       
Source:
FDA.gov / CDER (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research)
The FDA is a U.S. Government agency which regulates the production
of food, medications and cosmetics and protects the consumer from
unsafe products.
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What are generic medications?
- A generic
medication is a copy that is the same as a brand-name medication
in dosage, safety, strength, how it is taken, quality, performance
and intended use.
-
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Are generic medications as safe as brand-name medications?
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Yes. Since generics
use the same active ingredients and are shown to work the same way
in the body, they have the same risks and benefits as their
brand-name counterparts.
-
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Do generic medications take longer to work in the body?
-
No.
Generic medications work in the same way and in the same amount of
time as brand-name medications.
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Why are generic medications less expensive?
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Generic
medications are less expensive because generic manufacturers don't
have the investment costs of the developer of a new medication.
New medications are developed under patent protection. The patent
protects the investment-including research, development,
marketing, and promotion-by giving the company the sole right to
sell the medication while it is in effect. As patents near
expiration, manufacturers can apply to the FDA to sell generic
versions. Because those manufacturers don't have the same
development costs, they can sell their product at substantial
discounts. Also, once generic medications are approved, there is
greater competition, which keeps the price down. Today,
almost half of all prescriptions are filled with generic
medications.
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Are brand medications made in more modern facilities?
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No.
Generic firms have facilities comparable to those of brand-name
firms. In fact, brand-name firms are linked to an estimated 50
percent of generic medication production. They frequently make
copies of their own or other brand-name medications but sell them
without the brand name.
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Why do brand and generic medications look different?
-
In the
USA, trademark laws do not allow a generic medicine to look
exactly like the brand-name medication. However, a generic
medicine must duplicate the active ingredient. Colors, flavors,
and certain other inactive ingredients may be different.
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