Generic vs Name Brand Drugs

The issue of brand name versus generic prescription medications has become a common topic of discussion. Health insurance and managed care plans provide incentives to patients and providers to use generics, which are less expensive.

When a new medication is first developed by a manufacturer and approved by the government, the maker of the brand name product has an exclusive patent for several years.

After the patent expires, others may market that same medication with government approval. These are the generic products. Over the years, there has been controversy over the quality of these products. In most cases, there is no evidence of any difference in quality. The generic drug manufacturers must follow the same FDA regulations for manufacturing, as do the brand name companies. In most cases, the generic drug provides the same therapy at a reduced cost.

However, there are some instances when brand name products are preferred to generics. Usually, these are medications where very precise control of dose is important, or the medication is in some way difficult to manufacture. Examples of medications for which brand name products are preferred include:

* Warfarin or Coumadin,
* Digoxin or Lanoxin,
* Levothyroxine or Synthroid and Levothroid
* Phenytoin or Dilantin.

The regulations that allow pharmacists to substitute a generic for a brand name product differ from state to state.