BY FRIEDA
WILEY, PHARMD, RPH FEBRUARY 7, 2019
One of the most common questions I get as a
pharmacist is, “Are generics really as good as brand medications?”
Unfortunately, there is no cut-and-dried answer. It’s not really a question of
whether a brand drug is better than a generic drug, but whether the specific version
of the drug you are taking is giving your body what it needs.
Two of the most common concerns patients
tend to have about generic medications:
Are generic versions as strong as brand?
Many people believe that the often-cheaper
price of generic drugs means that are not getting the same drug dose as you
would. The FDA requires manufacturers of generic drugs to prove that the active
ingredient in the generic version will produce the same result as the
brand-name drug.
Though generic drugs have the same active
ingredient, the inactive ingredients often vary (e.g., binders, fillers, dyes,
etc.). Changing even one of these components can have a major effect on
how the drug behaves. Different inactive ingredients can alter how quickly the
drug dissolves, is absorbed, cleared, and eliminated from the body. When you
put all of this together in the form of a pill or capsule, the generic drug may
have a similar effect as the brand version, but recreating the identical effect
is nearly impossible. Equate this to baking a cake. Duncan Hines has a distinct
flavor, and while “off-brand” competitors may still taste good, the flavor
isn’t quite the same.
Is it okay to switch from brand to generic?
While many patients can switch between
brand and generic versions of drugs without any problems, there are certain
conditions and situations where switching between brand and generics is not a
good idea. Some people may be very sensitive to the different inactive
ingredients, or they may have a health condition that requires a very specific
dose to remain stable. Also, several companies may manufacture the same generic
product, but the inactive ingredients they use may vary. Finally, not all
generic versions of a brand medication are the same (since they are made by
different manufacturers and may have different inactive ingredients), so some
patients may respond differently to one generic version of a medication than
another.
Ultimately, the question is not whether
brand or generic drugs are better, but which drug is the best choice for you.
Because everyone is different, the solution can vary from person to person.
Luckily, your doctor or pharmacist can help you find what works best for you.
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