand, I have other friends with elemental allergies, so I'm not ruling anything out.

(Insert standard disclaimer)

[alias_sqbr]

Thanks! Yeah, no way to know for sure without trying it out, but it seems at least possible.

[winterbird]

Hmm, it's definitely something that imho, is worth testing? Generic meds have to use the same active ingredient, but they can all use different excipients and some of those can cause issues. For example my Nizatidine by the brand causes me no issues, but I get pretty nasty sporadic reflux with the generic, which is hilarious to me, because it's a reflux med. I have to insist on the 'real thing' because the excipients and potentially the shape of the capsule really mess with me and make it kind of useless for what it's meant to be helping with.

If you're getting the same kinds of side effects to three different families of blood pressure meds which can all cause slightly different constellations of side effects, it could be a reaction to the excipients / binders rather than the drug/s themselves? It's possible that Apotex uses similar excipients or all its blood pressure meds.

Is it possible to ask for samples from your GP the next time you see them? Maybe enough for two weeks or three weeks? I don't know what samples they have, but this could be a way to trial it as a theory.

I'm fine with some generic meds and others are like 'you won't even label if there's lactose in this capsule, which is *annoying.*' Like, I think one of the reasons I have issues with PEA is more to do with the capsule composition and less to do with the actual PEA. Some compounding chemists list the ingredients of their capsules, others don't. Generics don't list the name of their binders/inactives *at all.* Frustrating D:

Tbh this wouldn't be the first kind of rare-ish thing that has impacted you? I'm team 'try and if it fails at least you know'

Also this is 4 years old but I thought this removal of approval of 31 meds by the FDA due to poor manufacturing processes, including blood pressure meds in 2019 was interesting. Like, it could be a specific Apotex issue.

[alias_sqbr]

Thank you! That really sucks about the PEA capsules. And I had thought it might be Apotex specific but that does make it seem more likely!

[lilacsigil]

In Australia, we have to list all excipients, including dyes and fillers, and you can find out because it's listed at the end of the CMI for the medication. Apotex is going through a company merge at the moment, so your brand might be APO or APX or Apotex, but just google the name on the packet with CMI and you will get a CMI for that particular medication. It's entirely possible that they're using a particular dye or filler you're having problems with. Make sure to include CMI because then you'll get the Australian/NZ version you're actually taking, not the US version which doesn't even have to list common allergens.

ETA: Australian generics have to be 99.95% bio-equivalent to the originator brand but that's still room for problems - I have side-effects on brand name citalopram that I don't have on APO brand! And the excipients don't have to be the same.

[alias_sqbr]

Thank you this is very useful!