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Bottle of Lies
Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom | Katherine Eban
12 posts | 8 read | 45 to read
From an award-winning journalist, an explosive narrative investigation of the generic drug boom that reveals fraud and life-threatening dangers on a global scaleThe Jungle for pharmaceuticals Many have hailed the widespread use of generic drugs as one of the most important public-health developments of the twenty-first century. Today, almost 90 percent of our pharmaceutical market is comprised of generics, the majority of which are manufactured overseas. We have been reassured by our doctors, our pharmacists and our regulators that generic drugs are identical to their brand-name counterparts, just less expensive. But is this really true? Katherine Ebans Bottle of Lies exposes the deceit behind generic-drug manufacturingand the attendant risks for global health. Drawing on exclusive accounts from whistleblowers and regulators, as well as thousands of pages of confidential FDA documents, Eban reveals an industry where fraud is rampant, companies routinely falsify data, and executives circumvent almost every principle of safe manufacturing to minimize cost and maximize profit, confident in their ability to fool inspectors. Meanwhile, patients unwittingly consume medicine with unpredictable and dangerous effects. The story of generic drugs is truly global. It connects middle America to China, India, sub-Saharan Africa and Brazil, and represents the ultimate litmus test of globalization: what are the risks of moving drug manufacturing offshore, and are they worth the savings? A decade-long investigation with international sweep, high-stakes brinkmanship and big money at its core, Bottle of Lies reveals how the worlds greatest public-health innovation has become one of its most astonishing swindles.
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review
Twainy
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed the layout of this book. Clear. Understandable. Interesting information & I suppose it will make you think about your generics and health while taking them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

27 likes2 stack adds
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GlassAsDiamonds
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Fascinating dive into generic drugs .... (getting cold though).

Megabooks This is a great book! 5y
GlassAsDiamonds @Megabooks oohh!!! Good to know!!! I‘d never heard of it but it caused a huge controversy here - apparently someone decided it was part of a US-India trade war (🤦🏻‍♀️), a government minister has threatened to take criminal action against the author and another one who admits to receiving money from one of the drug companies named said it was fiction ...! 5y
Cinfhen This was an amazing book!!!! Hi 👋 so glad you‘re posting and sharing your experience xx 5y
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

This is a densely written, investigative story involving the overseas generic drug industry & pharmaceutical companies who systematically scammed the FDA for years. If Elizabeth Holmes made your blood boil the shenanigans of Ranbaxy and other overseas companies will have you seething. It‘s shameful, criminal,shocking and sadly our own agency, the FDA does not fair too well. The amount of greed & bureaucratic BS is alarming. 👇🏽

Cinfhen I will definitely be more vigilant when it comes to the generic medicines my family takes. Thank you so much @Megabooks for gifting this book to me. It was quite the eye-opener!!! 5y
blank The centipede in the capsule has scarred me for life. 5y
Cinfhen So MANY things freaked me out!! Monkey feces and sparrow nests in the laboratory @laurenslibrary and the puddling urine on the plant floor ~ so gross!!! And they get a warning ⚠️ they should have been red flagged and shut down IMMEDIATELY (edited) 5y
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TrishB Putting me off NF for life 😁 5y
Cinfhen Oh no!!! I thought my review would make you JUMP to read it @TrishB 😜🧡 5y
TrishB I do love the use of shenanigans in any review though 😘 5y
Cinfhen @TrishB HeHeHeHe 😛🙌🏻 5y
BarbaraBB Hard read I think!! Confronting to say the least! (edited) 5y
Cinfhen It was so startling to see such levels of outright fraud and deception @BarbaraBB and as a consumer one assumes their medicine has been approved and vetted. This is literally life and death. And don‘t even get me started on how the pharmaceutical companies treat medicine distribution for African countries. It‘s appalling 5y
Megabooks I‘m so glad you enjoyed it, if one can find that level of systemic f@&$ up a good read. Scary. It‘s just plain scary and unacceptable. We must hold them accountable!!! 5y
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Cinfhen
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Thank you dear, sweet @Megabooks I‘m super excited to receive this wonderful new audio book 🥳💜🎧😘
You‘re amazing❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️ I cant believe with all you have going on, you took the time to think of me. Sending much love and prayers your way xxx

Megabooks You are very much welcome! I hope you enjoy listening to it! 😁💜😘🎧 5y
71 likes1 comment
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Megabooks
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From this book, I learned that some manufacturers of generic drugs aren‘t a #remedy for what ails you. Fantastic book and #audiobook. Highly recommend!

