Diltiazem, Cardizem, Taztia, Cartia XT.....

[GreyFox2002]

Ok, pharmacy school teaches you what diltiazem is but doesn't elucidate beyond that. Is there any difference between Diltiazem, cardizem, taztia, cartia xt, etc? There are like a million brands for diltiazem. I know cardizem LA is an extended release version.

Also, what exactly is the purpose behind Zyban vs. Welbutrin? Are these both the exact same formulation of bupropion? Than you have budeprion and buproban thrown into the mix.....

Then there is the issue of effexor xr vs. venlafaxine XR. Apparantally as far as I know, you cannot substitute venlafaxine xr for effexor xr, as they are not bioequivalent. I could never understand why this, so I was hoping someone out there knew....

Pardon me for my ignorance, but pharmacy school teaches you virtually nothing about drug product selection.

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[MountainPharmD]

Good question.

The Orange Book is your friend in this matter.

Read the FAQ first,

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/InformationOnDrugs/ucm114166.htm


Then search!

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/default.cfm

Come back with any questions.

 

[meister]

There's no f*cking difference between Zyban and Wellbutrin, the old computers'd let us sub that crap in whenever. Sure, it may not be AB rated, but whatever.

 

[Blackheva]

The reason the FDA says Effexor XR and Venlafaxine XR are not bioequivalent is due to the dosage form (i.e. capsules vs. tablets).

Zyban and Wellbutrin are both chemically the same, but both have different treatment indications per the FDA. I think Zyban is only approved for smoking cessation and wellbutrin's indications are expanded to depression, etc.

It's just marketing BS.

 

[Rebel78]

There's no f*cking difference between Zyban and Wellbutrin, the old computers'd let us sub that crap in whenever. Sure, it may not be AB rated, but whatever.

You gotta watch that stuff. I'm not gonna call any names, but certain chain's computer systems will switch meds that aren't AB rated. If the script is for Zyban, you gotta fill Zyban.

For diltiazem, the Orange Book is your friend for sure. The have different release mechanisms, and some have different dosing intervals.

 

[mipharmd]

it depends on what state law you have.. some state laws say that the Orangebook is LAW.. some states are not mandated by the orangebook...
meaning that you can switch between them if they are generically equivlents of each other