As you walk into a pharmacy, you will often find yourself choosing between a branded medicine that is already mentioned in your prescription and a cheaper generic version. The price difference is often significant which makes you wonder whether these generic medicines are as safe and effective as their branded counterparts.
But when you speak to the best generic pharmaceutical companies, they will help you break this myth down into simple terms. To understand the situation better, let’s start with what are generic medicines?
Generic medicines are drugs that contain the same active ingredients that you will find in the branded medicines that are prescribed. They are developed once the patent on a branded drug expires so that other drug manufacturers can produce the same formulation. However, these medicines are required to meet the strict regulatory standards which are crafted by the health authorities which can be the Drugs Controller General of India or US Food and Drug Administration.
But, the question remains, are branded and generic medicines the same?
In essence, yes, they are the same.
However, the generic drugs must have the same active ingredient that is the core component which makes the drug effective. Whether it’s a tablet, syrup or capsule, whatever is the dosage form, it should remain unchanged. The effectiveness and potency of the medicine must match with the strength and quality of the branded version that is there. The administration process should also be the same, that is, if it was injected or orally taken, it should stay the same for the generic medicine as well. It must work at the same speed and should give the same impact on the body.
Why are generic medicines cheaper?
Often in Indian context, it is thought that whatever is more pricier is better. But, when you speak with the best generic pharmaceutical companies, they will tell you this is not the case with generic medicines. There is a significant cost difference because generic manufacturers do not have to spend the billions of amount on research or development or even in marketing. The branded drugs have to go through a lot of years of clinical trials and proper research and then have to go through proper marketing and advertising, which ultimately effects their price. The generic drug skips all these steps, therefore the costs are simply about the formula that they’re using in making them, and thus at the end of it, make the entire thing much more affordable.
Are generic medicines safe?
This is the billion dollar question, and the answer to it is absolutely yes.
The regulatory bodies that rigorously test the generic drugs before they are put in use for public; they are safe to use as much as it is safe to use the branded drugs.The medicines have to go through stringent quality check and need to follow the safety standard, which ensures that they are not just safe but also effective as their branded equivalents.
However, there are a couple of factors that you might need to consider.
The first thing is that the inactive ingredients might sometimes vary. That is, while the active ingredients in the generic medicine are the same as that of the branded one, the preservatives of the fillers can be a bit different. That can affect people who have certain sensitivity or allergies.in some very rare cases there could be some differences in bioavailability that is the absorption rate of the drug in the human bodies. It is not more than 3 to 4% that this difference has been seen.
When to be cautious?
Although generic medicines work well for most people, there are certain conditions when you need to be a bit more aware.
Drug for conditions such as heart disease, epilepsy or any psychiatric disorders can have slight variations in effectiveness, which is why it is important that you understand the critical care medicines are better when taken as prescribed.
If your doctor advises you to stick to your particular brand due to some medical history or any drug interactions, it is best that you follow their advice.
How to ensure that you are getting the quality generics?
Once you buy from trusted pharmacies and avoid any kind of unverified online stores or street side vendors, you will be sure to get the right generic medicine.
Check if the medicine is approved by the health authorities like the DCGI or the FDA.
Check the manufacturer whether they are reputable pharmaceutical company so that you know that they are abiding by the high-quality standards.
For most people, generic medicines offer the same benefits as the one from the branded drugs at a fraction of the cost. But you have to be careful about the specific health conditions, so it is always better to consult with your doctor before making any switch.
