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Generics gain popularity as cheaper alternative to brand names
By VALERIE JONES
Rising health care costs and the price of prescription drugs can be a hard pill to swallow, literally, but Americans could give themselves a break in their pocketbooks by utilizing a cheaper alternative – generics.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, generic drugs have exactly the same active ingredients and effects as brand-name drugs, but they can cost 30 to 80 percent less.
“I think there is a trend to use generic medications because economically it’s cheaper for the patient,” said Marshall Steglich, pharmacy manager for Houston Northwest Medical Center. “I think the products are perfectly fine and the manufacturers of them meet the requirements.”
Steglich said many health insurance plans urge people towards generics because the patient won’t have to pay deductibles or co-pays.
“In those cases, people may not have to pay anything out-of-pocket if they choose generics,” he said.
Both Walgreens and CVS pharmacies dispense generic brands to customers, if an equivalent is available, unless the brand-name is specifically requested by the doctor or customer.
Steglich said though generics are a safe substitute for brand-name drugs, patients should be aware that they are not identical.
“There is a range and the generic product can have as little as 80 percent or as much as 125 percent of the product,” he said. “This can affect people when they get their prescriptions filled generically.”
Steglich said issues with this can arise when pharmacies change generic manufacturers. He offered an example of someone taking generic blood pressure medication.
“If they begin using a generic that delivers 90 percent bioequivalence, and the pharmacy decides to switch to another generic brand that delivers 120 percent, it could cause a change in their blood pressure,” he said.
For those reasons, Steglich encourages patients to be familiar with the generics they are taking, read labels, pay attention to generic brands and don’t be afraid to ask pharmacists why their packaging or pill may look different than the month before.
“If you’re on a drug every month that really makes a difference – like birth control or blood thinners – then it’s best to have a consistent drug each month,” Steglich said. “Generic manufacturer switching is not a bad thing, but consumers should be aware of it.”
Generic drugs
They account for about 50 percent of all prescription drug purchases in the U.S.
Brand-name firms are responsible for manufacturing approximately 50 percent of generic drugs
According to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores: in 2004, the average price of a generic prescription drug was $28.74, while the average price of a brand-name prescription drug was $96.01
As of June 2005, there were 11,167 drugs listed in the FDA’s Orange Book (list of approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations), and about 8,400 had generic counterparts.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, generic drugs have exactly the same active ingredients and effects as brand-name drugs, but they can cost 30 to 80 percent less.
“I think there is a trend to use generic medications because economically it’s cheaper for the patient,” said Marshall Steglich, pharmacy manager for Houston Northwest Medical Center. “I think the products are perfectly fine and the manufacturers of them meet the requirements.”
Steglich said many health insurance plans urge people towards generics because the patient won’t have to pay deductibles or co-pays.
“In those cases, people may not have to pay anything out-of-pocket if they choose generics,” he said.
Both Walgreens and CVS pharmacies dispense generic brands to customers, if an equivalent is available, unless the brand-name is specifically requested by the doctor or customer.
Steglich said though generics are a safe substitute for brand-name drugs, patients should be aware that they are not identical.
“There is a range and the generic product can have as little as 80 percent or as much as 125 percent of the product,” he said. “This can affect people when they get their prescriptions filled generically.”
Steglich said issues with this can arise when pharmacies change generic manufacturers. He offered an example of someone taking generic blood pressure medication.
“If they begin using a generic that delivers 90 percent bioequivalence, and the pharmacy decides to switch to another generic brand that delivers 120 percent, it could cause a change in their blood pressure,” he said.
For those reasons, Steglich encourages patients to be familiar with the generics they are taking, read labels, pay attention to generic brands and don’t be afraid to ask pharmacists why their packaging or pill may look different than the month before.
“If you’re on a drug every month that really makes a difference – like birth control or blood thinners – then it’s best to have a consistent drug each month,” Steglich said. “Generic manufacturer switching is not a bad thing, but consumers should be aware of it.”
Generic drugs
They account for about 50 percent of all prescription drug purchases in the U.S.
Brand-name firms are responsible for manufacturing approximately 50 percent of generic drugs
According to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores: in 2004, the average price of a generic prescription drug was $28.74, while the average price of a brand-name prescription drug was $96.01
As of June 2005, there were 11,167 drugs listed in the FDA’s Orange Book (list of approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations), and about 8,400 had generic counterparts.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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