The Difference Between Generic and Brand-Name Drugs

When a novel medicine is found, the company that developed it applies for patent protection to prohibit other companies from making and selling the same drug. This patent might take up to 20 years, during which time the corporation will manufacture and market the medicine under a brand name to regain its investment and earn a profit.

This name becomes synonymous with the medication over time. Once the patent expires, however, other businesses are permitted to create a comparable medication based on the active ingredient. This is what gave rise to the terms brand and generic name in the pharmaceutical industry.

While it may seem like the pills you receive at the drugstore are a bit different, generic drugs generally perform the same as more expensive brand-name medications. To be more specific, they may vary in terms of their form, size, color, and packaging, as well as the inactive substances that do not contribute to the treatment impact of the medicine. Regardless, they contain the same active ingredients and adhere to the same quality requirements throughout manufacturing and packaging.

Cavalier Pharmacare, one of the premier suppliers of pharmaceutical services in Martinsville, Virginia, can offer you the information you need so you can make well-informed health decisions about your medication. This will not only allow you to guarantee your safety, but it may also enable you to save costs down the road.

Having said that, allow us, a trusted retail pharmacy, to answer commonly asked questions about the differences between generic and brand-name drugs, in the hopes of spreading awareness about the subject. They are as follows:

• Why do generic medications vary in terms of color and overall appearance?

  Trade regulations prohibit generic pharmaceuticals from looking exactly like brand-name drugs, but they must all contain the same active ingredients and have the same therapeutic benefits. These variances are frequently caused by non-active components such as dyes, fillers, and preservatives, which contribute to defining the size, shape, and color.

  This is why patients are urged to follow a doctor’s prescription since your doctor can match your history and some inactive chemicals in a particular generic medicine that may create a bad reaction in your body, even though the branded or another generic version of the same drug may not.

• Why are generic medications frequently less expensive?

  Generic drugs are less expensive than brand-name medicines because they do not require the same animal and clinical (human) research that brand-name medicines do to prove safety and effectiveness. Additionally, numerous generic medications are frequently approved for the same single product, resulting in market rivalry and, in most cases, cheaper pricing.

  Nevertheless, this does not suggest that it is less effective or safe. Generic products go through an approval procedure, and the FDA assures that they are constantly evaluated for safety, efficacy, and quality. They also analyze any concerns or complaints and, if necessary, recall both brand-name and generic medications.

• Is there a generic counterpart for every brand-name drug?

  The answer is no. Generic pharmaceuticals are typically made accessible once patents on brand-name medications expire. If you are unable to locate a generic version of your brand-name medication, the brand-name medication may be still in the period when it has exclusive market rights. This allows drug companies to recover costs for the initial research and marketing of the brand-name or innovator drug.

• How does the FDA evaluate the side effects and safety concerns with generic medications?

  Before and after a new or generic drug is authorized, the FDA takes various steps to guarantee its safety and quality. The FDA extensively reviews the data given by the applicant and evaluates material obtained by FDA investigators during the submission of a generic medicine application. They ensure that each generic medicine is safe, effective, of high quality, and interchangeable with the brand name drug.

  Further, FDA officials monitor all authorized pharmaceutical goods, including generics, constantly and evaluate complaints of undesirable patient side effects or other responses. These investigations may result in modifications to how a product (both brand-name and generic) is used or manufactured, and the FDA will make recommendations to health care providers and the general public if necessary.

• Is it always better to pick a generic over a brand-name original?
  For medicines categorized as “narrow therapeutic index drugs” such as some antiseizure medications, it may make sense to continue with a brand-name pill if the doctor prescribes it. A generic may work fine for other patients, but they should be closely monitored.

Be it for cost-effective medications or perhaps medical supplies, you can always rely on us. For further inquiries, get in touch with us today!

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