Is There a Difference Between Generic and the Name Brand Drug?

Generic drugs are usually identical to its brand successor. Generic drugs are carefully regulated in the same way so that they can contain the same amount of active ingredient as well as be suitable in the way they are produced. Generic drugs are expected to perform just like the original drugs.

The generic drug must be proven to be bioequivalent to the branded alternative i.e. releases the same amount of active ingredient over the same amount of time.

Differences if any between generic drug and its branded counterpart are normally with regards to the presentation for instance in terms of color or taste. It is not unusual for generic version to contain slightly more of the active ingredient.

There is little difference to the patient between the name brand and the generic. Both have to get through the same regulators and pass the same tests. Generics have a few advantages over the name brand pricier drugs. Firstly, the ingredients in the generic drugs could be fine tune based on the origonal branded drugs reactions and effectiveness. Sometimes the branded version side effects could be drastically reduce in the generic drugs based on known data.

The name brand is often the first of it’s type to be made and this is why the company spends a lot of money on making, testing and patenting the new drug and this is why they are more costly.

Generic drugs will have a patent once that has expired or in some cases are different enough from the original but still do the same type of job.

Generic drugs have a smaller manufacture and costs are usually less expensive so that we are able to afford them easier. This means that they are going to be more available to those in other countries.