What Are The Differences Between Generic and Brand Medications?
Generic drugs are regulated medications that have the same active ingredients as the original brand name drug, but that are usually cheaper in price. One third of all drugs dispensed are “generic”. Comparative testing is performed to ensure that generics are equal to the “brand” version.
This means that “generic” drugs can be used as a substitute to a brand medication with the same therapeutic results. Exceptions may exist and you should always consult your doctor before switching to a generic medication or vice versa.
Generics and brand equivalent drugs contain the same active ingredients, but they may be different in the following ways: shape, size, color, markings and scores, and cost. The fillers that are added to make the brand or generic are what gives the drug its color, shape and size. These fillers have no medical use and do not change the effectiveness of the medication. A generic drug contains the same active ingredients and must be equivalent in strength and dosage to the original brand name drug.
For example, you can order generic drugs like Gleevec or Imatinib, which is a drug used to treat certain types of cancer, for $39,597 per year for a 400 mg/day dose on ExpressMedsCanada.com. However, you can buy generic drugs like Imatinib Mesylate for $9,456 per year for the same dose, providing quite a bit of savings. Gleevec is currently marketed by Novartis and is used in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and a number of other malignancies.