Generic Drugs

From Pharmacy Drug Guide

New Prescription drugs are typically developed by one pharmaceutical company and marketed under a patented brand name for a limited period of time. When the patent expires, other companies can market generic versions of the same drug, usually at significantly lower prices.^[1] For example, Eli Lilly developed the widely-prescribed antidepressant fluoxetine, and began selling it under the patented brand name Prozac in 1987. After the patent expired in 2001, other companies began marketing their own generic versions of fluoxetine under a variety of names.^[2] Generic drugs include most classes of drugs, such as antibiotics, birth control and decongestants.

According the FDA, generic drugs are identical - or bioequivalent - to brand name drugs in safety, dosage form, strength, means of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. According to the Congressional Budget Office, consumers save an estimated $8 to $10 billion every year by buying generics instead of brand name medicines from pharmacies. Billions of additional dollars are saved by the use of generic drugs in hospitals.^[1] Consumers may save even more by buying generics through health discount plans.^[3]

One Consumer Reports study found that cardiovascular patients who purchase generic statins rather than brand-name versions may save around $1,800 every year.^[4] It is estimated that 44% of annual prescriptions in the United States are filled with generic drugs.^[5]

Contents 1 How to Find Generic Versions of Brand Name Drugs 2 Prescription Drugs 3 Generic Drug Standards 4 Generic Drugs 5 References

How to Find Generic Versions of Brand Name Drugs

Consumers may search for generic equivalents of brand name medicines on FDA records through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. The online catalog is called Drugs@FDA. To find a generic, a site user may enter the name of the active ingredient. A list of all versions, both generic and brand name, will appear. If a consumer does not know what the active ingredient is, they may enter the brand name of the drug. The active ingredient will appear in the search result, which may then be entered in a new search for the generic version.^[10] After some research on the proper generic drug, users can seek out online and retail sources to purchase generic drugs.

Prescription Drugs

Generic Drug Standards

The FDA has certain requirements that manufacturers of generic drugs must meet before they are permitted to place their products on the market. The generic versions must be proven to work just as effectively as the brand name equivalent. They must contain identical active ingredients in the same concentrations, and must be used for the same therapeutic purposes.^[1]

Generic Drugs

Also See: Prescription Drugs, Drug Coupons, Drug Side Effects, Patient Assistance Programs, Free Drug Samples, Controlled Substances and Illegal Drugs

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/QuestionsAnswers/ucm100100.htm
2. ↑ http://articles.sfgate.com/2001-08-03/business/17614992_1_prozac-barr-laboratories-eli-lilly
3. ↑ https://webapp.walgreens.com/MYWCARDWeb/servlet/walgreens.wcard.proxy.WCardInternetProxy/RxSavingsRH
4. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20061109/statins-could-benefit-more-people
5. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/questions-about-generic-drugs-answered
6. ↑ http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html
7. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/QuestionsAnswers/ucm100100.htm
8. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm134451.htm
9. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm053074.htm
10. ↑ http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/default.cfm