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Generic Drugs- In Demand!
Generic drugs are called by their chemical names whereas their branded counterparts get assigned with a brand name...

Date : May 8, 2006

Generic drugs are called by their chemical names whereas their branded counterparts get assigned with a brand name. In fact generic drug has to be generically equivalent to its brand name counterpart.

Except for the price, name and appearance generic drugs replicate the brand name drug. They have the same active ingredients, strength, performance, quality, and dosage form i.e. tablets, syrups or injections. These generic drugs are even same in therapeutic effects i.e. they must be the same chemically and have the same medical effects.

Generic drug manufactures do not invest in developing these drugs, which makes these drugs less expensive. For people who are chronically ill, a generic drug not only provides the same medical effects and performance but also helps in a less expensive treatment.

Although these generic drugs are marketed under a generic name but both brand name and generic drug must meet the same standards of good manufacturing facilities. In fact generic drugs requires to have the same strength, quality, performance, stability, medical effects, dosage form, and purity as brand name drugs.

Since generic drug don't invest in development of a new drug their cost price is eventually low due to which their selling price automatically comes down. As for appearance, according to trademark laws, a generic drug cannot look exactly like brand name drug so colors; flavors and certain other inactive ingredients can be altered because of which they have a different appearance. Just to distinguish between a generic and a brand name drug generic drugs are given a chemical name which not only defines their ingredients but also functioning.

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