Epilepsy Drugs: Generic vs. Brand

Neurologists who treat patients with epilepsy have patient safety concerns.

Two studies published in the journal Neurology found that patients who switched from a brand-name product to a generic one had more seizures or higher hospitalization rates.

When taking a seizure medication, the therapeutic window for error or dosage is narrow. If the epilepsy’s drug absorption is slightly different between brand and generic or between generics, then the patient could have a seizure, and that seizure could lead to serious injury or perhaps even death.

According to the Food & Drug Administration, generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand name. Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the brand product.

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In November 2009, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), which represents over 19,000 neurologists and neuroscience professional, issued a position statement on the coverage of anticonvulsant drugs for the treatment of epilepsy. Their position is: The AAN opposes generic substitution of anticonvulsant drugs for the treatment of epilepsy without the attending physician’s approval.

With everything being status quo, patients may suffer serious epileptic consequences without knowing why while taking generic AEDs. The second-generation anti seizure drugs have generated numerous complaints and much frantic discussion in online epilepsy forums.

The problem is not only in changing from a name-brand epilepsy drug to a generic epilepsy drug, but also in switching from generic to generic epilepsy drugs. Unfortunately, patients may be unaware that the change is even happening.

When patients are on maintenance medication for which a generic is available, they might be given a different version of the generic drug when refilling their prescriptions. A pharmacy might stock one generic for a few months, and then switch to another a few months later, if the store is offered a better deal. A pharmacist is not required to notify patients regarding the change of generic epilepsy drugs.

Did you or a family member suffer serious social and financial setbacks or epileptic seizures because of being prescribed the Mylan generic version Keppra (LVT) or other generic anticonvulsant drugs? If the answer is yes, take action now and contact Anapol Schwartz personal injury law firm with offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

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