The Case for Going Generic

It is not uncommon for people to shy away from generic drugs, thinking that they are either less potent that branded ones. However, this misconception is generally unfounded. In fact, according to the FDA, generic drugs “have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand name (or reference) product.” As for the other ingredients on the label, it is actually not important that they may be different because the other ingredients are inactive and play no role in the effectiveness of the drug.

Generic drugs really are a safe, effective and affordable option. As long as the generic drug is FDA approved you can be sure that the drug is of the same quality is the reference drug and that any difference in absorption of the drugs by the human body is minimal (average difference is 3.5%).

Considering the amount of money that a person can save by going generic (Generic drugs are cheaper by 80-85% on average), it is hands down generic drugs for me, especially these days when every cent counts.