Generic and trade names of drugs

[Guest]

During my last travel in Thailand and Cambodia I have been taking doxycycline as malaria prophylaxis. The first two weeks I took Vibramycin, but then I switched to Doxylin/Tetradox because this was much cheaper. Both drugs contain doxycycline (Tetradox contains doxycycline hyclate and Vibramycin contains doxycycline hydrochloride, but this difference doesn't seem to matter). One would expect no difference in the working of both drugs, as only the manufacturer is different and the generic drug name is similar. However, when I looked in a drugstore's book I noticed several differences between the drug descriptions. For example: Vibramycin was indicated for infections of the respiratory system, soft tissues and GUT (=genito-urinary tract) while Tetradox was indicated for infections of the respiratory system, sot tissues and GIT (=gastro-intestinal tract).

 

I've noticed such differences in a lot of drugs with different trade names but same generic drug names.

 

How are these differences possible? Did I take a risk when I switched from Vibramycin to Tetradox?

 

The same question applies to, for example, Viagra and Kamagra: the generic drug name is the same (sildenafil), only the trade name is different. Can the effect of Kamagra nevertheless be different from Viagra?

[Guest]

No one has responded to my question so far, so I have to respond myself...

 

Doesn't anybody have a clue? Tomc12?

 

After all, I assume my implicit question about the difference between Viagra and Kamagra is relevant for a lot of people on the board.

[Guest]

>I've noticed such differences in a lot of drugs with different trade names but same generic drug names.

 

>How are these differences possible? Did I take a risk when I switched from Vibramycin to Tetradox?

 

 

 

I guess the guys are sensible enough not to indulge in wild speculation when the topic is "health". But since you are begging for it...

 

 

 

The exact compound used to carry the medicinal substance will have an effect on how weel and when it is absorbed into the body, where it might be concentrated and how soon it will excreted or broken down. The supplements used in pills, as well as the 'delivery system' - pill, film-covered pill, capsule, etc. will also have an impact.

 

 

 

So it might be that with pills targeted for genito-urinary tract infections the antibiotic might end up faster also in our urine. This might be better so that you hit the infected areas both from the inside and outside. On the other hand, since there is only XXXmg of antibiotic in each pill, it might be better that it all stays in your bodily fluids as long as possible if you have a gastro-intestinal tract infection. (Wild speculation, btw...)

 

 

 

Another aspect is that the pharmaceuticals company hardly does want to (cannot afford) run the required clinical tests for all types of use. So if you would go and ask this question from the company, they probably would refuse to say whether you took a risk or not, since they don't ultimately know without testing.

 

 

 

Wagner

 

 

[tomc12]

Malaria prophylaxis is based on the use of doxycycline, not specifically Vibramycin or Tetradox. So I don't see a reason for concern about using one or the other for prophylaxis. The hyclate/hydrochloride form is usually found in capsules and the monohydrate form in oral suspensions, but they all work the same. For the curious, the hyclate form is used for IV administration because of better water solubility than the monohydrate form.

[BritTim]

I don't know the exact chemical composition of Kamagra. Its effect on me seems to be identical. You might put a question on www.penhball.com if you want more details. They know more about it there.