One product many of us really came to miss early on in the global pandemic was our brand-name toilet paper (yes, TP!). We found Check this ourselves scouring store shelves only to find (gasp!) generic, or cheaper knockoffs, of our favorite brands. Thankfully today, things have settled, and many brand-names are fully stocked, but why the harsh criticism of generics?
Things like generic cereal, knock-off purses and other off-brand products are often looked down upon as lesser versions of the real thing. They look the same, but they are a heck of a lot cheaper. And for many, cheaper equates to lower quality.
Generic drugs are as good as brand-name medications
Unlike your generic cereal, generic medications are made to work the same as their brand-name drugs. Often, generic medications are even manufactured at the same facility as their brand-name counterparts.
“In this case, cheaper doesn’t mean lower quality,” Dr. Erdos said. “Generic medications have the same active ingredients and are held to the same high-quality standards as brand-name drugs.”
The FDA tests them to make sure they offer the same benefits as brand-name medications when it comes to quality, effectiveness, how much and how often you take them, strength and how you take them, whether pill, liquid or other means.
Generic drugs are less expensive than their brand-name peers
Did you know that the median cost of a medication that ends up approved by the FDA costs over $1 billion? This cost continues with pharmaceutical companies spending hundreds of millions of dollars on post-approval monitoring and research. Because of these high costs, a company has a 20-year patent on any new medication so there is a period of time where no generic options are available.
After the 20 years are up, it’s fair game for other companies. Generic medications usually cost much less because they don’t have to go through the same expenses in research and clinical trials to prove they are safe and effective. Plus, more competition in the marketplace can help drive down prices.
Generic medications may look different but that’s done on purpose
You may notice if you’ve recently switched from brand-name to generic that the pills look different. There’s a good reason for this. Thanks to trademark laws and branding concerns, generics have to look different than their brand-name counterparts. However, these differences won’t impact the medication’s effectiveness.
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