Generics Explained
Generic medicines are copies of an original branded medicine.
What’s the difference between a generic and brand-name drug?
Not much, except for the name and the price. The products have the same ingredients.
A generic drug must have the same active ingredients, strength, and dosage form e.g. pill, liquid, or injection. The generic drug also must be therapeutically equivalent—it must be chemically the same and have the same medical effect. They work in the same way in the body and are associated with the same risks and benefits of the original medicine.
Are generic medicines as effective as branded?
Generic medicines are produced by companies who are subject to the same tight controls as companies who make branded products. The reason generic companies can make the medication cheaper is because they do not have all the initial research and development costs the originator company has.