« Back to Press Releases & Article Home

Safety of Generic Drugs
Branded or prescription drugs can be a costly medical expense, especially for older people and those who are chronically ill...

Date : May 22, 2006

Branded or prescription drugs can be a costly medical expense, especially for older people and those who are chronically ill. However, pharmacists substitute less expensive generic drugs for many brand-name products. Depending on your prescription needs, your savings could be significant. A generic drug is called by its chemical name; a manufacturer assigns a brand name. The products have the same ingredients. Paracetamol is a generic name Crocin is the brand name. To help you understand between the two a short -list is provided hereunder.

Currently, about half the drugs on the market are available in generic form. Generic drug is the term used for products that contain the same medicinal ingredients as the original brand name drug, but which are generally cheaper in price. Nearly 30 percent of all prescriptions filled by pharmacies use a generic brand, and hospitals use generic drugs a lot. Chances are that you have received a generic drug at some time, whether you realize it or not.

Whether a manufacturer makes brand name drugs or generic ones, the standards are the same. All drug manufacturers must perform a series of tests, both during and after production, to show that every drug batch made meets the requirements for that product.

The ingredients are the most important element in the testing of a drug. The ingredient in the drug that helps cure you or make you feel better, is called the "medicinal" or active ingredient. When medicinal ingredients are being manufactured, small amounts of impure materials may be produced as well. Manufacturers have to set limits for any impurities that may remain after the drug is produced.

If the medicinal worth of generic drug is the same as a branded one why the price difference? The principal reason for the reduced cost of generic medicines is that these are manufactured by smaller pharmaceutical companies which do not invest in research and development into new drugs.

The significant research and development costs incurred by the large pharmaceutical companies in bringing a new drug to the market is often cited as the reason for the high cost of new agents - they wish to recover these costs before the patent expires. Generic manufacturers do not incur these costs, with bioequivalence testing and the actual manufacturing process costing relatively little, and are able to charge significantly less than the "innovator" brand.

Studies have been conducted that have proven without a doubt that generic drugs are safe and effective. Generic drugs are always less expensive and can save patients and insurance companies thousands of dollars without compromising the quality of care.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------