Generic Drugs vs. Brand Name Drugs?

Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. In other words, their pharmacological effects are exactly the same as those of their brand-name counterparts. An example of a generic drug, one used for diabetes, is metformin.

A brand name for metformin is Glucophage. (Brand names are usually capitalized while generic names are not. ) A generic drug, one used for hypertension, is metoprolol, whereas a brand name for the same drug is Lopressor.

Many people become concerned because generic drugs are often substantially cheaper than the brand-name versions. They wonder if the quality and effectiveness have been compromised to make the less expensive products. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) requires that generic drugs be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs.

Actually, generic drugs are only cheaper because the manufacturers have not had the expenses of developing and marketing a new drug. When a company brings a new drug onto the market, the firm has already spent substantial money on research, development, marketing and promotion of the drug. A patent is granted that gives the company that developed the drug an exclusive right to sell the drug as long as the patent is in effect.

As the patent nears expiration, manufacturers can apply to the FDA for permission to make and sell generic versions of the drug; and without the startup costs for development of the drug, other companies can afford to make and sell it more cheaply. When multiple companies begin producing and selling a drug, the competition among them can also drive the price down even further. So there's no truth in the myths that generic drugs are manufactured in poorer-quality facilities or are inferior in quality to brand-name drugs.

The FDA applies the same standards for all drug manufacturing facilities, and many companies manufacture both brand-name and generic drugs. In fact, the FDA estimates that 50% of generic drug production is by brand-name companies. Another common misbelief is that generic drugs take longer to work.

The FDA requires that generic drugs work as fast and as effectively as the original brand-name products. Sometimes, generic versions of a drug have different colors, flavors, or combinations of inactive ingredients than the original medications. Trademark laws in the United States do not allow the generic drugs to look exactly like the brand-name preparation, but the active ingredients must be the same in both preparations, ensuring that both have the same medicinal effects.

I take 14 different prescription medication a day so prices really matter to me. I request all my prescriptions be generic if a generic is available. Back when it didn't matter whether it was a generic or brand name, your insurance paid about the same, I always got the brand name script.

I always thought since it was name brand that it had to be better than the generic. I think some people who buy the brand names instead of the generic still believe that the name brand drugs are better, when in truth, they are not.

THE DIFFERNCE BETWEEN A GENERIC AND BRAND-NAME DRUG The only difference to observe between a generic and brand-name drug is the price. Generic drugs, on average, will cost between 40%-50% less than it's brand-name counterpart. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PATENT AND A TRADEMARK?

The life of a patent usually lasts only 20 years from the time of registration. Also, a patent only applies to a new discovery or invention. A trademark, however, applies to the “name” given to any product and may last forever from the time of registration.

Some good examples of a trademark are: Tylenol ®, Lipitor®, Premarin®, Vioxx®, Celebrex®, Kleenex®, etc. Bear in mind that the terms brand-name, trade name and trademark can all be used interchangeably. Also, a drug may have a different trademark depending on which country it is being marketed in. It is possible for a company to loose their trade name if it is not registered.

Take for example the case of Aspirin. This name is not a trademark in the US , and has become a common name for ASA. This means that any company may manufacture ASA and market it under the name of Aspirin without legal implications.

WHAT IS A GENERIC NAME? In general, every pharmaceutical product will have three names: a chemical name, a generic name, and a brand-name. The chemical name describes the chemical compounds present in the product and is, in reality, only used by chemists.

Since chemical names are usually long and complicated, the drug is given a standard, shorter generic name The chemical and generic names of the product are used internationally to specifically describe a drug. Manufacturers will usually give the drug a brand -name to identify that manufacturer's version of the product. In print, you may see only the generic name, the brand-name, or both.

Generic names for new compounds are assigned by an international organization to ensure not two products have the same generic name. THE AVAILABLITY OF GENERIC DRUGS AS SUBSTITUTES Keeping in mind patent laws, generic drugs are only available for those drugs whose patents have expired. Consider, for example, the following fact: out of the top 100 most-widely-prescribed prescription medications in Canada , only 25 of them have generic versions available.

However, also keep in mind, that when a generic is available, the patient has the option of using the generic and saving between 40%-50% on the cost of the medication. DO GENERIC DRUGS LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THEIR BRAND-NAME COUNTERPART? On rare occasions, generic drugs will not look exactly like their brand-name equivalents.

They may differ on the basis of size, shape and color, however, they will be equally effective and will deliver the same therapeutic effects. COMPARABLE INGREDIENTS The Heath Protection Branch of the Federal Government sets the high standards for the active ingredient(s) in both generic and brand-name drugs. Minor differences may occur in the non-medicinal, or aesthetic, ingredients which are responsible for the shape, color and texture of the product.

Bear in mind that both brand-name and generic drug manufacturers have to select their non-medicinal ingredients from an approved list by the government, which is very limited in range anyway. NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUGS (OTC) AND GENERIC EQUIVALENTS The patents on most over-the-counter medications (drugs that do not require a prescription) have already expired, and therefore most of them have generic versions available. This category of pharmaceutical products includes vitamins, minerals, anti-diarrheals, laxatives, etc. You may note that generics of these types of products are usually marketed by large pharmacy chain stores as their “house” brands.

CAN GENERIC DRUGS BE COMPARED TO NO-NAME VERSIONS OF SODA POP? Not at all. The reason for this difference can be attributed to issues pertaining to government requirements concerning no-name versions of soda pop, and those surrounding generic versions of brand-name drugs.

In the pharmaceutical industry, all drugs, whether they are brand-name or generic, have to meet the same rigorous standards concerning ingredients, manufacturing processes and facilities, and must be approved by the government. When you compare this with a generic version of a soda pop, the government regulations are not as strict in terms of product similarity. The only thing a generic soda pop manufacturer must worry about is that their product tastes good, or better than the original.

This is not the case in the pharmaceutical industry. THE WIDE -SPREAD USAGE OF GENERIC DRUGS IN CANADA In Canada , usage of generic drugs is widespread. Approximately 40% of all prescriptions that are dispensed are filled with generic drugs.

CAN A DRUG BE A GENERIC DRUG AND A BRAND-NAME DRUG AT THE SAME TIME? Although it is very rare, it can happen. If a particular brand-name manufacturer wants to sell the same product at a reduced price, while maintaining the market share of the higher-priced brand-name, it will sell the identical drug under a different company's name, at the generic price.

This scenario is only possible after the drug patent has expired, however. THE EFFECT OF PURCHASING BRAND-NAME VS. GENERIC DRUGS ON EMPLOYEES COVERED BY A DRUG PLAN Considering both generic and brand-name drugs deliver the same results, it should not matter which is filled under a drug plan.

Using generic equivalents is an economical way to save money even if a person has prescription coverage as his/her portion of the payment will still be reduced. Generic drugs make economic sense and everyone benefits from their usage. LOWEST COST ALTERNATIVE (LCA) The Lowest Cost Alternative is the least expensive equivalent product available when a pharmacist fills a prescription using a generic product.

Usually, after a drug's patent runs out, many generic drug manufacturers begin to sell the same drug, resulting in many options available for a generic equivalent.

I have always taken generics when and where I can in prescription and OTC drugs, and seen no appreciable difference except one time, with an anti-depressant. I was taking the name brand, and it was working well, then I had to switch to the generic due to cost, and it was not as effective. In fact, it barely worked at all.

I remember reading that the only difference in generics and name brand is the fillers they use.

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