Doctors always tell me the *generic* works just as well as the *brand name*... well, my Mom and I found out that is not always the case. It was usually out of the blue that my Mom will say XYZ generic doesn't work as well, and I was also taking XYZ generic and had the same reaction.

Sometimes I believe the quality of the fillers/binders/coatings used in and on pills are different with the brand name compared to the generics. The cost has to be cut somehow to make the generics more affordable.

Wish the pharmaceutical company that made Antivert [great for vertigo] would make the pill again as it worked within 15-20 minutes compared to the generic which would take a couple hours before I started feeling better.

that is not always true. I was taking Ambien for 15 years. The cost is now $ 450. per month. I have tried Zolpidem, the generic and have tried 3 different manufacturers of it. Each was about $ 30. for a month. I finally gave up and had to go back to the expensive Ambien. After 3 mos. of the generic, I spent each day in a fog, feeling very nauseous and actually vomiting some mornings. Finally, my muscles began to be affected - giving me fibromyalgia. Apparently the generic did not put me in a relaxing sleep and now that I am back on Ambien I am just fine- no side effects.
How terrible though that you have to pay $ 450 a month for a sleeping pill! LynnK

No, they don't necessarily work better. They simply cost more.

I wonder if the same result would occur in less "civilized" societies.