Generic vs. Proprietary Medication
You may have read or heard that switching to a generic medication will save you money. You also may be wondering how these drugs compare to their proprietary counterparts.
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Cost
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Generic drugs are significantly cheaper than the brand name version. This is because the manufacturers have not incurred the expenses of developing and marketing a new drug. Manufacturers of new drugs obtain patents to exclusively sell that drug. When the patent expires, other drug companies can make the same product.
Quality
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves all generic medications. They are required to have the same strength and purity as brand name drugs.
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Appearance
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Generic drugs often are shaped differently than brand names. Trademark laws prevent generic drugs from looking identical to brand named drugs.
Effectiveness
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Some generic medications may have different inactive ingredients such as food coloring and flavoring. These ingredients do not affect the effectiveness of the medication. Generic drugs are just as effective as the proprietary ones.
Conclusion
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It is generally better to go with a generic drug. If your insurance company charges more for brand names or if you are paying yourself for the medications, make sure to ask your physician to prescribe the generic version.
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