Generic Drugs vs Brand Name

[Ted]

I found you can't trust our FDA.
There is a drastic difference in Glimepiride and brand name Amaryl.
The FDA allows for a difference of some 25% but the difference in performance is far greater than 25%.
My cost with insurance is $5 for the Glimepiride and $60 for the brand name Amaryl.
The Amaryl works the Glimepiride kind of works. I have to almost double the dose to the same consistant sugar levels.
Glimepiride has been approved by the FDA so we are are screwed again!
For those on Glucophage the same situation exsists with Metformin being no where near as effective as Glucophage.
This can be a serious issue.
One can be forced to insulin being under the impression that the drugs are not working.
Lets here a big one for the FDA!

[Susie]

Hi. I say the exact that you said above. I wondered if there would be a generic for Amaryl because it should be cheaper, but when it finally did come out it DIDN'T work the same as the Amaryl did. I've been taking it for at least two years now, first Amaryl and then the generic Glimepiride and they DO NOT work the same. In my situation, my insurance only pays for the brand medicine if the doctor says that it is what I need to take and I think that is what I am going to have to do, request that they tell my pharmacy I cannot have a generic in place of the Amaryl, in order for insurance to cover it.
The FDA is nearly worthless sometimes, in my opinion.

[Jeff]

I take generic Amaryl (from http://totaldrugs24.com/item/amaryl.html ). It really helps me.