[diskman]

Originally Posted by islandgal

Brostholder -
Best of luck with selling your home quickly.

I have just been given Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets for high blood pressure.
Would like you comments. I still question generics and would like your opinion of them.

Bet you will receive many questions for which we will all thank you for your input.

It was causing me to make a hiccup type sound when I talk (weird isn't it)

[nussbaum]

I worked for an insurance company prior to moving to TV. I did the authorizations for Reclast. Some of the restrictions were: that you must have tried Actonel or similar drug and it failed to stop the osteoporosis, you could not tolerate the side effects or you are a chemotherapy patient. Look at it this way: The cost of the generic being $4/month vs IV infusion at a hospital being much, much more is why insurance wants to make sure you have tried the least expensive first. Cost containment for everyone.

[islandgal]

Originally Posted by diskman

It was causing me to make a hiccup type sound when I talk (weird isn't it)

Diskman - Weird and scary! I cannot stop coughing.
What are you taking now?

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by brostholder

Hi Islandgal, Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide are often given separately or in combination to treat high blood pressure. The Lisinopril is in a class of drugs called "angiotensin converting enzyme" or ACE inhibitors. The hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill. When people take them in combination they often take them in the morning so the water pill doesn't get you up in the middle of the night.
A Generic drug has the same active ingredient as the brand name drug. It must also have the same dissolution and bioavailability as the brand name drug. It also must be manufactured under the same rigid manufacturing guidelines as the brand. For most people, there is absolutely no difference between the name brand and the generic version. However, there are 2 instances where one should be cautious. While the active ingredients are the same in the brand and the generic, they often have different inactive ingredients. A patient may rarely be allergic to one of the inactive ingredients in the generic. The other situation where one should be cautious is if you are taking a "narrow therapeutic" drug. These are drugs that are very beneficial in the right dosage, but a small variation in dosage could be dangerously subtherapeutic or too strong for the patient. Such drugs include digoxin, theophylline, synthroid, coumadin and others. With these drugs, patients should not switch back and forth between brand and generics without monitoring. Other than these 2 instances, you can have complete faith in generics.
Disclaimer: Please check with your doctor and/or pharmacist concerning any possible side effects or adverse reactions of drugs you are taking.

Very helpful to know, as I am prescribed synthroid. Thanks for the great info!

[brostholder]

Thanks to everyone for the great feedback!!! I will continue to post tips as I think of them. In the meantime, I will do my best to answer any questions you may have on your medications. My wife and I can't wait to get down there full time and enjoy our new home in Kingfisher Villas!!!
Barry