A generic drug is made one the patent of a new drug has expired. It is the same as the original in just about every way.
How are generic drugs regulated?
Generic drugs are regulated by the FDA and must be tested and then approved by them before it goes into production.
Are your generic drugs made by the same company as the brand name version? It just may be about 50% of all generic drugs are made by the company that developed the original drug.
Are generic drugs made in the same standard facilities as the name brand ones?
Yes ail facilities have to meet the FDA standards.
Why do all the brand name and generic drugs look different?
The trademark laws do not allow the generic versions to look just like the originals that are on the market. The coloring, size and shape might be different but they are still going to act the same way and do the same thing.
What is bioequivalaence?
If a generic drug is bioequivalent to the original it may mean that the generic drugs will work in the exact same way. It will release the same amount of the active ingredient in to the blood stream over the same amount of time.
Why are generic drugs so much cheaper?
Because of the increased competition between the pharmaceutical companies once a patent has been lifted on a patent has been lifted on a certain drug they will be cheaper in price.
Why are generic drugs made?
The same company produces Fifty percent of all the generic drugs. Some are made by the developing countries in cases where the drug is exempt in the country from an existing patent in the West.
Is There a Difference Between Generic and the Name Brand Drug?
Generic drugs are not much different from their name brand successor. The drugs are carefully regulated in exactly the same way so that they can contain the same amount of active ingredient as well as be suitable in the way they are produced. They need to be just like the original.
The generic drug must be proven to be bioequivalent to the branded alternative i.e. releases the same amount of active ingredient over the same amount of time.
The differences are going to be in the presentation of the drug like a brand name drug may produce pills that have a nicer color or taste. However the generic version will usually contain a little more of the active ingredient.
There is little difference to the patient between the name brand and the generic. Both have to get through the same regulators and pass the same tests. Generics have a few advantages over the name brand pricier drugs.
The name brand is often the first of it’s type to be made and this is why the company spends a lot of money on making, testing and patenting the new drug and this is why they are more costly.
Generic drugs will have a patent once that has expired or in some cases are different enough from the original but still do the same type of job.
Generic drugs have a smaller manufacture and costs are usually less expensive so that we are able to afford them easier. This means that they are going to be more available to those in other countries.