The main difference between generics and brand-name drugs is the cost. Generics cost less than a third as much as their brand-name counterparts. Why the price difference? Because makers of brand-name drugs want to "brand" their identity - and the way to do that is through advertising. These companies pay large amounts of money to catch your attention, and that money factors into the cost you pay.
As far as how they compare in quality, here's the scoop: The active ingredients - the things that make the brand-name drug work in the first place - are also found in the generic version. What might be different are the generic drug's inactive ingredients - things that might affect how quickly a drug is released, the size and shape of the pill - there could be variation there.
A number of patients with a history of good results on brand name antibiotics began experiencing difficulties when a generic was substituted. Therefore, if you have prescribed a brand name tetracycline for a patient using antibiotic therapy and have not specified d.a.w. or no substitutions, your patient is probably taking a generic version and may be having a less than significant response to the treatment. Some generic versions have been found to be ineffective for this treatment.
In order to market drugs, U.S. generic manufacturers must have a permit and approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicating that the active ingredient is approximately the same as that of the brand name. The determination of drug approval is made according to whether it is pharmaceutically equivalent, bio-available, and bioequivalent.
As far as how they compare in quality, here's the scoop: The active ingredients - the things that make the brand-name drug work in the first place - are also found in the generic version. What might be different are the generic drug's inactive ingredients - things that might affect how quickly a drug is released, the size and shape of the pill - there could be variation there.
A number of patients with a history of good results on brand name antibiotics began experiencing difficulties when a generic was substituted. Therefore, if you have prescribed a brand name tetracycline for a patient using antibiotic therapy and have not specified d.a.w. or no substitutions, your patient is probably taking a generic version and may be having a less than significant response to the treatment. Some generic versions have been found to be ineffective for this treatment.
In order to market drugs, U.S. generic manufacturers must have a permit and approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicating that the active ingredient is approximately the same as that of the brand name. The determination of drug approval is made according to whether it is pharmaceutically equivalent, bio-available, and bioequivalent.
