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I have just completed my first 30 days of Imatinib. I was prescribed a Sandoz generic initially. The new pack of Imatinib, that I have just started, is manufactured by a different company, Dr Reddy’s.

Although I have suffered only mild side affects, I wonder if one can expect different side effects from different generics. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this?

Thanks.

David 

Hello David

Sandoz is the preferred generic of many if not most. Users on the various board surmise that it is close if not the same as Glivec.

Other generics can be problematic. I found Cipla about satisfactory. Accord gave me severe gastric issues.

You will find more on the UK CML Facebook group.

Regards, Stephen

 

Many thanks for the reply Stephen. 

I have taken your advice and applied to join the facebook group to read more. Still awaiting approval to join the group.

All the best

David

Hi David

I concur with Stephen completely - I have been on Accord, Imavec and Mivesta as generic imatinib. Accord was absolutely terrible and gave me severe heartburn and other gastric problems too. I never want to be on that one again. On Mivesta I have worse joint pain than on Imavec, but that's about it.

Good luck and all the best for your recovery!

Martin

Thanks for yours Martin,

I have also noticed a difference between the two that I have been given.

Strange how my haematologist insisted yesterday that there was no difference between the generics side effects!

All the best

David

Hi David

My doctor said that there is no difference in side effects from the active ingredient (i.e. the imatinib) but explained that the different companies use different binding agents and that people might sometimes react differently to these! She told me that, because thr tablet contains only 400mg of imatinib, the rest is made up of all sorts of other ingredients and this makes sense to me.

For me the best one has been the Imavec, which is a capsule instead of this rust-coloured pill. But there is a large price differential here where I live and I decided to stick with the Mivesta (which is marketed by Eurolab here in South Africa). Also, my doctor told me that the Mivesta has a very good safety profile in the long term.

Good luck!

Martin

Hello again Martin,

Many thanks for the detail. The generic names are different here in the UK, I think, but I am sure that all you say applies.

It's all fairly new for me and I shall see how I get on with the new generic (rejoicing in the name of Dr Reddy's!)  We have a commonly prescribed one made by a firm called Sandoz, the one I mentioned and probably several others. The National Health Service in the UK picks the cheapest, I suspect and  that's what we get.

All the best

David