Jan
19
Can someone please honestly tell me if there is a difference between generic medicine and name brand?
ByQuestion: I have had doctors and pharmacists tell me for the longest time that there is no difference between name brand drugs and generic. Then I made a new friend that is a pharmacist and he informed me there is a difference. Not only is there a difference but people can be allergic to a generic and not to a name brand. I dont know if this is true or not. He does work at Wal Mart after all so I dont know what to think. But it does make sense to me, if there was NO difference in generic vs name brand, why would there be such a big price difference. Can someone just please tell me the TRUTH!
11 Comments
January 19th, 2010 at 5:37 am
Here is 90% of the difference:$$$$$$$$$$
January 19th, 2010 at 5:49 am
the differents I know is that generic is cheap, an immitation of the name brand with the same dosage and ingredient(s). if you go and ask for a generic medicine you will be paying half or less than the brand medicine.
The difference between a brand-name product and a generic one is designed to be transparent. Once the patent life expires on a brand-name drug product, it is eligible to be made into a “generic drug.” To do this, the generic drug manufacturer must ensure that the drug they are producing contains the same active ingredient(s) as the brand-name product, in the same dosage form, at the same dose or concentration, and for the same route of administration (for example, amoxicillin 500 milligram (oral) capsule). The drug may differ in color, shape, taste, inactive ingredients, preservatives and packaging, however. Because of these differences, the generic drug manufacturers are required to submit additional paperwork to the FDA to prove that their product is manufactured in accordance with good manufacturing practices (GMPs), and is as pure and stable as the brand-name product. Additionally, the generic needs to meet pharmacokinetic parameters in the body, which means it must dissolve (in a beaker) at the same rate and to the same extent as the original. This process ensures that the two products are bioequivalent because if product A and product B dissolve in a virtually identical manner, then they should behave the same in the body.
January 19th, 2010 at 6:26 am
Well, I’d say the difference doesn’t lie in ingredients. It lies in the processing or steps taken.
Whenever you buy a name brand, expect to pay a little more simply because the Big Dogs can afford to give it a price hike. The analogy could be compared to MP3 players (somewhat. Although their features differ). Apple charges much, much more than some of their competitors with the same thing. Why? Well, a few things.
First off, they might be doing so because they were the absolute first to bring out an example of a said product. The engineering behind it is probably superior, and the product is therefore more reliable. Flipping back to the medicine, there could be a process in the ingredient refining that is done differently or corners are cut. In case of people who are possibly allergic to maybe some extra treating process, this would be bad.
There’s also instances where some drugs might actually somehow “water down” the ingredients. Generic medicine can be as effective, but if you get name brand, you *know* what you’re getting. Generic can often be a gamble, unfortunately, whether it be medicine, sodas, TVs, or clothing.
January 19th, 2010 at 7:20 am
its true that they are mostly the same, but I guarantee you there are some differences other than just price.
My wife and her grandmother both take artificial thyroid supplements because they have under-active thyroid glands, and both my wife and her grandmother have personally had negative reactions to the generic brands but have never had problems with the name brand medication.
After checking with their physicians the explanation was: the drug content is the same, but the other additives in the pills are not necessarily the same and the reaction was most likely to one of the other additives.
Regardless of the reason, I have seen first hand the difference between name brand and generic drugs.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:18 am
there is a difference my nephews pediatrician told his mom to pay the extra for his medication as it will have the best results, as well so did the pharmacist…him and my cousin take the same medication his is name brand my cousins is generic..my nephews shows the best result.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:41 am
What’s the difference between generic and brand name medicines?
Just like foods, some medicines come in both brand names and generics. Generic medicines are generally cheaper. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if a generic form of your prescription medicine will work for you.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines also come in generics. Compare the lists of ingredients. If the generic has the same ingredients as the brand name, you may want to consider using it. But be careful: The generic may contain different amounts of certain medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about which medicine to choose.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:59 am
The active drug itself is not different. It is the preparation of the drug that may be different. For example, tablet are mixed with substances that affect where in the gastrointestinal tract it is absorbed – a difference in the preparation (some believe) may affect the absorption (and therefore effect) of the drug. Some pills have a coating that may contain a yellow dye for example that some are allergic to. It is for this reason that a doctor can opt to require a pharmacist to fill a drug with the tradename form only.
Also, I do not know how much testing if any (for efficacy, ect) is done on generic versus tradename drugs, but I am sure there is a difference .
January 19th, 2010 at 9:04 am
The truth –
While, according to standard practice and most state laws, a generic drug has to be generically equivalent to its brand-name counterpart there can be some manufacturing differences.
Do you buy the cheapest (generic) asprin, or do you use a brand name, like Bayer?
A VW can be thought of as generically equivalent to an Audi.
January 19th, 2010 at 9:19 am
The only thing that would be different is tablets. Generic liquids and capsules are absolutely the same (no difference at all). In tablets the differences lie in both the fillers that are used and how the tablet is compressed into a tablet. Different companies have different techniques for pressing tablets.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:13 am
A new drug is usually an ‘invention’ protected for a period of time by patent laws before it can be manufactured by generic drug makers. Although the patent must disclose the drug in sufficient detail to protect it, it does not have to disclose proprietary methods for its processing. After the patent expires any drug manufacturer may prepare their own version of the drug (but must include the patented ingredient). As you suggest, different versions of the drug may include different fillers (inert matter) and possibly strength and form (pills and capsules, etc.). One form may be more effective, more stable and possibly less allergic for some individuals. The great difference in cost often results from the fact that the originator must repay the great expense of discovering the drug and getting it patented and approved by the FDA. The relative costs for a generic manufacturer to qualify their own version of a successful drug are far less. The originator may have to use income from an approved drug to pay for research on many failed drugs.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:48 am
both pharmacists are right…..but one more so than the other.
Most generics are the same, but there are a few that aren’t.
As for being allergic to the generic and not the brand, that is categorically untrue. The drug is the same. Their can be reactions to different diluents (wheat allergies etc.) or dyes, but not the medication itself.
As for the price difference, it capitalizes on people’s fear and ignorance…….things like believing there is a difference.