Almost
half of all prescriptions today in the US are filled with generic
drugs. Still people often ask if generic drugs are really as good as
their brand-name counterparts ?
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.
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. 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. |