Cooker said:
I switched from Toprol to metroprolol several months ago.....no itching here.....maybe chimps don't itch
Yes, but is your coat still shiny?
Uh-oh...I feel a personal opinion rant coming on...
I've observed a lot more incidences of drug reactions in the last few years, allergic and otherwise. Often, the doctors seem baffled, beacuse they're not used to seeing these side-effects. In one case of atenolol psoriasis, I am personally convinced that it was from a particular generic brand, as the generic from a different pharmacy didn't cause the effect.
I have to wonder if these are associated with the massive offshoring of generic pharmaceuticals. We've had heparin laced with condroitin sulfate to cut production costs (People died. Others had severe allergic reactions.), dangerous insecticides and other chemicals and bacteria found in foodstuffs (many hospitalizations, unknown future effects), lead on toys (although contracts specifically required that no lead be used), pet food contaminated with poisonous substances that caused lingering, painful deaths to our animals. We are dealing with some cultures that simply don't care, often even when they're caught at it.
Pharmacy chains are caught in a price crunch, and many have responded by opting to buy their generics from the cheapest suppliers. While the drugs are supposed to be the same, lack of manpower on the part of the FDA to enforce continuing quality allows that to be questionable. It can be three or more years between inspections in developing nations, and the amount and variety of products from these companies are growing exponentially in that time.
Please get the manufacturer's name from the pharmacy and report the issues as adverse effects. And if you're going to stick with the drug, please go to a different pharmacy for your prescription and ensure it's a different brand of generic (or find a way to get the brand name product). Don't wait until you use up the old pills. Get your doctor to represcribe. Be wary when a new supply of pills looks different, as the pharmacy may have changed providers.
I suspect that in the current economic climate, all generics are not the same as each other, much less the original product. I think that due to shoddy ingredient-gathering processes in some countries, and a lack of manpower for the FDA to check these products, they aren't even all equally safe or effective.
I do believe that there
are plenty of safe, effective generics out there, but that if you're encountering any reaction from a generic drug, you should switch your prescription immediately to a different manufacturer. Obviously, your doctor should be involved in the process.
Information and access to reporting adverse drug events:
http://www.fda.gov/medwaTCH/report/consumer/consumer.htm
ahh...rant fever is passing...feel much better...
Best wishes,
I just put some cream that the dr gave me on it and seems to help sometimes. But still is bothersome and has a rash (maybe from me itching it.)
