What is the Difference in Brand Name vs Generic Meds?

If you have had a prescription filled at your local pharmacy, you have probably been offered a choice between brand name vs generic medication.  You may have wondered what the difference is, and if the brand name drugs are superior to the generic brand.  There are those who believe that there is a great difference in quality between brand name vs generic drugs, and they willingly pay the much higher price for the brand name product in the belief that they are getting the superior medication.  Is there really a difference between brand name vs generic, and how does it affect you?  When you read the label on your medication, you will find a listing of active and inactive ingredients.  The active ingredients are the actual medication that is meant to treat your health condition.  The inactive ingredients include elements of the drug such as the dissolving time-release capsule that regulates how much of the medication is released at a time.

When you compare brand name vs generic drugs, you will find that the active ingredients in the generic version exactly match the active ingredients of the corresponding name brand.   In other words, when you take generic medications, you are getting the exact same product you get when you buy the name brand.  Government regulations for pharmaceutical companies require that generic medications be the equivalent of the name brand in quality and efficacy.  In short, the only difference is in the price.

What is the reason for the price difference between brand name vs generic drugs? Generic drugs are essentially reverse engineered from the brand name formula.  By producing generic meds in this manner, pharmaceutical companies save money on development and marketing, therefore lowering the price for the end consumer.

What is the reason that brand name vs generic medications appear differently? Brand name medications are protected by copyright law.  The physical appearance, including the name stamped on the pills, is required to be different for brand name vs generic pharmaceutical products that are sold to the public.

What is the policy of insurance companies regarding brand name vs generic medications? Due to the money-saving efforts of many insurance companies, a large number of health care plans which provide prescription drug coverage require you to opt for generic medications whenever the choice is made available to you.

Is there a difference in dosage strength between the two types of medications? Because of government regulations, generic medications are required to work the same way, contain the same dosage strength, and be administered in the same manner.  Therefore, no significant difference exists between brand name vs generic viagra or other meds.