Should You Go Generic?

If you take multiple prescription medications, you know their costs can add up. One way to save money is to ask your doctor if a generic is available - but are generic drugs as effective as more expensive brands? Yes, says the American College of Physicians, a doctors group that issued a statement in the January issue of Annals of Internal Medicine that advises all clinicians to prescribe generic drugs when possible.

“The biggest difference between brand-name medications and generics is cost,” says Claudene George, M.D., R.Ph., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Geriatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “Companies that develop brand-name drugs invest in research, development and marketing - which drive up cost. Generic manufacturers can produce medications more cost-effectively.”

Here are five more facts to consider:

1.    Generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs. 

New drugs have patents that protect them from being reproduced by other companies for typically 17 years. Once the patent expires, other manufacturers can sell the drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves only generics biologically equivalent to their brand-name counterparts, although inactive ingredients may differ. Generics may have a different shape, color or flavor. Rarely do these variations make a difference in effectiveness or side effects.

2.    Studies have compared generics vs. brand-name drugs.

The research has largely found the effectiveness of both is the same and brand names offer no superiority.

3.   The same pharmaceutical companies that produce brand-name drugs often manufacture generics. 

Five of the top 10 generics manufacturers are brand-name pharmaceutical companies.

4.    You’re more likely to take a generic drug as directed. 

That’s partly because generics have lower out-of-pocket costs. The higher costs of brands have consistently been associated with lower adherence rates because patients may skip taking some doses or filling prescriptions altogether to save money.

5.    Doctors report they’re influenced by patient requests. 

       In a recent survey, four in 10 doctors said they sometimes or often prescribe a brand name when a generic is available because the patient wants it. If your doctor prescribes a drug, ask whether a generic that works just as well is available.

If you switch from a brand name to a generic, be aware of any new changes in your medical condition or any side effects, says Dr. George. Although rare, it’s possible to experience minor differences when switching.

(Source:  HealthAfter50, posted in Healthy Living on 24 May 2016)