Brand name vs Generic Rx's

[kentfrat1783]

Hi,

I was looking at my Rx insurance and it said something about the possibility of a generic of Atripla in August 2018.  Has anyone heard this?  I'm not even sure if I believe it as I was only able to see that on the phone app and not on the laptop.

My hope is generics will become available soon, but my worry is they won't be as good or have some bad side effects.  I know I've taken some generics before (no relation to HIV) and the side effects I couldn't deal with.  What's worse is a lot of insurance companies now will only cover the generic if it's available.  It's just a no win.

And with that, are there any generic antiviral Rx's in the US?  I've heard there are some available outside of the US so just curious.

I will also say that I just met my yearly deducible on my health insurance with just my first Rx fill.  That's why my mind is on Rx's.  It was either pay it on Rx or pay it on blood work.  It would have been the same price. 

Thanks and look forward to hearing from others.  Have a great rest of your weekend.

Kenneth

[MitchMiller]

This article states some of the patents on all three of Atripla's drugs will have expired in 2018.  A POZ article last year stated emtricitabine's patent does not expire until 2021.  So you might have to wait until 2022.

http://aids.emedtv.com/atripla/generic-atripla.html
https://www.poz.com/article/generic-truvada

Sustiva is set to go generic in 2018 but Mylan is only manufacturing a 600mg tablet for the US market.  I don't believe they will be manufacturing the 200mg capsule.  For the overseas market Mylan has created a new 400mg tablet.  I'm wondering if Cipla will also. 

Epivir, Abacavir, Viramune are some that are already generic in the US.

[terrymoore]

Hi,
I have been taking generics since i was UD (3 months into Dx) and my result shave been perfect for almost 3 years. From what i understand from my doc, there is absolutely no difference except for the price, or, as in my case, the split of one pill into 2 generic components of that pill (Complera - to be precise, the Edurant part is sold original brand but it is very cheap. The Truvada is generic and significantly cheaper). In fact, generics have saved many lives in places where they simply cannot afford originals.
Good luck!