Generic Medicines

By Author: pharmacy2001
Total Articles: 1
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Generic medicines are copies of medicines made by famous manufacturers with exactly the same dosage, application methods, contraindications, safety and durability as the original medicines. In other words, their pharmacological effects are the same as those of their brand-name analogues.

There are many examples such as to treat diabetes, is metformin. A brand name for metformin is Glucophage. (Brand names are usually patented while generic names are not.) A generic metoprolol is used to treat hypertension, while a brand name for the same medicine is Lopressor.

Many people are dismayed because generic drugs are often substantially cheaper than the brand-name versions. They wonder if the quality and efficiency do not match to cost cheaper. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) requires that generic medicines be as safe and effective as branded drugs.

In fact, the only generic medicines are cheaper because manufacturers does not spend on developing and marketing of new medicines. When a company offers new product to market, the company has already spent substantial money on research, development, marketing ...
... and promotion of the drug. Patent, which gives the company that developed the drug an exclusive right to sell the drug until the patent is in force.

As a patent imminent, manufacturers can apply to the FDA for permission to produce and sell generic versions of medicines, and without running costs of developing preparates that other companies can afford to produce and sell it cheaper. When several companies are manufacturing and selling drugs, competition between them can also control the price down even further.

Thus it is not true that generic medicines are manufactured in poorer-quality facilities or are inferior in quality branded products. FDA applies the same standards for all medicines manufacturing facilities, and many companies manufacture both brand name and generic drugs. In fact, FDA estimates that 50% of the total production of the medicines is brand-name company.

Another frequent misconception is that generic drugs take longer to act. FDA requires that generic drugs act quickly and effectively as the original brended products.

Sometimes, generic versions of medicines are a different color, smell, flavour or a combination of inactive ingredients than the patented medications. Trademarks in the United States do not allow generic medicines to look the same as patented drugs, but the active ingredients must be the same in both preparations, ensuring both the same medicinal actions.