#redroseseptember @Cinfhen @arlenefinnigan

arlenefinnigan I feel like I may be stacking a lot of books about medicine from this prompt #stacked 5y
JennyM This sounds fascinating! #stacked 😊 5y
Megabooks @arlenefinnigan I‘m definitely a collector of them, but this stands out as one of the best. Also this one is good 5y
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Megabooks @JennyM I hope you enjoy it!! 5y
Crazeedi I've been wanting to read this one! 5y
Cinfhen I may need to use my Audible credit!!! 5y
Megabooks @Crazeedi Definitely do! 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘d say it‘s worth an Audible credit!! 5y
Cinfhen Good to know 🧡🎧 5y
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Megabooks
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@Emilymdxn here are some of my favorite NF audiobooks that I own. I also like Born with Teeth, We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, and Heavy! The collage app would only let me choose nine. Oh and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks!

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

FDA investigators have turned up major problems at Indian generic drug manufacturers during inspections and #Inquisition(s) in this book.

I now know why I can only feel some medications I take working for hours less than they‘re supposed to or not at all. And the best drugs make it to the US market.

This book is shocking and disheartening-esp the level of FDA coverup!! She touches on active ingredients for brand drugs made in China. 👇🏻

Megabooks I would read a second book on active ingredients made overseas! While the book lacks a little focus, still a must-read if you take or prescribe drugs. #StarTrekSummerJune #bfc #bfcr2 #bookfitnesschallenge #goteam book 2/12 5y
Trashcanman I'm on 4 psychotropic drugs so I should check this out. Thanks for the heads up. 😊 5y
Megabooks @Trashcanman You‘re welcome. I ended up calling my pharmacist this morning, and she‘s switching two of my manufacturers, so 🤞🏻 I‘ll get better results. 5y
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TheBookgeekFrau Did it talk about how insurance companies will, in a lot of cases, only cover generics? 5y
Megabooks @C.Perone The author is aware of that. The insurance companies‘ and Congress‘ push for ever cheaper generics and deregulation in general is responsible for the morass. They shut down plants, shortages ensue, everyone gets mad, ♻️ Anyway, I just feel like a better informed consumer and prescriber. 5y
TheBookgeekFrau @Megabooks 🙄 It's such a mess. I work for a doctor and he gets so frustrated when our patients end up with poor results from generics forced on them by insurance. I'm going to get copies of this of both of us. Thanks for sharing 😊 5y
Megabooks @C.Perone Great! I‘m a veterinarian, and a prescription user, so I found it interesting from both perspectives. I also used to work in R&D at a cGMP facility. I hope y‘all enjoy it! 5y
Dragonfairykats @Megabooks I take 5 psychiatric drugs, so I'll definitely be looking for this 5y
Megabooks @Dragonfairykats 👍🏻👍🏻 I hope it helps you be a better consumer, too, 5y
KathyWheeler This looks really interesting.,I have epilepsy and several years ago, before I changed medications, my doctor wrote my prescription for the brand name of one of the drugs I took because I would have the occasional seizure on the generic but not the brand name. 5y
Dragonfairykats Ugh....not in the digital library for my library, aaaand the book I considered too new for a library transfer. Must see if I have $$ 5y
Megabooks @KathyWheeler Yes, I have had trouble with anti-seizure medications I take for other reasons. I may be having trouble now. That‘s one of the types of medicines she specifically mentions. Especially since some have a narrow therapeutic index. What these companies do is just disgusting. 5y
Megabooks @Dragonfairykats I got it with an audible credit, if you do that. Or maybe you can ask the library to purchase. I am fortunate that if 2-3 people request my library will usually buy the ebook. 5y
Clwojick Ooooh. Yes please. STACK STACK STACK! 5y
Megabooks @Clwojick Awesome!! 👍🏻👍🏻 5y
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Megabooks
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I took a walk this morning, 3/3 days so far 🙌🏻. It was sunny and 78, cool for here, which was good. Kind of odd mailboxes in the neighborhood I walked through today! 🤷🏻‍♀️

I‘ve got physical therapy this afternoon. 🤞🏻 that goes well.

