Generic drugs online

Generic drugs are cheaper and bioequivalent to brand name drugs, but there are some differences that you need to understand.

There is a constant debate on whether generic medication is same as its equivalent brand name medication.

According to FDA's office of generic drugs, a generic drug is identical, or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. However, FDA does permit a variation of approximately 20% either way in the bioavailability of the active ingredient.

The basic difference between a generic drug and a brand name drug is the fillers and binders used in them. These fillers and binders can have different affect on people who have chemical sensitivities or allergies. Sometimes even the amount of drug entering the body or the rate at which it enters the body might be different for the generic drug and its brand name equivalent.

Doesn't FDA regulate the generic medication in the same way as the brand name medication?

You might be surprised but the answer is no. Brand name medication has to be shown to be effective and safe and this is done by conducting large clinical trials, says the president of consumer lab, Dr. Tod Cooperman. On the other hand, according to him, generic medication does not have to undergo any such regulation. It just has to show that it releases the drug into the blood stream at the same rate as the branded drug (sometimes even that isn't necessary).

The basic reason why many people prefer the generic drugs is the lower cost of these drugs. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price. According to the Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies. Even more billions are saved when hospitals use generics. The reason behind this price variation is that brand name companies have to invest huge amount of money for research and development, followed by series of rigorous clinical tests. A generic drug company on the other hand has enough information from the studies done by the brand name company, so their costs are relatively much lesser.

Does this mean that you should not buy generic medication?

The answer is again no. You can buy generic medication but while buying the generic medication you should always be consistent with the manufacturer of the medicine (different manufactures release different versions of the same generic medication to lower cost). Also, you should always report any problems to the FDA so that they can take the necessary action.