Are Generic Medications the Same as Non-Generic?

It happens to us all. You drop off your prescription at the little counter in the back of the store and the pharmacist asks you without even looking up, "Generic okay?" Usually, you'll answer yes but maybe one time you ask, "Are generics really the same as the brand name medicines?" The pharmacist will greet the question with an overwhelming yes and explain that the only difference between the two is that the brand name medication will cost you more.

Is this really the case? The FDA says yes. The pharmacist says yes. Many physicians and patients say no.

According to Wikipedia, the FDA requires manufacturers to create generic medications that exhibit "bioequivalence" to the original brand name medication, but that does not necessarily mean that the medications are exactly the same. Chemical differences DO exist between brand name medications and the generics that the pharmacy pushes at you.

Many medications that are Extended Release (XR), Controlled Release (CR) or Delayed Release (DR) cannot be duplicated in a generic format that requires a patient to take the pill twice a day. Side affects may be more intense, and the medication may not effectively do it's intended job as designed in the XR, CR, or DR format. Patients and doctors agree that for many medications, no substitution will do.

While a medication may be "guaranteed" by the FDA as being bioequivalent to the medication your doctor prescribed you with, you are not guaranteed that the exact same quality of chemicals are included as in the non-generic medication. You are also being provided with a copy of a medication, and therefore certain elements or chemical likenesses can be missing or altered enough to cause the medication to not work as effectively.

WHY does the pharmacy want you to purchase generic drugs? What is in it for them? That is simple and easy to understand. Because pharmacies get generic medications at such a low rate, they have a much higher mark-up for their generic prescriptions. They act as if they are trying to save you money when they ask you if you would like to substitute your medication for a cheaper, generic alternative when really they get more money out of giving you a lesser quality medication.

Many people experience much faster and efficient results when utilizing a non-generic medication over a generic. While some people think this is a mental disposition, generic medications are chemically different from non-generics and provide more of a benefit to the pharmacy, insurance company and FDA than they do to you.

Next time you think of saving a few bucks on your meds, think twice!