What should I know about generic drugs?
Everything! Generics are safe and affordable
hen you have a prescription to be
“generic equivalent drugs” referred to in this
filled, you should know that you
article. For example, right now the diabetes
W
may have a choice between filling
drug
GlucophageXR
®
,
manufactured by
it with a brand-name drug or a generic drug.
Bristol-Myers Squib, can only be sold under
With generic equivalent drugs, you get the
that brand name. In the next year, the time
prescriptions you need—at the same level of
period for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s exclusive
quality, strength, and purity—for less!
patent on this drug may end. Then, the generic
form called metformin extended release can be
What are generic drugs?
To understand generic drugs, you need to
understand a little about how pharmaceutical
companies develop brand-name drugs.
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A pharmaceutical company will spend many
years researching and developing a new drug.
♦
Generics contain the same active
When the company is ready, they begin the
ingredients and meet the same strict
approval proces for the new drug with the
FDA standards for quality, strength,
federal Food and Drug Administration
and purity as their equivalent brand-
(FDA). Two names are asigned to the drug.
name drugs.
The brand name is the name that the
♦
However, generics generaly cost
company will use for the drug. Well-known
30% to 60% les.
brand names include such examples as
Valium
®
or Viox
®
. In most cases, the brand
♦
Half of al prescription drugs are
name is a registered trademark and can only
now available as generics.
be used by the pharmaceutical company. The
generic name describes the active ingredient of
the product. This name must be approved by an
made and sold by any manufacturer that meets
independent naming council and is free for
FDA standards for this drug.
anyone to use.
Are generics safe and effective?
Also, before the pharmaceutical company
Yes. The FDA must aprove every generic drug.
starts to sel the drug, it gets one or more
To get FDA approval, the drug must contain
patents (exclusive rights) for the drug. This
the same active ingredients as the brand-name
means that for a specific period of time only
form and must meet the same strict standards
this company can control who manufactures
of quality, strength, and purity. In addition, the
and sells the patented drug.
manufacturer must prove that the generic drug
can be expected to produce an efect that is the
However, when that specific time period
same as the brand-name drug.
comes to an end, other companies can begin
to make their versions of the drug. These
companies can sel their own versions under
the medication’s generic name or a different
brand name. These other versions are the
