Lovey asked
I take generic lorazepam 2 mg a day for anxiety. The pharmacy changes the generic brand from time to time. My question is: Are most generic brands the same as far as active ingredients and is it safe to do this for the patient?
Answer
Generic medications that are legally substitutable (by FDA guidelines) with the brand name and between one another are considered "bioequivalent". This means that lab studies show they have the same (within a statistical variance):
- Rate of absorption
- Extent of absorption
They also contain the same amount of active ingredient.
Different Lorazepam Brands
In regard to generic brands of Ativan (lorazepam), they will all contain the same active ingredient and are considered "bioequivalent" with one another.
However, and this is a big however for many people, the inactive ingredients can be different between brands. This can certainly cause issues for some. For example, one particular brand may contain lactose while another may not. If you are lactose intolerant, the inactive ingredient can play a substantial role in tolerability.
Below, we list the ingredients for two different generic lorazepam brands to highlight the differences between the two.
Mylan LLC Lorazepam 0.5mg Ingredients
- Lorazepam 0.5mg
- Calcium Phosphate
- Croscarmellose Sodium
- Magnesium Stearate
- Microcrystalline Cellulose
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Actavis US Lorazepam 0.5mg Ingredients
- Lorazepam 0.5mg
- Lactose
- Magnesium Stearate
- Microcrystalline Cellulose
- Polacrilin potassium
Why Do Pharmacies Switch Between Generic Brands?
There are many reasons why your pharmacy may switch between generic brands of a drug, including:
- Wholesale cost
- Manufacturer availability
- Wholesaler availability
- Insurance formulator coverage
- Active recalls
If your pharmacy has been switching between generic brands of lorazepam, it is important to find out why. You can certainly request them to dispense a specific manufacturer for you, or to simply keep the manufacturer the same for future fills.
Overall, switching between generic brands (i.e. manufacturers) isn't a big concern for most individuals, and is legally allowable. However, if you are having issues with a particular brand, it is important to talk to your pharmacist about your options.
