The truth about generic drugs
If you've filled a prescription lately, you might have been offered a generic version of the medicine your doctor ordered. In fact, your insurance company might encourage the choice by offering a lower co-pay for the generic alternative.
But is a generic drug as good as the brand name one? "A generic drug is a copy of the brand-name version that's the same in strength, safety, quality and performance," explains Patrick Ferguson, RPh, director of pharmacy at Virtua Marlton. "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires generic versions of brand-name drugs to have the same active ingredients, the same risks and benefits, and the same effect in your body."
In fact, the only noticeable difference is in the appearance. Trademark laws prevent generic drugs from looking exactly like their brand-name counterparts. They also prevent other companies from developing generic versions until the founder's patent expires. Once this happens, other companies can introduce generic versions of the brand-name drug at a significantly lower cost.
Brand-name medications are still available once generic alternatives are introduced, but they aren't the most cost-effective option. And, lower price doesn't equal lower quality. "If your pharmacist offers a generic alternative to a name-brand medicine, expect the same quality and the same results," says Ferguson.