Safety and efficacy of generic drugs with respect to brand formulation
A 49-year-old woman, without a history of other systemic diseases presented to her GP's for a fever (38°C) that appeared 2 days before accompanied by coughing with mucus and shortness of breath. A diagnosis of acute bronchitis was postulated and a treatment with paracetamol (500 mg as need) and levofloxacin (Tavanic, sanofi-aventis® 500 mg tablet once daily for 10 days) was prescribed. Six days later, patient returned to the GP for the worsening of symptoms (fever 39.5°C and green mucus). History revealed the use of generic levofloxacin (Ranbaxy®, 500 mg once daily) instead of the branded ones; therefore, generic levofloxacin was changed to Tavanic® with a complete resolution of symptoms in 7 days. No side-effects appeared during drug treatment.