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Health & Beauty
Home > Health & Beauty > Topics:  Medications
A Few Facts About Generic vs. Brand-Name Drugs

Submitted by: Tip Hero  03/02/2012 11:57 AM
 
Generic drugs are, without a doubt, cheaper than their brand-name counterparts. But are they the same? In most cases, they are basically identical, but this knowledge doesn't stop many consumers from spending much more on brand-name drugs. If you're hesitant about saving money by going generic, here are some facts that you might want to know. In any case, be sure to check with you doctor when you have doubts about what the right drug for you is:



How Generics Come About

According to FDA regulations, generic drugs are require to have the "same high quality, strength, purity and stability as brand-name drugs." These drugs can only start surfacing, however, after the patent of the brand-name drugs expire. Only then will the FDA allow other drug makers to come out with generic versions, and when this happens, they have to meet the requirements.


Why the Cost is Less

Generic drug producers can charge less for their drugs because they don't spend as much money on advertising and marketing. They're also not investing as heavily in research and development since they are creating a drug based on one that already exists.


Different Looks and Names

Just because a generic drug has a different appearance doesn't mean that it's a different drug. The generic drug still performs the same function as its brand-name counterpart. Also, in terms of the drug names being different, brand-names will typically give themselves a catchy name to help with advertising, and this name is rarely the actual name of the drug. So that's something to bear in mind.




For more facts to clear some confusion when it comes to generic drugs, head over to SavvySugar's Generic vs. Brand-Name Drugs: Are They Both the Same?
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Comments:
 
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While differences are small between brand names and generic, in some cases, the brand name is important. For instance, my son was born without a thyroid. Even the brand name drug is cheap (thankfully) and his first endocrinologist cautioned me to be sure that's what I got. Pharmacies don't always buy the same generics each month since prices and availability may fluctuate. And when you're talking about regulating hormones in an infant, there's just no room for change.

Other than for babies with ongoing medication needs though, I'm not sure most people even notice if they're using a generic.

Though I did have a doctor caution me once about birth control. He said if I had issues with the generic, I should try requesting the brand name because sometimes bodies do respond differently to the "extras" like dyes and fillers.
 
Posted by Maidenfine on March 08, 2012 11:48 PM
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My doctor told me that generics are sometimes up to 20 miligrams off. For instance if the drug says 50 mg, it may be either 30 mg or it could be 70 mg. Also my mother-in-law was diabetic and she was given a generic and almost died because the insulin was not what it needed to be to control her blood sugar. I do take generics in some things but you need to be very careful with others.
 
Posted by Linda E on March 09, 2012 7:35 AM
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This reminds me of what happened with generic
syringes from Walgreens a few years ago.
Our oldest son has Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile).

We'd always used the name brand syringes, but one time when Walgreens was out of the name brand, the pharmacist suggested we use the store brand (and there was a huge price difference) so instead of going to a different place we thought why not?

The darn needles would break off when he was injecting himself with insulin! Cheap and flimsy and there was NO WAY we even finished using up the box and chance that a needle would
be lost under his skin.



 
Posted by Trish on March 09, 2012 11:36 AM
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