Often times, when you go to visit your doctor and they write you a prescription, it will be for a name brand drug. Then, when you go to fill your prescription at a pharmacy, they will advise you there is a generic version available, usually at a much lower cost than the name brand drug you were prescribed. Which is the better option? Which should you choose? In many cases, the generic version may be the better choice.
Many people hear the word generic and automatically assume it is of lower quality and they just aren’t as good as the brand name. When it comes to prescription medication, this isn’t true. Generic prescriptions are made to work the exact same way as the name brand versions because the active ingredient is the same. They are also the same as far as strength, quality, dosage, safety, and route of administration. Generic medication is made to be just as effective. According to the FDA:
These similarities help to demonstrate bioequivalence, which means that a generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as its brand-name version.
The only difference between name brand and generic medications are the way they look. Due to trademark laws in place in the United States, generic drugs are not allowed to look exactly like other drugs already on the market. Generic medicines and brand-name medicines share the same active ingredient, but other characteristics, like the color and flavorings, that do not affect the safety or quality of the generic medicine, may be different.
There are a couple of reasons why name-brand medications cost more than their generic counterparts. Firstly, before the manufacturers of a name brand drug can release the drug for use, they must conduct tests and clinical trials to prove that the drug is safe and works the way it is intended to. These tests are very costly, which the manufacturers will pass off of the consumer to cover the costs. Secondly, generic drugs only become available after a strenuous review by the FDA with the name brand. The name brand drug version has to be on the market for a set period of time, exclusively. This is because new drugs are protected by patents that exclude others from making the same drug. This gives the manufacturers of the name brand drug sole right to sell the drug while the patent is in effect. Due to this exclusivity, the drug company can price their drugs however they please.
If you are finding yourself struggling to pay for name brand or even generic drugs, there are options out there for you. You can be a candidate for a prescription assistance program. We truly want all applicants to get accepted as quickly as possible and we will do whatever possible to make that happen for you and to achieve this goal. For more information or to get started in your application process, you can contact us at 888-344-8915. Get the help you need today and let’s get started on your prescription assistance as soon as possible. Now is the time to get the assistance you deserve in a hassle-free way. Let us be your advocate for you through this process!
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