Generic drugs - consumer reports health

S H O P P E R ’ S G U I D E T O P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G S — N U M B E R 2 Generic Drugs
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Generic drugs can save you money. They cost much less than brand-name
drugs. But many people worry that generics are not as good. You need not fear
that. Generics are every bit as pure, potent, and safe as brands. They aren’t like
ads for the “purple pill” (for heart- “generic” cereal, soap, or canned goods — where the brand is indeed usually a
better product. The Food and Drug Administration regulates generic drugs just
as it does brands, and all generics, by law, must have exactly the same active
chemicals as the brands they copy. You’ll get the same medical benefit.
often plain white pills that don’t look as high quality. Our advice: don’t be It’s tempting to want the newest medicine. But you may not need one. Think
of generics as “tried and true.” They have been prescribed for many years,
and doctors know them well. In contrast, new drugs have uncertainties and
can sometimes cause problems. Today, generics are available for about half of
all prescription drugs, and some widely prescribed drugs will become avail-
able as generics in the next few years. So, ask your doctor or pharmacist if
you can save money by using a generic drug.
T H E B A S I C S
ted to making the switch. Our advice: medicines whose patents have expired.
asked this question for the first time or reluctant. Our advice: talk it over with seller of that drug after its patent peri- the pharmacist and take the generic.
A DRUG BY ANY OTHER NAME…
Drug names are confusing! Most drugs have two names, a generic name and a brand name. The generic name is usually long and hard to pronounce. The brand name is chosen by the drug’s manufacturer, primarily for marketing purposes.
It’s much easier to remember the brand names of most drugs. Indeed, some of them become “household names.” These days that’s largely because the drugs are advertised in magazines and on TV.
to switch at first because change isn’t Hard as it may be, it’s a good idea to also become familiar with the generic name of the drugs you take. That way, you’ll be better prepared when the generic does become available. And you might find it easier to get information on the drug under-prescribed compared to brands.
from reference books or the Internet.
POSSIBLE GENERIC SWITCHES — PRICE COMPARISON Condition
Possible Generic
Brand-Name Drug
or Disease
Substitute
those are the ones that get promoted.
(1) Recent prices from Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs reports (www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org). Derived from data provided by Wolters Kluwer Health, Pharmaceutical Audit Suite. (2) For people who require LDL cholesterol reduc- tion of less than 30%. (3) This is a nonprescription, over-the-counter drug.
S W I T C H I N G D R U G S
when it is being written in his or her office. Inquire whether the prescrip- Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs can a generic of another drug in the same generic if the brand is not going to cost THE SHOPPER’S GUIDE TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SERIES
This series is produced by Consumers Union and Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, a public information project supported by grants from the Engelberg Foundation and the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. The project’s free Web site is www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org.
This brief should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. It is provided to enhance communication with your doc- tor, not replace it. Neither the National Library of Medicine nor the National Institutes of Health are responsible for the content or advice herein.

Source: http://www.lachc.org/GenericDrugs.pdf