Generic Drugs : Things You Need to Know
Generic drugs are bioequivalent to their respective brand name drugs in terms of dosage, form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance, characteristics and intended use.Generic drugs are safe, effective and FDA-approved. Every day people come into the pharmacy and ask questions about generic drugs. This makes a lot of sense since so many people are receiving prescriptions for generic drugs instead of the original brand name drugs.
Why do people underestimate generic drugs?
People normally underestimate the credibility of a generic drug. It’s because they measure products with their price. The popular consideration is that ‘the more the price is the better the quality is.’ But it’s not the same with each and every product. One can also produce a same product with the same quality investing a much lower price and sell it without going for advertisement and promotions.
What about the myths?
Myth says, “Generic drugs are made by less reliable manufacturers, therefore these drugs are cheaper than branded drugs and Generic drugs are not as safe as brand-name drugs.” But the fact is that many of the generic drugs approved and manufactured by companies that also make brand name drugs. The manufacturing process of all the drugs is strictly regulated and the same standards are met by all manufacturers. Since generic drugs use the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts and work the same way in the body, generic drugs are as safe and effective as their brand-name equivalents.
What about the quality of generic drugs?
Generic drugs follow the same good manufacturing practices as their brand names do. It’s not just for public assurance. It’s also because FDA (Food and Drugs Association) doesn’t allow any drug to exist without practicing the stringent manufacturing standards established by it. Therefore it’s clear that generic drugs are as hygienic as their brand equivalent.
How Do I Know if There is a Generic Version of the Drug that I Take?
There are a few different ways to find out if there is a generic version of the drugs you take.
• The easiest way is to ask your pharmacist. They will be able to tell you if there is a generic version of a drug available or when a generic version will most likely become available. Another way is to look it up yourself.
• The FDA has a website that lists all companies that make both brand name and generic drugs: http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/default.htm. By using this website, you can search for the drug you take to find out if there are any generic versions available.
Why are generic drugs cheap?
Brand drugs need a lot of research to get established. They even need to indulge in advertising and publicity to promote the drug. In the process of research, development, advertising and promotion, the brand drug manufacturers invest a lot of money. This increases the selling price of the product up to a huge percentage. But generic drugs put this burden off the consumers by doing away with all the developmental and promotional activities. Therefore they are able to offer a price that is 70%-90% lower than the price of the brand drug.
What about the efficacy of generic drugs?
Generic drugs follow the same formulae of the respective brand name drugs they take after. It means the active ingredients and their contents are as same as in the earlier one. Then the indication is that the efficacy of both the drugs is similar. Both work in the same manner fulfilling the common purpose.