Generic drugs have become increasingly prominent in today’s medical market. At a small fraction of the original cost, you can invest in generic drugs as opposed to brand-name drugs, saving you money and providing medication to your loved ones. Usually, generic drugs are simply alternative medications to a brand-name version, and they possess the same strength, effectiveness, quality, and safety as brand-name versions. Pharmacies carry both the generic and the brand-name versions of medicine, so talk to your doctor and see what’s best for you.
The generic version of your medicine differs very little from the name-brand counterpart. The greatest difference, and benefit, of generic drugs is the cost. I have a prescription, and for $9, I get a three month’s supply of medicine. So I can get my prescription for literally a fraction of the price. Although generic drugs may be the preferable option, not all brand-name medications have a generic form. Generic drugs are made when the patent for the brand-name drug has run out, so many newer medications don’t have a generic form out yet.
Generic drugs are cheaper because the costs for research, experimentation, testing, advertising, and marketing have already been paid, allowing the generic to be sold for a low cost. Also, with a competitor drug on the market, the name-brand drug company will often lower prices in order to better compete with the generic company. The generic drugs are not allowed to exactly resemble its brand-name brother, and the small variations in size and color can affect the release time, taste, and texture of your medicine, but does not change it’s effectiveness. As a bio-equivalent to its brand-name counterpart, generic drugs are required to contain the same active ingredient with the same chemical formula, but the inactive ingredients can vary, although the variations are generally minimal and can be pretty much disregarded. However, if you do experience different side effects because of a generic version, talk to your doctor and see what plan is best for you.
If you have insurance that covers your prescription costs, brand-name drugs may actually turn out to be cheaper than the generic version. Health insurance companies negotiate on behalf of their insured customers in order gain more favorable prices for them. You can see which medicines would be cheaper for you by contacting your insurance company. However, what is most important is talking to your doctor about which drug, the generic or name-brand, is best for you. If there is no difference, you can go ahead and talk to your insurance company to see which may be cheaper and make your decision from there.
Many have been struggling under the weight of prescription drug prices, and the creation of $4 generic has been a huge relief. More and more generic drugs enter the market every year, so keep up to date on which medication you may be able to buy generic. Check online or ask you doctor to see when generics may be coming out for you. Generics provide a great alternative for more expensive brand-name drugs, making prescriptions more accessible for you and your family.