Are Generic Drugs as Safe and Effective as Brand-Name?

When you need to purchase medications, you have two choices—generic and branded drugs. Both these types have the same use and effectiveness, but their prices differ.

Generic drugs are available at much lower costs than brand-name drugs, and the FDA conducts extensive testing before they’re introduced in the market.

However, most consumers ask if generics are as effective and safe as branded drugs. Well, let’s find out.

What Are Generics and Brand Name Drugs?

Brand name drugs are meds that can just be manufactured and sold by the company possessing the drug patent. These medications can be prescribed and are available over-the-counter too.

Once this drug patent expires for the brand name medications, pharmaceutical companies get the green signal to manufacture a generic version of the medication. That’s when generics are introduced.

However, the generic must contain the same active ingredient just like the branded version does and meet the standards outlined by the FDA.

Are Generics Safe and Effective?

According to the FDA, every medication available in the market, whether it’s generic or brand name, must be safe and work effectively. As a result, whenever a company is interested in releasing a generic, it must go through FDA's standards and testing for approval.

Some standards the FDA highlights are generic drugs must be the same as a brand-name drug in terms of safety, dosage, it’s benefits, it's consumption, usage, etc. As a result, generic medications have the same risks and advantages as their brand-name equivalents since they contain the same active components.

Moreover, the FDA undergoes a thorough assessment process of all generic pharmaceuticals, which includes a study of scientific data about the generic drug's components and effectiveness to ensure quality, and safety.

The FDA also demands that a generic manufacturing plant must meet the same standard as the brand name drug’s plant. To ensure this rule is abided by, the FDA conducts almost 3,500 inspections yearly.

You’ll be surprised to know that almost half of generics are manufactured by brand-name firms. They manufacture copies of their medications or other brand drugs and then sell them without a brand label.

Why Do Both These Drugs Look Different?

Most individuals often get confused about one thing—why do brand names and generic drugs look different, especially if they’re said to equally effective and safe? That’s simply because of U.S trademark laws. So, now generics can't look like other drugs being sold.

Despite generics having the same active ingredient as brand-name drugs, the drug's flavor, color, shape, inactive ingredients, etc., must all be different.

Do you want to buy generic medicines online? Our online pharmacy in the USA is one of the best places to purchase them from.

At USA Quick Meds, we offer a variety of medications, including local and imported medications.

Browse through our collection shop for your medication.