Are generic drugs as effective as their brand-name counterparts? Here's what you need to understand.
Approximately 90% of prescriptions dispensed in the United States are for generic versions of drugs rather than the branded counterparts developed by the original pharmaceutical company, as reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Despite this prevalence, many individuals may be unaware of whether the medication they obtain from the pharmacy is generic or branded, the distinctions between the two, and whether it holds any significance. According to Mike Sevilla, a physician at the Family Practice Center of Salem in Ohio, "Generic medications contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug," emphasizing that generics are generally intended to have similar efficacy to their branded counterparts. While generic and brand name drugs are expected to exhibit comparable effectiveness, variations, particularly in terms of cost, do exist. Here's what you should be aware of. What sets them apart? A brand name drug is produced by the pharmaceutical company that