A Discussion on Generic drugs and brand name drugs A brand name drug is the version of the drug that is firstproduced after approval by the FDA. The brand name of the drugis a registered trademark and is marketed and sold under thisname. Alongside the trademark registration, most pharmaceuticalcompanies obtain a patent for their new drug to prevent othercompanies from producing the drug. This patent protection givesthe company sole rights to the drug for 20 years.
When a patent expires other companies are then allowed to createtheir own version of the drug. This version of the drug iscalled a generic drug. Generic drugs are identical to the brandname drug that it is related to and so therefore contains thesame active ingredients as the brand name drug. The quality,safety and efficacy are also identical. Generic drugs may,however, contain various different inactive ingredients such asdifferent coloring agents and preservatives which do notobviously have a therapeutic effect. The brand name drug alsohas inactive ingredients to create the tablet shape and color,for example, and the reason why the generic inactive ingredientsdiffer is so that the generic pill produced does not infringe onany trademark laws. This explains why generic pills lookdifferent from the parent brand name drug. They are however ineffect exactly the same with regards to their active ingredients.
The FDA inform us that the generic equivalent of a brand namedrug may differ in: * Shape * Release mechanisms * Packaging *Color * Flavor * Preservative * Expiration date/time * Labelingaspects
FDA laws for Generic Drugs * A Generic drug cannot beapproved if it does not have an FDA approved brand name drug *Generic drugs should follow the same dosage as that of originaldrug * Generic drugs must be bio equivalent to the brand namedrug * The pharmaceutical company must write down the drug'schemistry and quality control measures. Each step must bewritten in detail while giving it for FDA review * The FDAreviews the active and inactive ingredients in the generic drug* The FDA reviews the labeling of generic drugs * The FDAcontinuously reviews and monitors the generic drug's qualityafter approval
Safety of Generic DrugsGeneric drugs are just as safe as brand name drugs and you areto expect the same risks and benefits as the brand name drug.The clinical and pharmacological effects are the
same. This isof course if the generic drug has been approved by the FDA. TheFDAQ carries out studies on any generic drugs to ascertain thatthey are in fact as effective as the parent brand name drug.
The Price of Generic DrugsConsistently generic drugs are cheaper than brand name drugsbecause the investment and research costs that were needed to bedone in order to create the brand name drug have already beencompleted. Therefore a company creating a generic drug canafford to sell the finished product for less. Generic drugprices are usually 30 - 80% cheaper than the original brand namedrug.
The Quality of Generic Drugs There is no compromise at all on the quality of generic drugs,the FDA would not allow that. Both brand drugs and generic drugsmust maintain the same production standards of GoogManufacturing Practice ( GMP ). In fact 50% of all prescriptionswithin the USA and approx 40% in Canada are generic drugprescriptions. That is proof in itself that buying generic drugsis just as safe.
Things to Remember about Generic Drugs* Generic drugs are not inferior to brand name drugs * Genericdrugs have a B rating but in no way does that mean they are alesser form of the drug * Follow your doctors advice as he/shemay have reason to prescribe a brand name drug over a genericdrug * Generic drugs do not take longer to work * Not allmedicines are available in generic form * The FDA ensure that nogeneric drugs are sub standard drugs * Be aware that genericdrugs may look different to the parent brand name drug
and Finally...It seems that consumers always confuse the effectiveness andsafety of a generic drug in comparison to the brand name drugbecause the original brand name drug has a higher price.However, rest assured that the generic drug has exactly the sameactive ingredients and so perhaps saving money on yourprescription and non prescription is easier than you think.
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