The truths and lies about generic medications
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Don't pay more for brand name medications.
I have been a certified pharmacy technician for 9 years. As these years have gone by in pharmacy there is always a question that is asked every single day by people just like you and me. The question: "Are generic medications just as effective as brand name medications? The answer: Yes! If you have recently been prescribed a generic medication by your physician do not be alarmed in the least bit. This newly prescribed medication will have the exact same active ingredient as the brand name drug. In fact, both medications might even be produced by the same companies, one of the differences however will be the packaging. Another important difference to note is that some people are concerned about the inactive ingredients of the medication. So what are these inactive ingredients? The inactive ingredients are flavors, colors, and fillers. Other than that, the medication is exactly the same. However, due to trademark laws the pills will not look the same. They can not! Again, the pills will be manufactured to the same standards and have the same active ingredients.
Why generics cost less
As many of us hopefully already know, the cost of generic medications typically cost much less than their brand name counterpart. One of the main reasons of the high cost brand name medications is research along with development and production. Once a brand name medication has lost its patent and a generic equivalent can become available, production costs will be much less. The drug has already been researched so that porton of the cost is eliminated along with marketing and advertising. The manufacturer, therefore, is able to sell their product for a lesser amount.
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Links
- Food and Drug Administration Home Page
Home Page for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Generic drug - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikipedia-Description of generic drug - Frequently Asked Questions about Generic Drugs
Generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies. Here are some of the most common questions about generic drugs. - Generic Medications Save Money - But Are They as Good? on Yahoo! Health
To gain approval, a generic must contain the same active ingredients as the brand-name medication, though inactive ingredients may vary.
Time to Work!
If you have any doubts about the equivalency or efficacy of generic medications, let me give you some more information to ease your doubts. Brand name and generic medications are required to deliver the same exact amount of active ingredients in the same amount of time as one another. Just because a medication is "brand name" does not mean that it will work any faster. Generic drugs do not take longer to work in the body!
Brenda48 says:
2 years ago
Thanks for this very informative page. After reading your page, I realize that I've spent way too much money on brand-name medications. Now, I can save money on the many prescription and OTC drugs that I purchase, knowing that I am receiving the same benefit as the more expensive brands. Thank you for sharing this valuable information!