Life as I experience

The situation you described highlights an important but often overlooked issue in medicine: differences in effectiveness between the same drug manufactured by different companies. Here's an explanation of why this can happen:

1. Active Ingredient Consistency

Both the original medication by Intas Pharmaceuticals and the substitute by Sun Pharmaceuticals contain aripiprazole as the active ingredient.

In theory, the active ingredient should be identical in all generic versions of the drug. Regulatory authorities like the FDA or Indian equivalents ensure that generic medicines meet certain bioequivalence standards.

However, small differences in the manufacturing process, storage, or handling of the drug can affect its potency or how it interacts in the body.



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2. Inactive Ingredients (Excipients)

Medications often contain additional substances called excipients (e.g., fillers, binders, preservatives). These do not affect the therapeutic action directly but can influence:

Absorption rate (how quickly the drug gets into the bloodstream).

Stability of the active ingredient.

Patient tolerance (some people may react differently to certain excipients).


Intas and Sun Pharmaceuticals may use different excipients in their formulations, which can impact the bioavailability (how much of the drug reaches its target in the body).



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3. Manufacturing Processes

Differences in manufacturing practices (e.g., equipment, quality control, raw material sourcing) can lead to variations in the drug's performance. For example:

Variability in particle size can affect how the medication dissolves and is absorbed.

Coating or capsule design might delay or speed up drug release.




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4. Patient-Specific Factors

Individual differences in metabolism, gut health, and existing medications may cause a person to respond better to one formulation over another.

Some patients are more sensitive to even minor changes in a drug's formulation.



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5. Psychological or Placebo Effect

For some people, knowing they are taking a different brand can subconsciously influence the drug's perceived effectiveness, especially in conditions like bipolar disorder.



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6. Batch-to-Batch Variation

Variability between batches of the same drug can also occur, although manufacturers aim to minimize this. If the Sun Pharmaceuticals batch you used had slight inconsistencies, it could have reduced its efficacy.



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Suggested Steps:

1. Stick to the Proven Medication: Since Intas Pharmaceuticals' aripiprazole works effectively for your daughter, it would be ideal to continue sourcing this version.


2. Request Doctor's Notes: Have your doctor include the preferred brand name in the prescription to avoid substitutions at the pharmacy.


3. Communicate with the Manufacturer:

Reach out to Intas Pharmaceuticals to ensure a steady supply of the medication.

They may guide you to distributors or pharmacies where it is regularly available.



4. Consult the Doctor:

If the Intas version becomes unavailable again, discuss alternate treatment options with the doctor.

They might adjust the dosage or prescribe a different formulation altogether.



5. Monitor Supply Chain Issues:

In some cases, stock shortages can occur due to regulatory issues, raw material shortages, or logistical challenges.





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Conclusion

Though both medicines contain the same active ingredient, differences in excipients, bioavailability, and manufacturing practices can significantly impact their efficacy for certain individuals. Your experience underlines the importance of sticking to a medication that works well for your daughter's unique needs. Always consult with her doctor before making any changes to her treatment.

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