There have been many questions raised with regards to generic drugs, particularly when compared to their brand name counterparts. In this article we hope to answer some of these and dispel some common misconceptions regarding generic drugs, their effectiveness and their legitimacy.

Generic drugs can often be differentiated from branded drugs by name alone. Generic drugs are often referred to by their chemical name, usually beginning in a lower case letter, as opposed to branded drugs, which are capitalized and are attributed a more commercially appealing title. One example would be the anti-anxiety drug, Ativan, and its generic name, lorazepam.

One commonly asked question is “why the difference in price?” This is perfectly valid, considering generic drugs are often as much as 50% less expensive than their brand name alternative, and fears are often raised as to their quality and effectiveness as a result.

The reason for this large difference in price lies in the cost of researching and developing the drug. When a company creates a drug such as Viagra, it spends a lot of money in the developmental stages, testing and producing the drug to make sure it complies with the necessary standards to be fit for human consumption. The company will then be granted patent rights for a limited period only. Once this expires, other companies have the green light to produce generic equivalents with considerably less expenditure involved.

Often people are concerned as to the safety of generic drugs. We live in a society where products are often judged according to their monetary value, and this can be justified. An athlete would certainly get better cushioning and support from a dedicated brand name training shoe, compared with a cheap unbranded alternative. Branded chocolate often tastes better. A brand name can offer consumers peace of mind that theirs is a quality product. But is this true of drugs?

The simple answer is no. Generic drugs have to contain exactly the same active ingredient as the branded product and undergo the exact same stringent tests that are initially applied to their predecessors. In the USA, it is the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) that regulates generic drugs and ensures that they are as fast-acting, as chemically strong, and carry the same side-effects as the original brand product.

Generic drugs are therefore just as safe as brand drugs, according to U.S. legislation. Of course our customers also have the option to buy quality brand name products at discount prices, but essentially the choice is your own.

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