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Generic Medicine

 
If you've had a prescription filled recently, there's a good chance you're taking a generic drug. Almost 80% of prescription drugs sold are generics. That option helps save patients and hospitals billions of dollars every year.
 
It's estimated that you could save at least two-thirds of your drug costs if you use generic drugs.
 
According to the FDA, generic drugs can be trusted to have the same quality as brand-name drugs -- but at a cheaper price. That's important to know because no one wants to skimp on health, even if it means saving money.
 
How Are Generics the Same as Brand-Name Drugs?
 
The FDA requires a generic drug to meet standards that ensure it's the same basic product as the brand-name drug. That means the generic drug is safe and can be taken:
 
 
For the FDA to approve a generic drug, it must be the same as the brand-name product in:
 
How Are Generics Different From Brand-Name Drugs?
 
Some differences between generics and brand-name drugs are allowed. These may change the look of the drug. But they don’t affect how it works or its safety.
 
Generic drugs may differ in:
 
 
Generic drugs are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than brand-name drugs. For example, they may have a different:
 
 
The inactive ingredients in a generic, though, must be considered safe by the FDA.
 
Generic drugs may also have a different expiration date than brand-name drugs. But even so, the generic must keep its effectiveness until its expiration date, just like a brand-name product.
 
Why Are Generic Drugs Cheaper Than Brand-Name Drugs?
 
You may be wondering how a generic drug can be sold at a much lower price than a brand-name drug.
 
The difference in price has to do with the different costs drugmakers have in bringing generics and brand-name drugs to the pharmacy shelf.
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