{"id":3883,"date":"2019-03-18T09:43:57","date_gmt":"2019-03-18T13:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=3883"},"modified":"2026-02-08T14:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T19:38:37","slug":"are-generic-drugs-as-good-as-brand-name-medicines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/are-generic-drugs-as-good-as-brand-name-medicines\/","title":{"rendered":"Are generic drugs as good as brand-name medicines?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have a raging headache so you head to the drugstore searching for relief. The choices are overwhelming. Should you opt for an over-the-counter generic <\/span>ibuprofen<\/span><\/a>, or go with a well-known brand-name version like Advil or Motrin? Should you ask your healthcare provider to prescribe Lipitor, or is <\/span>atorvastatin just as good?<\/span> The brand names are backed by big, successful drug makers with well-paid scientists. Their drug products must be superior to generic drugstore brands, right? But the price is giving you pause. Some of the brand names cost nearly twice as much as the generics. Which one should you choose?<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/span><\/a> (FDA), generic drugs are \u201ccreated to be the same as an already marketed brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use.\u201d Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as brand-name ones, and thus have the same benefits, risks, and side effects. In 2016, research notes about <\/span>90%<\/span><\/a> of prescribed drugs in this country were for generics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are generic drugs as good as brand-name medications?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, say experts. In fact, one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> looking at over 3,500 people found that those who took generic versions of prescription drugs for chronic conditions like <\/span>diabetes<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>high blood pressure<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>depression<\/span><\/a> had \u201ccomparable clinical outcomes\u201d compared to those who took the brand-name products.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCheaper does not mean lower quality,\u201d says Jawad N. Saleh, Pharm.D., a clinical manager of pharmacy services at the <\/span>Hospital for Special Surgery<\/span><\/a> in New York City. \u201cGeneric medications are held to the same high-quality manufacturing standards as brand-name medicines.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before they can bring a generic drug to market, the FDA requires drug manufacturers to submit what\u2019s called an <\/span>abbreviated new drug application<\/span><\/a> (ANDA).\u00a0 \u201cWhen a new brand-name drug is developed, its developer must prove to the FDA that it\u2019s safe and effective,\u201d explains <\/span>Brittany Riley, Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a>, a clinical associate professor at Marshall University School of Pharmacy in Huntington, West Virginia. \u201cThat approval process is abbreviated for generic drugs, because the generic drug company just has to ensure the drug has the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration. In other words, it has to show it is bioequivalent to the brand-name drug. Generic manufacturing plants must pass the same quality standards as the brand-name manufacturing plants.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between brand-name and generic drugs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Basically, there are three: price, inactive ingredients, and appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to the FDA, generic medicines can cost up to 85% less than their brand-name equivalents. The lower price tag is due to the fact that generic manufacturers don\u2019t need to perform all the costly clinical trials showing safety and efficacy that brand-name manufacturers need to supply before they can obtain FDA approval. What\u2019s more, manufacturers of generic drugs typically don\u2019t pay big bucks for branding and advertising of the product.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brand-name drugs are under patent for about 20 years. After that time, manufacturers lose their exclusivity to it.\u00a0 At that point, multiple companies can bring a generic drug to market, thus creating more price competition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some popular generic drugs and their brand-name equivalents are:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\nCompare prices of popular brand-name vs. generic drugs<\/span><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Brand name<\/b><\/td>\nGeneric name<\/b><\/td>\nPrice<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ambien<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nzolpidem<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ativan<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nlorazepam<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flonase<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nfluticasone<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Glucophage<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nmetformin<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prilosec<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nomeprazole<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proventil<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nalbuterol<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wellbutrin<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nbupropion<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xanax<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nalprazolam<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nCompare prices<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h3>\n

Inactive ingredients<\/span><\/h3>\n

Inactive ingredients are the dyes, preservatives, and fillers manufacturers use in their drugs. They don\u2019t have any therapeutic value. Meaning, they don\u2019t affect how well the drug treats the medical condition you\u2019re taking it for. And, they can vary between generic and brand drugs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Appearance<\/span><\/h3>\n

