"The secret of getting things done is to act!"Dante Alighieri
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Gynecomastia Surgery – The Solution to Over-Developed Male Breasts
Gynecomastia affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men, as well as a number of adolescents. Many men avoid swimming or sporting activities because they have fat on their chests that makes it look like they have breasts. Gynecomastia is a condition in ...
Home Drug Testing: An Overview
The past 20 years or so have seen a large increase in drug testing in the workplace and elsewhere. This testing has usually taken place in a laboratory setting; home drug testing is a relatively new phenomenon. With increased demand for pre-employment ...
Look out! How Antibiotics Might Be Making You Fat! And how you can lose the fat!
Does this situation sound familiar to you? 'Mary,' a customer in the health food store where I work, had a dilemma. Mary was a little chubby. But she craved starches and sweets. She had tried to lose weight before, but you know how that story goes – she ...
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A brand name drug is the version of the drug that is first produced after approval by the FDA. The brand name of the drug is a registered trademark and is marketed and sold under this name. Alongside the trademark registration, most pharmaceutical companies obtain a patent for their new drug to prevent other companies from producing the drug. This patent protection gives the company sole rights to the drug for 20 years.
When a patent expires other companies are then allowed to create their own version of the drug. This version of the drug is called a generic drug. Generic drugs are identical to the brand name drug that it is related to and so therefore contains the same active ingredients as the brand name drug. The quality, safety and efficacy are also identical. Generic drugs may, however, contain various different inactive ingredients such as different coloring agents and preservatives which do not obviously have a therapeutic effect. The brand name drug also has inactive ingredients to create the tablet shape and color, for example, and the reason why the generic inactive ingredients differ is so that the generic pill produced does not infringe on any trademark laws. This explains why generic pills look different from the parent brand name drug. They are however in effect exactly the same with regards to their active ingredients.
The FDA inform us that the generic equivalent of a brand name drug may differ in: * Shape * Release mechanisms * Packaging * Color * Flavor * Preservative * Expiration date/time * Labeling aspects
FDA laws for Generic Drugs * A Generic drug cannot be approved if it does not have an FDA approved brand name drug * Generic drugs should follow the same dosage as that of original drug * Generic drugs must be bio equivalent to the brand name drug * The pharmaceutical company must write down the drug's chemistry and quality control measures. Each step must be written in detail while giving it for FDA review * The FDA reviews the active and inactive ingredients in the generic drug * The FDA reviews the labeling of generic drugs * The FDA continuously reviews and monitors the generic drug's quality after approval
Safety of Generic Drugs
Generic drugs are just as safe as brand name drugs and you are to expect the same risks and benefits as the brand name drug. The clinical and pharmacological effects are the
same. This is of course if the generic drug has been approved by the FDA. The FDAQ carries out studies on any generic drugs to ascertain that they are in fact as effective as the parent brand name drug.
The Price of Generic Drugs
Consistently generic drugs are cheaper than brand name drugs because the investment and research costs that were needed to be done in order to create the brand name drug have already been completed. Therefore a company creating a generic drug can afford to sell the finished product for less. Generic drug prices are usually 30 - 80% cheaper than the original brand name drug.
The Quality of Generic Drugs
There is no compromise at all on the quality of generic drugs, the FDA would not allow that. Both brand drugs and generic drugs must maintain the same production standards of Goog Manufacturing Practice ( GMP ). In fact 50% of all prescriptions within the USA and approx 40% in Canada are generic drug prescriptions. That is proof in itself that buying generic drugs is just as safe. Things to Remember about Generic Drugs
* Generic drugs are not inferior to brand name drugs * Generic drugs have a B rating but in no way does that mean they are a lesser form of the drug * Follow your doctors advice as he/she may have reason to prescribe a brand name drug over a generic drug * Generic drugs do not take longer to work * Not all medicines are available in generic form * The FDA ensure that no generic drugs are sub standard drugs * Be aware that generic drugs may look different to the parent brand name drug
and Finally...
It seems that consumers always confuse the effectiveness and safety of a generic drug in comparison to the brand name drug because the original brand name drug has a higher price. However, rest assured that the generic drug has exactly the same active ingredients and so perhaps saving money on your prescription and non prescription is easier than you think.
About the author:
If you would like completely free brand name and generic drug price comparison advice on the most reputable online pharmacies, free medical news updates, a free email price comparison service for any drug available in the USA, access to free health discussion forums and more then visit our site at: DiscountPharmacyFind er.com
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