Go to navigation Go to content

Are generic drugs safe?

 

A:

A generic drug should be bioequivalent to a brand-name drug. This means that a generic drug should be the same dose, safety strength, quality, and have the same route of administration as its chemically identical brand-name drug. Americans fill about one billion generic prescriptions annually and count on those drugs to work as well as their branded counterparts; however, some people believe that certain generic drugs don’t work as well or don’t have the same performance characteristics as their brand-name medications.

However, the FDA says that generic drugs have to contain the same purity, strength, quality and stability as their brand-name drugs, and that the way the drug is taken, how it is used, and the way it works should be the same as well. Because generic drugs are supposed to perform the same way as branded-drugs and they cost less, it’s no wonder why so many people chose generic drugs over brand-name medications.

While generic drugs cost less and should be chemically identical to their brand-name counterparts, they are required to look different in size, shape and color. They are also required by federal law to have different names. While this seems reasonable (since the drugs are manufactured by different companies), the drug differences can sometimes create confusion behind the pharmacy counter. This is why some people believe that the medications should look alike to prevent drug errors.

If you have been harmed by a generic drug or brand-name drug, the pharmacy may be to blame. Call Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. at 888-526-7616 to discuss your rights with a skilled drug error attorney today during a free consultation.


David W. Hodges
Connect with me
  • Google+
Tweet