Brand vs. Generic: What’s Really the Difference?
Generic medicines contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines but typically cost 80-85% less!
🔴 How Generics Save Money
- Generic manufacturers don’t have to repeat expensive clinical trials
- They don’t pay for advertising and marketing
- Multiple companies can make the same generic, creating competition
🔴 Are Generics Really the Same?
Yes! The FDA requires that generics:
- Contain the same active ingredient in the same amount
- Work the same way in the body
- Meet the same quality standards
What CAN be different:
- Inactive ingredients (colors, flavors, fillers)
- Shape, size, or color of the pill
- Packaging
Important Note: For most medicines, these small differences don’t affect how well the medicine works. However, for a very small number of medicines (like certain seizure or thyroid medicines), even tiny differences can matter.