How to Monitor Your Generic Medications

Most generic drugs work well, but it’s important to know what you’re taking and how it’s affecting you. Here’s how to track your medication, identify changes, and advocate for yourself if problems arise

Maybe you’ve been following MedShadow’s original reporting on the variable quality of generic drugs made by different manufacturers — or watching our webinars and Senate hearing coverage featuring patients whose generic medications stopped working, caused new side effects, or, in some cases, were linked to devastating outcomes. If so, you may feel unsettled. After all, most people have very little control over which manufacturer’s version of a medication they receive at the pharmacy.

So what can you do with the information unearthed in our stories? More than you might think.

Most generic medications are likely to be safe and effective. Still, it’s important to know which manufacturer’s version you’re taking and to track how you’re feeling over time. That way, if your medication suddenly seems less effective or causes new side effects, you’ll have the information you need to spot changes quickly and discuss them with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

You can keep all this information in a health-tracking app, such as the Apple Health App, or in your own spreadsheet or notebook. If the tool you use doesn’t include all of the categories below, they should be easy to add to your notes or spreadsheet.

1. Document What You’re Taking

When you receive your medication, scrutinize the bottle label. Do you see the name of the drug manufacturer on the label? If you can’t find it, be sure to ask your pharmacist. Write this down, along with all of the following:

• The drug name and dose
• Date of pickup
• Lot number (This is a code that signifies a specific production batch.)
• Pill appearance (size, shape, color, markings)
  

2.   Note Any Changes to the Medication Itself

Pills can look different from one refill to the next, suggesting they were manufactured by different companies. While this typically isn’t a problem, if you notice differences in how your medication looks, and you notice a difference in how you feel taking it, that could mean that differences in manufacturing techniques or quality are affecting you.

Some questions to help you keep track of changes include:

• Do your pills suddenly break more or less easily than before?
• Is your pill a different color than the last time you refilled it?
• Does it have different markings on it?
• Is it a different size?

Keeping track of these characteristics of each pill can help you identify if a change in efficacy or side effects could be connected to a change in manufacturer.

4. Document Symptom Control

If you take a medication that, for example, helps you manage your blood pressure, take your blood pressure at home regularly, and write down the measurements. You’ll be able to see if your BP numbers improve. If a medication is supposed to help you concentrate, write down how focused you feel throughout the day.

If the medicine usually lasts for a certain amount of time and wears off, keep track of how long it seems to be working each day. If possible, write down examples of how you feel or what you’re able to accomplish while it’s working and when it’s not.

Even if you’ve been taking a generic medication for a long time, it’s possible that you could experience new or different side effects because of changes in your body or lifestyle. It’s also possible that differences in side effects or effectiveness are due to a change in the manufacturer. Some questions to keep in mind:

• Do you often feel a little nauseous after taking your meds?
• Do side effects get worse or better depending on whether you take your meds with food?
• Have you noticed a lingering issue that just seems to have “popped up” and won’t go away?
• Have your spouse/family/friends noticed you acting differently?

Sometimes lifestyle factors can make your medication seem like it’s not working as

well as it used to. This is why it’s important to keep track of questions like:

• Do you usually take your medication with food, but sometimes take it without?
• If your medication seems less effective, how was your sleep the night before?
• Any changes in diet or exercise?
• Pay attention to new interactions: Have you started taking any new supplements or additional medications?

What To Do If Your Drug Is Not Working As Expected

Your log will help you quickly identify if your medication’s efficacy is deviating from the norm, and potentially pinpoint if a drug from a particular manufacturer is not working correctly for you. You can share this information with your doctor and your pharmacist, who may be able to help you avoid a particular manufacturer in the future if others are available.

If you do experience new side effects or a decline in effectiveness, this information will make it easier to report them to MedWatch, the FDA’s adverse event reporting system.