The Safe, Effective, Smart Answer

Generic versions of brand-name drugs are as safe and effective as their more expensive counterparts, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . Here are the facts.

Safe.
Generic drugs are FDA-approved. The FDA requires that generic drugs have the same quality, strength, purity and stability as brand-name drugs. A generic drug must deliver the same amount of active ingredient during the same time period as the brand-name version. And since a drug can be sold as generic only after a drug company's patent runs out, most generic drugs have been on the market for about 20 years under patent. This means that a lot of information is easily available about the drug, and any potential problems have already been addressed.

Effective.
Generic drugs must pass the same rigorous testing as brand-name drugs. The FDA inspects generic drug and brand-name companies in the same way. This means that generic drugs provide the same quality and quantity of medication as more expensive brand-name drugs.

Smart.
Savvy consumers know that on average, generics cost almost 50 percent less. American pharmacies fill more than 3 billion drug prescriptions every year, and 45 percent of them are for generic drugs. You, too, can have a powerful effect on your drug and health care costs by simply asking your doctor and pharmacist, "Is there a generic available in this class of drugs?"