GENERIC DRUGS V/S BRAND DRUGS

What are Generic Drugs..?
Why are Generic medicines Cheaper than Branded Drugs..?

India is a most populated country and the medicines became a part of life here., for diabetes, blood pressure, most of us use pain killers, what ever be the purpose we are taking medicines as just like food and water and we are spending more of our budget on a medicines for a family....,the fact is that ..we are simply exploited by pharma companies...

Generic drugs are the exact copies of brand-name drugs. They have exactly the same dosage. They are meant for the same purpose as branded drugs.  They have same effects, side effects, route of administration and strength as the original drug. 

One example of Generic Drug used in the treatment of Diabetes is Metformin. The brand Name for the Drug is Glucophage. The Brandname is the normally patented by the parent Company and the Brand Names are capitalized. Another example of a Hypertensive Drug is Metoprolol. The Brand name for the Drug is Lopressor and the Generic Drug is Metoprolol. 

People are more worried about the Generic Drugs because they are very cheaper than the Branded Drugs.
There is a reason why the Generic Drugs are cheaper than the Branded Drugs. Generic drugs are cheaper because the manufacturers have not had the expenses of developing and marketing the drug. When a company brings a new drug into the market, the firm has already spent a lot of money on research, development, marketing of the drug. A patent is then granted to the company that developed the drug an exclusive right to sell the drug as long as the patent is in effect. As the patent nears expiration, manufacturers can apply to the FDA for permission to make and sell generic versions of the drug; and without the start-up costs for development of the drug. Hence the other manufacturers can produce the drugs are cheaper costs.  The Competition from Multiple manufacturers can further lower the cost of Generic Drugs. 

So the myth is that Generic Drugs are inferior in Quality is totally false. Another common mis belief is that it generally takes long time for Generic Medicines to show effect. This is also totally wrong.

In India, We find that there are a lot of Branded Drugs. Here most of the Drugs which are being prescribed are Generic Drugs sold with a Brand Name. What i mean to say is most of the Drugs which are prescribed do not have their patents active. Their Patents have been expired long back. This means that the Drugs so manufactured is more of a Generic Drug (Drug whose patent is expired), but is now given a Brand Name and sold at very high Prices. These Drugs are Prescription Drugs which the Doctor prescribes.

However, there are Generic Drugs also available in the market, which is not prescribed by most of the Doctors. They are of same efficacy as of any other drug of same composition or molecule. These Generic Drugs are cheaper because the Company doesn’t spend on the Research, Development, Marketing, Branding, Salaries of Marketing, and Samples etc. In case of Generic Drugs, the Drugs manufactured from the Pharmaceutical Company directly comes into the market.

The main reason for the doubt in Peoples mind is that the Generic Drugs do not gain the Support or Confidence of Doctors. Many Doctors have been shying away from prescribing generic Drugs. Whenever Doctors are confronted to write generics, they say they do not that the responsibility for the consequences arising after using Generic Drugs. This causes a doubt in the minds of the Patients who is already ill. And he spends money as per the Doctors Prescription.
I feel that the Government must take a big step in promoting Generic Medicines. 


Generic Drugs are Pocket Friendly. They don’t pinch your Pockets.