Bad news, I‘ve had to cancel going to a close friend‘s 40th birthday out of town this weekend. 😓 It‘s just not the right time to go. 💔

#bfc #bfcr2 #bookfitnesschallenge

Emilymdxn I‘m so sorry bout the party! I always hate having to cancel things. Walks and strange mailboxes are a silver lining for the day tho 💖 #goteam 5y
BookwormAHN Good job on the walk 👏🏻 5y
Megabooks @Emilymdxn Thanks! I was a surprise guest, so I don‘t know if I should tell her I was coming, now I can‘t. I‘m leaning that way because her gift will be late now! 5y
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Megabooks @BookwormAHN Thanks! 😊 5y
Clwojick That is such a unique mailbox. I love it! ♥️ 5y
TheSpineView Excellant walking! 5y
akckitty Good job 👏👏 5y
cobwebmoth You're doing so well with your walking!❤ I like the mailbox.😊 5y
readordierachel Great job! Good luck this afternoon 🍀 5y
Megabooks @Clwojick They are really cool! 5y
Megabooks @TheSpineView Thanks! 👍🏻 5y
Megabooks @akckitty Thank you! 😊 5y
Megabooks @cobwebmoth Thanks! They are really interesting! The houses are close together in the neighborhood, so there are a lot of them!! 😁 5y
Megabooks @readordierachel Thank you! 🤞🏻 5y
wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 I‘m sorry you had to cancel your plans. But great walk & fun mailboxes are a good focus. 5y
Megabooks @wanderinglynn Thanks!! 💙💙 5y
britt_brooke Nice work, my friend! Sorry you had to cancel your plans. 5y
Megabooks @britt_brooke I ended up talking to my friend, and she understood, which was good. 5y
68 likes19 comments
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Megabooks
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Made it ever farther today!! Honestly, I needed to get away from the house and just kept walking. It doesn‘t hurt to have a good #audiobook either!
#audiowalkers #bfc #bfcr2 #bookfitnesschallenge

Is this the sign you mean @dariazeoli ? 😉💩

#goteam (Does anyone want a team name?)

wanderinglynn Great job! 🙌🏻 5y
cobwebmoth Yay!👏 I'm anxious to get out and walk again. I think the weather should let me tomorrow. 5y
cewilf Haha that dog 🐶 What a great walk!! 5y
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Trashcanman Yes a team name would be helpful 5y
mhillis Great start!! 5y
Clwojick That sign! 😂😂😂😂 5y
TheEllieMo OMG that sign😂😂 5y
TheSpineView That SIGN is just too much!🤣 5y
Megabooks @Trashcanman Any ideas what our team name should be? I always like a color. I‘ve been thinking sage (😉) or aqua. 🤷🏻‍♀️ @Emilymdxn @cobwebmoth @cewilf @TheEllieMo @KathyWheeler @RachelO 5y
CoverToCoverGirl 😂🤣👍 5y
Megabooks @cobwebmoth It was raining this morning, so I was glad to be able to get out! I hope your weather is better tomorrow. 👍🏻 5y
Megabooks @mhillis Thanks! 😊 5y
Megabooks @cewilf @Clwojick @TheEllieMo @TheSpineView @CoverToCoverGirl I know! It the most hilarious/cutest thing I‘ve seen all day! 5y
KathyWheeler Good for you! I can‘t think of a team name. Can you? 5y
dariazeoli That is a serious 💩 sign! 😁 5y
Megabooks @KathyWheeler I like Team Sage for some reason. I like the multiple meanings. Wise, a color, a food. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It‘s always been a peaceful word for me. 5y
Megabooks @dariazeoli Yeah! It‘s metal! 🤣🤣 5y
85 likes18 comments
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Megabooks
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Great first day back walking after 4 months! #audiowalk #bfc #BFCr2 #goteam

I love seeing these “Be Kind” signs around town! A local church did it as a fundraiser. We used to have one in our yard, but it was stolen, which wasn‘t very kind. 😒

