Is a brand name better?

I always wonder why I'm so drawn to buying a brand name OTC medicine vs. just buying the store or generic brand when I can clearly see that the active ingredients are exactly the same.  I have this fear that somehow less expensive means inferior... which common sense tells me is probably not true. 

Here's an example of what I mean:

Excedrin Migraine label... look at the active ingredients (click on the image to view a larger version):

Now look at the label of a more generic version of a headache OTC (click on the image to view a larger version):

Click on the image to view a larger version.

You will notice if you look at the "full label" of these products that some of the non-active ingredients are different though.  I wonder if those items and some of the "binding" ingredients might make a difference in how the active ingredients are absorbed into our system. 

What experiences have you all had with brand vs. more generic versions of these over the counter drugs?

No more migraines,
Kelli  :)

Comments

[Robert]

I almost always use generic when available. I didn't know there is a generic Excedrin, though I guess it has been around long enough I should have expected it.

The Migraine version of Excedrin is, I'm pretty sure, the same version as the regular brand, and costs the same (at least, where I live). I buy the Migraine version anyway, just because I like the package.

Interestingly, it is possible to buy generic Imitrex in Mexico without a prescription, at around $3.50 a pill. The stuff works just as well as the brand name, and I have some pretty mean headaches.

[Julia]

I find that some of the non-active ingredients in some medications actually trigger migraines.

I found this out when my husband bought me some generic pain-killers and it gave me a migraine so bad I ended up in the emergency ward of the local hospital.

Now I'm very, very careful of what medications / supplements I buy. I even have problems with things like B vitamin tablets.

[Kelli]

Julia, thanks so much for sharing that story. I had wondered if those non-active differences might cause problems. I wonder if there is a source that has done extensive testing on those types of ingredients. Those things are so important for all of us to know.

On a side note, I am getting older (35 now) and really do want to start taking certain supplements. I am currently looking into having a pharmacy actually compound vitamin pills for me so I don't have to take so many of the supplements that seem like hard rocks because of the binding materials. I just can't imagine I can actually digest those hard pills and get maximum benefit out of them. UGH!