While the pills you receive at the pharmacy counter may look slightly different from the brand, generic medicines work the same as costlier brand-name products. They have the same active ingredients, and the manufacturing and packaging must pass the same quality standards.
A fact sheet from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms, “Generic drugs go through a rigorous review process to receive FDA approval. The FDA ensures a generic medication provides the same clinical benefit and is as safe and effective as the brand-name medicine that it duplicates.”
Cost is the main difference between generic and brand name prescription drugs. Unlike brand companies, generic manufacturers compete directly on price, resulting in lower prices for consumers. Generics have saved Americans $2.2 trillion over the last decade.
Further Reading
CVS, “Switching to a Generic Could Help You Save”
HealthSmart, “Generic vs. Brand Medications”
HuffPost, “The Truth About Generic Vs. Brand-Name Medications”
Scientific American, “What's the difference between brand-name and generic prescription drugs?”
WebMD, “Generic Drugs: Answers to Common Questions”
Share Your Voice
Tell Congress to protect access to your safe, affordable generic and biosimilar medicines.
By Erica Klinger, AAM Marketing Director
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