While a generic drug may not have a name you recognize, there is a good chance a brand-name manufacturer has developed it. In fact, brand-name companies account for an estimated 50 percent of generic drug production. After the patent expires on a company’s brand drug, the company often manufactures the exact same drug, changing one of the physical attributes and selling what is essentially the brand-name drug as a generic. Due to trademark laws, generic drugs cannot look exactly like their brand counterparts. However, the generic version must have the same active ingredients. While color, flavor and other parts not related specifically to the drug’s active ingredients may be different, none of these will affect the way the drug works or how it is reviewed by the FDA.

• FDA approved generic drugs must meet the same rigid standards as a brand-name drug. To gain FDA approval, a generic drug must:
• Contain the same active ingredients as the original, brand-name drug
• Be identical in strength, dosage form and the way they’re taken
• Have the same use indications
• Be bioequivalent (perform in the same manner)
• Meet the same batch requirements for identity, strength, purity and quality
• Be manufactured under the same strict standards of FDA’s good manufacturing practice regulations required for innovator products

While not all drugs have generic equivalents, many do. It’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist when a prescription is written to see if a generic version is available. Ask your doctor if the prescription is available in a generic form. If not, ask them if there is another generic drug in the same class that could treat your condition.

Generic drugs provide you with a safe, effective, cost-saving alternative to brand-name prescription drugs. From quality and performance to manufacturing and labeling, everything must meet the FDA’s high standards. With these strict regulations in place, it’s easy to feel confident about the quality of your generic drugs