You visit your doctor, and you get a prescription for a brand name medication. You take it to the pharmacist, and they will tell you there is a generic version of the medicine available; would you like to buy or not? In many cases, the generic versions are a better choice, but not every time. Do generic versions of the drug are same? Tadalafil of Cialis can be a better option.
Generic versions are made to work the same way as brand medications. They contain the same active ingredients and are quite similar in terms of quality, strength, dosage and as well as the route of administration. Some people think generics are less effective than your actual brand medications, which is not true. Generics are just as effective as brand name drugs. According to the food and drug administration (FDA), drug makers should prove that generics can be used as a substitute for the brand names and offer the same benefits as the brand names.
Brand name drugs cost more than generics because manufacturers of brand name medications must conduct clinical trials to prove that the drug is safe and effective to use for a particular disease. These tests are quite expensive, and manufacturers pass some of their expense to the customers by increasing the price of their brand name drugs. Furthermore, brand name drugs are sold under their manufacturer’s name, and several other companies sell the generic versions, which lead to competition in the market and offer lower costs options to consumers. Generic versions are far cheaper than then than brand names; they cost around 80 to 85% less than the same brand name drug. If data is to be believed, generics saved the US health care system of $1.67 trillion from the year 2007 to 2016.
If you think you are picking up the wrong prescription, then relax, determining the difference between a generic version and a brand name is not too hard. Let’s find how does that work.
Lyrica- In 2019, the FDA approved generic pregabalin for the following diseases: Neuropathic pain related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain secondary to spinal cord injury, and partial-onset seizures. It should be mandatory to prescribe generic medicines by physicians to improve adherence to therapy and clinical outcomes as well as to lower healthcare spending. The prescription of generic drugs over their brand counterparts could translate to hefty financial savings for both patients and insurers.
Viagra- This drug is also approved by the FDA to be prescribed in generic name for the treatment of impotence or erectile dysfunction. It is in a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Sildenafil inhibits an enzyme phosphodiesterase-5 which destroys the cGMP and prevents destruction of cGMP and allows cGMP to accumulate and persist longer. The longer cGMP persists, the more prolonged the erection of the penis. The prescription of generic drugs increases their reach to the lowest section of the people also.
Obesity and hypertension- the various research indicate that the time spent in participating in vigorous physical activity has reduced and television viewing has increased drastically this has led to a sedentary lifestyle, which causes obesity and hypertension. The prescription drugs can be pricey, especially if you are juggling several prescriptions. In this situation buying generic drugs can be one way to save money.
In sum, the words ‘branded’ and ‘generic’ are not used to differentiate between medicines based on their components, dosage or potency, as both the drugs are similar. Therefore, to think that branded drugs are more effective is baseless. Generic medicines follow all the protocol and have proven their efficacy and the fact that they are as potent as their branded counterparts. The actual differentiation is in which they are being sold. Prescription of generic drugs should be mandatory for saving money of the patients and insurers.
Generic medications are equal to their brand names and offer the same therapeutic effects at a reduced cost. These are often an inexpensive option but are crucial for lowering health care costs without sacrificing the effectiveness of the drug.
Also Read: Effective Diabetes Prevention Measures
