A Physician’s Guide to Generic Prescriptions

A Physician’s Guide to Generic Prescriptions

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Brand-name drugs are more expensive than generic drugs. That much is certain. However, some patients become hesitant when physicians prescribe them a generic drug. They may be unsure of the drug’s effectiveness compared to the brand name’s. Below, we’ll provide a general guide to generic prescriptions with information that you can pass along to your patients.

Guide to Generic Prescriptions

guide to generic prescriptions

An Overview

Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is a generic drug? According to the FDA, “a generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an existing approved brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics.” So, a generic drug works in the same way and provides the same benefit as the brand name version. Since generic drugs use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines, they have the same risks and benefits. However, it’s important to keep in mind that generic alternatives are not direct generics for a particular branded medication. In most cases, though, they are in the same therapeutic class as the brand-name medicine.

Generic Drug Options

While not every brand-name drug has a generic equivalent, many do. On their website, Humana offers healthcare providers a handy list of common brand drugs and their corresponding generics. If your patient is uneasy about a generic medication, remind them that generic drugs have been in use for over ten years. The patent on the brand-name has to run out before the drug can have a generic, and this usually takes 10 to 14 years. So, we actually know more about generic drugs than we do brand-names.

guide to generic prescriptions

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Common Patient Questions About Generic Drugs

Although generic drugs are more widely used than brand-name ones, we typically only hear about the brand names. Therefore, your patients may have some questions regarding generic prescriptions. Here are some of the most common questions patients ask:

Why are generic drugs cheaper?

We often assume that cheaper equals poorer quality. However, this isn’t the case when it comes to prescription drugs. Generic drugs are less expensive because they don’t cost as much to make. Additionally, companies do not need to spend a lot of money to advertise and market generic drugs like they do branded ones. Since there are more generic drug choices, the prices are lower. According to the FDA, generic prices are around 85 percent less than the brand-name.

Why do generic drugs look different than brand-name drugs?

In the United States, trademark laws require that two medicines cannot look exactly alike. Generic medications and brand-name ones share the same active ingredient, but they may differ in size, shape, color, or flavor. Remind patients that these differences do not affect the performance, safety, or effectiveness of the drug.

Are generic and brand-name drugs made differently?

Companies make brand-name and generic drugs in the same way. The FDA states that “generic drugs go through a rigorous process to receive FDA approval,” just like brand-name drugs do. The FDA also inspects all locations where drugs are made to ensure cleanliness and safety. In fact, many companies that make brand-name drugs produce generic ones as well.

Does every brand-name drug have a generic version?

Unfortunately, not every brand-name drug has a generic equivalent. Branded drugs are protected under a patent for a decade or longer, and this patent needs to expire before generics of the drug can be made. Companies spend a ton of time and money on research and marketing for drugs, so they are patented for a while.

If your patient has additional questions regarding generic drugs, advise them to speak with their pharmacist. However, assure them that they have nothing to worry about!

Is there anything else you would add to our guide to generic prescriptions? Let us know in the comments below!

Author: Locum Jobs Online

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