Should i buy generic drugs

This is because new drugs, like other new products, are usually protected by patents that prohibit others from making and selling copies of the same drug.

Generic drugs tend to cost less than their brand-name counterparts because generic drug applicants do not have to repeat animal and clinical human studies that were required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. When multiple generic companies are approved to market a single product, more competition exists in the marketplace, which typically results in lower prices for patients.

In , FDA announced the Drug Competition Action Plan DCAP to further encourage robust and timely market competition for generic drugs and help bring greater efficiency and transparency to the generic drug review process, without sacrificing the scientific rigor underlying our generic drug program. Drug companies must submit an abbreviated new drug application ANDA to FDA for approval to market a generic drug that is the same as or bioequivalent to the brand product.

FDA reviews the application to ensure drug companies have demonstrated that the generic medicine can be substituted for the brand-name medicine that it copies. The ANDA process does not, however, require the drug applicant to repeat costly animal and clinical human studies on ingredients or dosage forms already approved for safety and effectiveness. This allows generic medicines to be brought to market more quickly and at lower cost, allowing for increased access to medications by the public.

Detailed information on the critical factors the FDA reviews to make sure a generic medicine is as safe and effective as the brand-name drug. In addition to asking your local pharmacist for assistance, there are three ways to find out if there is a generic of your brand-name medicine available:. If you are unable to locate a generic of your brand-name medicine, it may be that the brand-name medicine is still within the period of time when it has exclusive rights to the marketplace, which allows drug companies to recoup their costs for the initial research and marketing of the brand-name or innovator drug.

It is only after both patent and other periods of exclusivity are resolved that FDA can approve a generic of the brand-name medicine. FDA takes several actions to ensure safety and quality before and after a new or generic medicine is approved. When a generic drug application is submitted, FDA conducts a thorough examination of the data submitted by the applicant and evaluates information obtained by FDA investigators while inspecting the related testing and manufacturing facilities to ensure that every generic drug is safe, effective, high quality, and substitutable to the brand name drug.

FDA staff continually monitors all approved drug products, including generics, to make certain the medicines at all levels of the supply chain, from active pharmaceutical ingredients APIs to products being sold to consumers, are safe, effective, and high quality. FDA also monitors and investigates reports of negative patient side effects or other reactions. The investigations may lead to changes in how a product brand-name and generic is used or manufactured, and FDA will make recommendations to health care professionals and the public if the need arises.

It is important to note that this study merely showed a correlation. It did not show that the generic drug played a role in the increased hospital visits. People of lower socioeconomic status tend to have worse health outcomes than others. In addition, because they have less disposable income, they may be more likely to choose a generic over a brand-name drug. So one could conclude that some people taking the generic drug in larger numbers are already predisposed to worse health outcomes.

In a report, the American College of Physicians called for doctors to prescribe generic over brand-name drugs where possible. Read more about why doctors should prescribe generic drugs. Ultimately, it is up to the person and their healthcare professional to determine the best option among the brand-name and generic drugs available.

That includes showing that the generic drug is pharmaceutically equivalent to the branded medication. Therefore, people can feel confident that the generic drug option is of the same quality as the brand-name version. These are:. The researchers state that if the pharmaceutical industry, public health policymakers, and healthcare professionals better understood consumer attitudes and behavior toward generic medicine, they could help expand generic drug use.

In , researchers conducted an economic evaluation of branded drug prices. It focused on 49 top-selling medicines that had more than , pharmacy claims that year. Of these 49 brand-name drugs, 48 showed regular annual or biannual cost increases. Generic drugs cost less than their brand-name equivalents. For some people, this cost difference is the deciding factor for whether they are able to take a much-needed medication.

Brand-name and generic drugs contain the same active ingredients in the same amounts. In most cases, they provide the same therapeutic benefits. Although more research is necessary to determine if branded drugs are better for certain conditions, the American College of Physicians says that doctors should prescribe the generic where it is available. Because they do not have to undergo the same human and animal studies as brand-name drugs, FDA-approved generic drugs are significantly less expensive.

However, it is advisable to discuss both brand and generic drug options with a healthcare professional. This allows a person to make the right decision for their health and personal circumstances. Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs and has different pricing levels, also called tiers. Generic drugs are usually lower-cost. Read more here. Fluoxetine oral capsule is a prescription medication used to treat conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD , eating….

The reduction in upfront research costs means that they are typically sold at substantially lower prices. FDA established the Drug Competition Action Plan in to further encourage robust and timely market competition for generic products to increase competition so that consumers can get access to the medicines they need at more affordable prices. Patents and exclusivities can affect when and how a generic drug can be marketed New brand-name drugs are usually protected by patents that prohibit others from selling generics of the same drug.

Periods of marketing exclusivity for brand-name drugs can also impact the timing of generic drug approvals. Contact your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider to discuss generic medicines. For more information from FDA, you can also:.