# Generic vs name brands

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-vs-name-brands/463583>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 14, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-vs-name-brands/463583 "2008-09-14T19:07:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-vs-name-brands/463583/21 "2008-09-16T14:01:33Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> You can buy generic Claritin (loratadine) which is non-drowsy and I believe also OK for people with high BP. Always wear safety “googles” when using the internet for drug advise and consult your doctor if you experience any side effects.

Anecdotally, I have nasty allergies and have always bought generic OTC allergy meds unless they were unavailable and I was desperate. Benadryl knocks me out like a light, but Claritin is almost as good for all but the worst attacks and doesn’t make me drowsy at all. Brand-name Claritin can run more than $1/pill, but I buy the generic at Costco for something like $10 for 300 tablets.

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**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-vs-name-brands/463583/22 "2008-09-16T16:38:51Z")

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Well, I did a sort of neti pot thing last night. I had a bulb syringe. I boiled the water to make sure the salt would dissolve completely (we had baking soda, but I didn’t feel like digging it out of the back of the cabinet) and let it cool, then squirted slowly.

I believe I notice a difference today…I’m not coughing near as much. It seems weird to clean out your nose to clear up a cough, but I guess if I have post-nasal drip it would make sense.

I’ll do it again tonight.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-vs-name-brands/463583/23 "2008-09-16T22:30:18Z")

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[QUOTE=Contrary]  
So we get Synthroid, the real deal, and generic equivalents for everything else.  
[/QUOTE]  
I’ve had the same experience. My metabolism was going loco, and it took a while to realize that the pharmacy was putting whatever generic form of levothyroxine in the bottle that they had that month.

Happily, my current health insurance covers Levoxyl at the generic rate, so no more worries about brand-swapping. Interestingly, it’s one of the very few brand names of anything that they cover at the generic co-pay, which leads me to believe that generic thyroid medication is a bad idea.

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