Generic RX: Is Cheaper Better?

by Kesshia Peyton

Published: Thu, November 20, 2008 - 9:46 am CST Last Updated: Thu, November 20, 2008 - 9:48 am CST

In these tough economic times, everyone's trying to save money.
If there's one thing most people know about generic drugs, it's that they cost less than the brand name version. But is cheaper, better in this case?
"Generic drugs are required to submit an application to the FDA before they enter the market," said pharmacist Tami Remington.
Trademark laws don't allow generics to look like their brand name counterparts but their active ingredients should be the same.
"They have to show that their medication contains the same amount and is released into the bloodstream the same way that the brand name drug is," said Remington.
If you're wondering why a brand name drug costs more...it's because the company that developed it spent millions of dollars on research.
"The generic manufacturers only bear the cost of manufacturing the product and bringing it to market that way - and not doing the research - and so that's why they're able to bring it at a much lower cost," said Remington.

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KxVicious Says:

Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 10:47 am

With some of the medications that I and my family take, the generic is AWFUL.

My mother experienced several nasty side effects with the generic estrogen patch, but not with the name brand.

I had a non-stop menstrual flow (I’m talking 3 months straight!) on the generic Depo-Provera, but once I switched back to the name brand, that problem went away!

I also get jittery and moody when the generic Ritalin wears off, but the name brand is a smooth transition.

My generic allergy meds, antibiotics and cold/cough meds have always worked fine!