If you were offered the choice between patented drugs and generic prescriptions, which would you go for? The actual properties would be the same. The only difference is going to be how much you are required to pay for the products, save yourself a lot of cash by opting for the generic drugs.
Any drug, be it a generic or branded, would have been regulated by an official agency. For example in the US the Federal Drug Administration carries this out. It is not possible for any medication, or even health supplement, to be sold legally without first being approved. The FDA exists to ensure that all products we consume are safe and have the expected results.
If any drug manufacturer were to try to introduce a product of which they have not been given approval then an injunction would be issued to cease the distribution. For this reason you can be sure that the generic prescriptions you order are all above board. Just be sure you choose a trusted and reliable source, such as your GP.
When all new drugs are first manufactured they receive a patent. In the US this is for twenty years. Only once the patent expires can another manufacturer make the generic drugs version of the product. This leads in turn to a reduction in the cost of the original medication as competition increases.
No drug can be sold without first undergoing rigorous checks at each stage of the manufacturing process. The weight and the size are analyzed as well as the actual chemical properties to ensure the highest quality products. A generic manufacturer does not require such a large expense when compared to the original patent holder. Once the drug has been discovered the hard work has been done.
The biggest market for $4 generic is the developing world as these countries have a much lower GDP. There is controversy over whether or not poorer nations should be allowed a reprieve from the patents that protect life-giving drugs. In Sub Saharan Africa there is a huge demand for generic AIDS drugs. Fortunately there are countries like India and South Africa that place a lot of resources into researching generic medications for their populations.
It is open to debate whether health care should be an industry that is accessible and free for all or whether or not it is morally correct for a big pharmaceutical company to make hundreds of millions of dollars a year out of our bad misfortune, but the truth of the matter is that the drug patent laws exist. No matter what ailment you suffer with it is well worth finding out whether a generic prescription is available. The money you save can be put to a different use.
There are advances in medical care coming about on a continual basis. There really is no need to be paying hundreds of dollars for medication when the same products can be had for less than half the price. If you are going to buy generic prescriptions through an online pharmacy then check to ensure that they are fully licensed and allowed to sell drugs.