Tylenol query

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I understand that doctors are busy people, seeing a lot of patients and so forth, but would it really kill them to keep up with product recalls and manufacturer shortages?

Currently we out of Tylenol Arthritis pain relievers. Have been for the better part of a year, if not more. This is do to a recall or a manufacturing issue or something. Because we do anticipate receiving some in the near future, we have to keep its spaces in the planogram open--we can't face them over with product we do have.

Nonetheless, there is at least one doctor in town telling his patients to take Tylenol Arthritis, and not any generic forms of this. These people then have to chase all across town, hitting up any and all stores that sell pain relievers, only to find that nobody has it, just the generics.

I helped one of these people Monday. Asked me no fewer than four times if we had in stock after I told her no repeatedly; then she went into the pharmacy and dragged the head pharmacist over, who explained that Tylenol Arthritis wasn't available. Finally she left, promising to call the doctor.

Another such patient visited us today. This one wasn't so understanding. The screams could be heard almost to Electronics.

[Sapphire Silk]

I have no idea why a doctor would do this. One form of tylenol is basically the same as any other. It's acetaminophen. For the vast majority of people, generic versions work just fine. It's only a handful of people do don't do well with one specific generic and have to take the name brand.

[radiocerk]

I, at least, heard why the brand name is unavailable, as well as the brand names of many liquid medications that were manufactured in the same series of plants. Cleanliness standards. The plants got shut down. I'm guessing doctor's don't generally get sent recall notices, or if they do, they don't read them.

[jedimaster91]

Not long ago I went looking for Excedrine Migraine and couldn't find any for similar reasons. So I got the generic and it worked just as well. As far as brand names in general go, there are very few things I'm picky about. For the most part, generic is just fine with me. The only exceptions are cake mix (Duncan Hines FTW!) and if I can't find a generic.

[cindybubbles]

Tell patients that generics follow the same formula (if they do), and that the biggest difference is the price (generics are cheaper)! I guarantee that this will help you defuse some SC's.

[trailerparkmedic]

That's funny because I always tell my patients that the generic is the same. Hell, I suggest the dollar store brands. I also have a very poor patient population who would often have trouble affording the name brands.

[Draper Mel]

Not long ago I went looking for Excedrine Migraine and couldn't find any for similar reasons. So I got the generic and it worked just as well. As far as brand names in general go, there are very few things I'm picky about. For the most part, generic is just fine with me. The only exceptions are cake mix (Duncan Hines FTW!) and if I can't find a generic.

I remember once looking at a package of Excedrin Migraine and a package of regular Excedrin, and the ingredients were identical. I thought it was just a marketing gimmick.

[Food Lady]

The only exceptions are cake mix (Duncan Hines FTW!)....

I'm Food Lady, and I agree with this statement.

[dragon_wings]

I work at a drugstore. I recommend the store brand over the name brand. Plus I almost exclusively use store brand myself, I get a better discount. There are a couple things I'd prefer the name brand of (and my girlfriend does this to, as she works for the same company). Like Tums, which uses real sugar while the store brand version uses artificial sweetener. We're both sensitive to artificial sweeteners, her more then me

[Sapphire Silk]

I remember once looking at a package of Excedrin Migraine and a package of regular Excedrin, and the ingredients were identical. I thought it was just a marketing gimmick.

It is just a marketing gimmick.

[BrenDAnn]

My only contribution to this thread would have to do with Tylenol Sinus. See, every once in a while, my sinuses will act up to the point of me needing to take some Tylenol Sinus, or be miserably unable to breath through my nose. Well, Mom, the good Lord rest her, went to get me some one day, and all the store had was their own generic kind. She bought it, brought it home, and I took it, thinking nothing of it. For whatever reason, it knocked me out, whereas I've always been perfectly fine with Tylenol name brand sinus med. Ever since then, I've been rather cautious about generics. Could just be me, though!

[Rock Lobster]

Generil Tylenol

I have found that generic Tylenol does nothing for my pain but the real stuff works great. Maybe it's just my body chemistry?!?!

[Sapphire Silk]

I have found that generic Tylenol does nothing for my pain but the real stuff works great. Maybe it's just my body chemistry?!?!

Probably. There are some people who don't react well to the inactive ingredients in some generics, but do fine on the brand name version.

Most people will do fine with generics. Those that don't, should use whatever version works best for them. That's why prescriptions has a place for the doctor to indicate whether or not generics are OK.

Unfortunately, sometimes insurance companies can be dicks about generics because they are so much cheaper. They fail to realize it's more expensive to treat the subsequent illness from using said generic if the patient is better off with the brand name.

[Catwoman2965]

It is just a marketing gimmick.

It is. i was told to take this once, and i looked at both bottles, and saw exacflty the same ingredients. and they were the same price! very strange

[Catwoman2965]

My only contribution to this thread would have to do with Tylenol Sinus. See, every once in a while, my sinuses will act up to the point of me needing to take some Tylenol Sinus, or be miserably unable to breath through my nose. Well, Mom, the good Lord rest her, went to get me some one day, and all the store had was their own generic kind. She bought it, brought it home, and I took it, thinking nothing of it. For whatever reason, it knocked me out, whereas I've always been perfectly fine with Tylenol name brand sinus med. Ever since then, I've been rather cautious about generics. Could just be me, though!

It was probably the 'filler" not the actual med. My understanding is any generic must have exactly the same and same quantity of the actual drug, but the filler doesn't have to be, and that's what people have issues with sometimes. I'm fortunate in that I don't have any issues and can take anything.