Clwojick Oh boy! As if someone would steal your sign 🤨 I would love to see something similar in our neighbourhood though. 5y
cobwebmoth Great first day! 5y
rockpools Good work! Those signs make me smile - I‘ve never seen anything like that here. 5y
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cewilf Those are awesome! What a nice idea. And good for you getting out on day one!! 5y
wanderinglynn Great start to #BFCr2! 🙌🏻 5y
dariazeoli Nice walk! We don‘t have those signs around here. Would be a nice change from “pick up your dog 💩 “ 5y
BookwormAHN Nice job 👏🏻 5y
krayoncolorz I love it! And good job! 5y
Megabooks @Clwojick It is really nice to see. They did several fonts and colors. Ours was turquoise with a different script. 5y
Megabooks @cobwebmoth Thanks! 😊 5y
Megabooks @RachelO They make me smile, too! I love them. Just the reminder as you‘re walking/biking/driving around town. 5y
Megabooks @cewilf Thanks!! 😁👍🏻 I adore them. Always make me smile. 5y
Megabooks @wanderinglynn Thanks!! 👍🏻👍🏻 5y
Megabooks @dariazeoli one of my old apartment complexes had signs with a drawing of a dog squatting on it. Those were stolen so fast!! Thanks! 😁 5y
Megabooks @BookwormAHN Thank you!! 😁😁 5y
Megabooks @krayoncolorz Thanks! 👍🏻😊🧡 5y
britt_brooke Great job, Meg! 5y
Megabooks @britt_brooke Thanks!! 👍🏻👍🏻 5y
LazyOwl Well done 5y
Megabooks @LazyOwl Thank you! 😊😊 5y
68 likes20 comments
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Megabooks
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I just got this from the library. It sounds fascinating and scary. I take several generic drugs, and I will admit, even as a former prescriber, not knowing much about the manufacture of generic drugs or different suppliers. No one has posted about it yet on Litsy. Anyone read it and not posted?

Crazeedi I need to read this, we take these generics and really are trusting they are comparable to brand. 5y
OrangeMooseReads I should check this one out as well all my meds are generics. 5y
gibblr Not sure I‘d want to know 😬 5y
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Karkar I have not read this but it sounds good 5y
Megabooks @Crazeedi @OrangeMooseReads I was surprised, in just reading the introduction, that so many of the generic drug ingredients are made in India and China, outside the purview of the FDA. 5y
Megabooks @gibblr Kinda the same here 🤞🏻🤞🏻 5y
Megabooks @Karkar I‘m excited to read it! 5y
TK-421 I had some idea about generics not being produced with the same standards & having varying amounts of the active ingredients, making them less effective. My Dr. told me years ago to get my pharmacist to fill my prescriptions with brand name only after some bad experiences. I definitely want to read this book! 5y
Megabooks @TK-421 I used to use brand name only back in the early aughts, but then it got harder and harder to fight the insurance company, so I went to generic. I‘m not sure what country you‘re in, but my American insurance will fight tooth and nail to make you have generic! 5y
TK-421 @Megabooks I hear ya! I‘m in Canada & my insurance plan won‘t cover brand name, only generic. For years I had to pay the difference, which was thousands of $ per year! It really ticked me off. It‘s ridiculous to pay for insurance benefits that I can‘t even claim! Fortunately my pharmacy was able to offer me coverage for brand name drugs as long as my doctor specifies that I can‘t have generic. 5y
Megabooks @TK-421 That‘s fantastic! I‘m glad pharmacies can do that for you. I use GoodRx for ones my insurance doesn‘t cover. My diclofenac gel is still over $200 though!! Just checked and it‘s down to $22!! I heard there was a backup in supply for years because it‘s also available for horses. (Other vets just order the horse gel!!) I guess it‘s been resolved. Since I had my ulcer, I can only use topical NSAIDs. 5y
Crazeedi @Megabooks yes they wont fill brand unless you can prove negative effects from generic and it's a nightmare 5y
Crazeedi @Megabooks I've been checking goodrx too, but still doesn't solve the generic problem, thanks for posting about this book! 5y
Megabooks @Crazeedi And sometimes they won‘t pay for brand if there is a similar drug that is generic. I tried to get a brand name when I had failed 6 generics in the same class of drugs, and my doctor still had to write a letter and provide evidence. 👎🏻 5y
mkinney10 @Megabooks I just finished this as an audiobook this morning. It was eye -opening and also a bit terrifying at how many people (even the regulators) are willing to turn the other way when it's convenient and when there's profit to be made. 5y
Megabooks @mkinney10 I‘m a little worried about reading it because I take generic medications! I‘ve read some about the illegal fentanyl coming from China, but people rarely speak/write about the legal generics coming from China. 5y
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