Thanks to trademark laws and branding concerns, generics have to look different than their brand-name counterparts. They might be a different color or have a different flavoring. But these differences won\u2019t impact the drug\u2019s overall effectiveness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the difference between biosimilar and generic drugs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

To understand what a biosimilar drug is, you first have to understand what a biologic drug is. Biologics are drugs produced by or that contain living organisms (think proteins, cells, DNA, or blood components). Vaccines and some hormonal therapies are examples of biologic drugs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike generic drugs, which must have the same active ingredients as the brand-name ones, biosimilar drugs are what the FDA calls \u201chighly similar\u201d to an already-approved FDA biologic drug (called a reference product). But they may have minor differences. In other words, unlike generics, they are not identical to the drug they are modeled after. For example, Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm) was approved by the FDA as a biosimilar of Humira (adalimumab) to treat rheumatoid arthritis.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA biosimilar must behave in a way that is not meaningfully different from the brand-name drug,\u201d explains Dr. Riley. \u201cBut due to the way biologic drugs are produced [from living organisms], it would be difficult to create true [chemically identical] generics to them. Therefore, the FDA created the biosimilar pathway, which helps to decrease cost associated with the biologic agents, which are typically very expensive medications.\u201d They are similar to generics, in that they are typically less expensive than their biologic counterparts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why should you choose generic drugs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Whether you choose a generic or brand-name drug will likely come down to price, health insurance coverage, and personal or prescriber preference.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price<\/span><\/h3>\n

As noted above, generic drugs can be wildly less expensive than their brand-name equivalents. For example, brand name Ambien can cost over $600 for a monthly supply, while the generic zolpidem can cost as little as $60 for the same amount. With SingleCare, you can get an even lower cost around $30!<\/span><\/p>\n

Insurance coverage<\/span><\/h3>\n

Because generic drugs are cheaper, insurance plans are more apt to cover them. This means that your copay will be more affordable if your healthcare provider prescribes a generic drug instead of the brand name. In one recent study, researchers compared Medicare Part D coverage of more than 1,300 generic and brand drugs and found that <\/span>84% of the plans only covered for the generic drugs<\/span><\/a> while 0.9% only covered for the brand-name ones (15% covered both). If cost is an issue, don\u2019t hesitate to ask your healthcare provider if a generic alternative is available.<\/span><\/p>\n

Personal\/prescriber preference<\/span><\/h3>\n

State laws may vary, but if you prefer to save money, have your prescriber indicate \u201csubstitution permissible\u201d on the prescription or write the prescription with the generic name. If there is a generic available, the pharmacist will fill your prescription with the generic. You can always ask the pharmacist before your prescription is filled, if you have questions on pricing and availability of generic alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

When a generic may not be a good idea<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most of the time, brand-name drugs and their generic alternatives are interchangable. There are a few isolated cases where making the switch can impact your health. One example, says Dr. Saleh, is seizure medication. Changing from a brand-name antiseizure medication to a generic one may result in a loss of seizure control. Generic drugs for <\/span>certain eye conditions<\/span><\/a> may not produce the same result in patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But, in general, switching to a generic makes sense when there\u2019s one available and you\u2019re comfortable making the swap. Talk to your healthcare provider about what\u2019s the right choice for you. If it\u2019s a choice between not taking the medication because of cost, and a generic, the generic is the obvious right choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSince generics are the bioequivalent to brand-name medications, switching to a generic whenever available can be a good tactic to reduce costs to a patient, pharmacy, or institution,\u201d says Dr. Saleh.<\/span><\/p>\n

For even greater savings, search <\/span>singlecare.com<\/span><\/a> to see how much you can save on the generic version of your medication.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You have a raging headache so you head to the drugstore searching for relief. The choices are overwhelming. Should you opt for an over-the-counter generic ibuprofen, or go with a well-known brand-name version like Advil or Motrin? Should you ask your healthcare provider to prescribe Lipitor, or is atorvastatin just as good? The brand names […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":8058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4589],"tags":[4343,3418,11278],"coauthors":[10462],"class_list":["post-3883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drug-info","tag-brand-name-drugs","tag-generic-drugs","tag-singlecare-for-seniors","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBrand-name vs. generic drugs: Which is better?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are generic drugs as good as brand-name? 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