Is a generic urso as effective for treating pbc?

7 May 2012

Generic meds have to follow the same guidelines as the brand name, therefore they are as safe as the brand name is.

7 May 2012

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) requires that generic drugs be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs.
The FDA applies the same standards for all drug manufacturing facilities, and many companies manufacture both brand-name and generic drugs.
The FDA requires that generic drugs work as fast and as effectively as the original brand-name products.
Trademark laws in the United States do not allow the generic drugs to look exactly like the brand-name preparation, but the active ingredients must be the same in both preparations, ensuring that both have the same medicinal effects.

With this is mind you should question your doctor as to why he thinks you should not take a generic medication.

8 May 2012

I have been diagnosed with PBC for over 20 years - originally I was prescribed the original Urso and took that medication for many years before the generic brand was available. After I lost my job, I started taking the generic brand and was taking the Ursodial only due to financial reasons (because I lived in the United States at the time). My doctor in San Francisco confirmed everything which has been said here in this forum - that is, that the FDA require a generic medication to be exactly the same in composition than the original medication. Now that I am back in Australia, I am back on Urso and my doctor in Australia has also confirmed there is no danger with a generic brand.

I hope this helps and please ask your doctor more questions - this is the one thing I have learnt that is not to be afraid to grill your doctor for answers.

Good luck..