Wonderful One

There seems to be a lot of mystery revolving around generic drugs, but they are not as mysterious as they seem. Basically, they are copies of brand named drugs. The more scientific term is bioequivalent. According to the FDA, generics must possess the same dose requirements and overall quality of the innovator drug.  The generics must have their own distinctive look and name, however.

According to the law, generics have to look different in appearance so consumers are not confused as to what they are buying. This explains the different look of generics, such as a difference in color or size from the brand we are accustomed to. They may in fact taste or smell different due to differences in their inactive ingredient, but the active ingredient is still the same.

Generics come about usually within a time span of 7 to 12 years after the original. U. S. patents are protected for 20 years, but companies put in their applications several years in advance due to clinical trials. This, therefore, reduces the time generics can enter the market. Once they do, their prices are much lower because the major companies have taken on all of the primary costs.

The lower price is a major plus for price conscious consumers, but safety has always been a concern when it comes to taking generic drugs. The FDA has deemed them safe to use as they are equivalent to their innovator. There are always side effects or possible problems with any drug, so consult a doctor before administering.

The main reason users may prefer these drugs over the original is due to their lower costs. The FDA considers them safe to administer, although in some cases they use a different inactive ingredient than the brand item. Doctors normally prescribe brand names to their patients, but you can always ask for this optional version.

There is some crossover in the market that may be surprising for many to learn. Approximately half of the generic drugs out there are produced by major brand named companies. They produce their popular name brand along side the generic brand, which is then sold at a lower price. This way they have reduced the impact of competition on their sales and target both markets.

Alternatively, there are manufacturers that only produce generic prescriptions. More than half of prescription drugs are filled with non brand named items. These drugs are cost beneficial, especially for the uninsured or the elderly who may be restricted to a fixed income.

Generic drugs are considered just as safe and effective as brand named drugs. As with any medication, it is wise to consult a physician before changing any pre-existing prescriptions. If available, this are always the alternative of generics that should be discussed with your doctor or a pharmacist.

A generic drug is a medication that is manufactured and issued without a patent. These generic drugs cannot hold a patent on the active ingredients, but they can have a patent on the formulation. Generic products were started by Al Williams in 1970 when he began a company he named Keynote Marketing.

He made twenty no-name generic drugs with a plain white label which were bought by curious chain stores in America. It didn’t take long for the major chains to follow suit. They started selling their own ‘house brand’ of products made by different manufacturers.

When it comes to medication, the main criterion is that the generic drugs must contain the exact active ingredient as the branded formula. The FDA insists that generics are compliant with the bioequivalent range of the branded version with regards to pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. This basically means that a generic drug must be identical in its strength, intended use, method of administration, dose, safety and efficacy.

A generic drug can only be distributed when the patent obtained for the original product has expired. When generics are available for public consumption, competition in the market leads to significantly cheaper prices for not only the generic, but for the branded product as well. In the USA, a patent usually expires after 20 years.

Generics save insurance companies and patients a lot of money. As already mentioned, this is due to stiff competition among drug producers. Because there are fewer expenses in making the generic version, companies can pass these savings onto the consumer while still making a healthy profit.

The prices of generic medications are so low that even developing and third-world countries can afford them. For instance, Thailand imported millions of generic tablets of a blood-thinning drug to help prevent heart attacks. The cost was a mere 3 cents (USA) per tablet, which included transportation from India where the medication is manufactured.

Generic companies are allowed to enjoy the benefits of past marketing campaigns done by the company that produced the original product. This includes drug presentations, media advertising, and the handing out of free samples. Many drugs introduced by generic companies have been available for more than a decade and are well known to patients and the medical profession.

Some people are still suspicious about generics. Claims have been made that they are manufactured in sub-standard facilities, and that they are inferior to the branded versions. Neither of these statements is true. The FDA demands exactly the same requirements of all drug manufacturers, irrespective of whether they make branded products or generics.

In fact, there are a lot of drug manufacturers that produce branded drugs and generics. The FDA has estimated 50% of generic drugs are produced by branded companies. Yet another myth is that generics do not work as well. This is also untrue. The FDA stipulates that generics have to work as effectively and as quickly as branded drugs.

Generic drugs are manufactured in varying flavors, varying colors and they may even have a varying mix of active ingredients. This is to comply with American trademark rules that state that generics cannot look the same as branded products. However, generics are required to contain the exact active ingredients to ensure the same efficacy as the brand product.