Generic - what is it? Generics: medication list and table

Man is imperfect, and from time to time various diseases begin to overcome us. Then drugs come to the rescue. However, not all medicines are easy to purchase because of their high cost. Science does not stand still, humanity is looking for ways out of any current situation. One of the inventions that helps not to refuse treatment due to the high cost of the drug is generics.

What is a generic

This term is taken from English and sounds in Russian as "generic", or "zhenerik". Generic is a drug that, in its intended purpose, can replace an innovative drug, it does not have a patent and goes on sale when the license has expired. A generic drug has a difference in composition from the original in both quantitative and qualitative aspects (additional components).

Before a new drug is launched, it must undergo trials and mandatory registration. It can be valid from 10 to 25 years. This medicine can only be sold by a company that has the rights to it, that is, a patent. No one else can release this drug. If the license has not expired and someone has released the same medicine, it is considered illegal. When the drug license expires, the main active ingredient can be used by any company for the manufacture of its new drug. Generic is the same drug that is released after the license expires. There are several conditions that manufacturers must comply with when releasing such substitutes for expensive drugs.

Generic Requirements

Despite the fact that these are not original drugs, they also have their own requirements:

• The ratio of active pharmaceutical substances in the preparation, their qualitative and quantitative indicator must be observed.
• The generic must meet the requirements of established standards.
• It must be produced under good manufacturing practice.
• Generic should be equivalent to the original in degree and rate of absorption.

Different companies can produce generics. Often the same drug has several analogues, but only released by different companies. Therefore, the composition, and therefore their effectiveness, may vary. Not all manufacturers comply with the conditions for the production of generics. As a result, copies and fakes appear. What is the difference between them?

Copy or fake?

Some believe that these two concepts are absolutely identical, but this is not so. Copies of drugs are made without license. This can be compared to pirated copies of videos. Other companies can start producing such drugs without waiting for the license to expire at the main manufacturer, without even changing the name.

Counterfeiting in the market is a very frequent guest. It is cheaper than the main drug, since the active substance is replaced by a cheaper one. Accordingly, the effectiveness of such drugs is very doubtful. There is a high risk of complications and exacerbations of the disease. The production of such funds is criminally punishable. To avoid the purchase of fakes, you should buy medicines only in specialized pharmacies that are licensed and work directly with manufacturers.

From the foregoing, it is clear that a generic is neither a copy nor a fake. And what is the difference between the generic and the original?

Generic and original

The difference between the original drug and the generic is the process of its creation. You can also find some more differences.

1. Generic is a drug that does not undergo comparative studies with the original.
2. Only a conformity check is carried out on the speed and degree of absorption in the body of a generic in comparison with the original.
3. The safety of the drug has not been studied.
4. Generic is distinguished by the composition of excipients.
   

Recently, manufacturers themselves, without renewing the patent, have been producing generic drugs. By their production much less money is already spent. In this case, the positive fact is that generics and original drugs are produced on the same equipment and under the control of the manufacturer.

A few words about the cost of generics

The question arises - why are generics cheaper than original drugs? Analog drugs do have a lower price than the original. For the majority of the population, this factor plays an important role in choosing a drug. Here are some points that contribute to the low price of generics.

The manufacturer does not need to spend money on:

• Marketing research.
• Advertising.
• Laboratory research.
• The original drug may have, in addition to the active active substance, auxiliary components. In generics, they may be absent.
  

For example, the Teraflu drug has an additional flavoring, coloring agent and so on to lower the temperature, and its analogue, Paracetamol, does not have any expensive components. For Teraflu, Paracetamol is a generic.

Generic Efficiency

If the manufacturer responsibly approaches the production of analogues of expensive drugs, then in terms of effectiveness they are practically not inferior to the original drugs. In their composition they have the same active substance. Most manufacturers of medicines along the way and produce generics.

In order to obtain permission to market one or another analogue, the manufacturer must prove the bioequivalence of the generic in relation to the expensive analogue.

Manufacturers invest some of their profits in research activities to improve the quality, safety and efficacy of drugs. This suggests that quality generics can be as effective and safe as their counterparts.

We select an analog to the original

If we consider the generics of drugs, we can see that almost every drug has a cheaper analogue. Very often, when prescribing a long-term treatment, and even including several medications, the patient has nothing left to do, how to purchase a non-original drug.

Cheap generics can be of great help in the treatment of many diseases. Why buy dear Panadol, if you can buy a penny Paracetamol? The effect will be almost the same.

Studying the question of what generic drugs exist, the list can be made quite long, but it is very important to compare the cost of these drugs for clarity. Sometimes, going to the pharmacy, we go on the occasion of the pharmacist and get expensive medicine. And if you know what you can replace it with, then in some cases you won’t have to spend extra money.

Generic drugs: table

The information in the table about cheaper analogues of drugs does not call for the fact that in each case, replace the original drug with a generic. In some cases, this is not justified. It is best to always discuss such issues with your doctor.

This is not a complete list of analogues of the original drugs, but it can be continued almost indefinitely. Only on the basis of this information, we can conclude that almost all drugs have generic analogues.

How to choose a generic

Before you go to the pharmacy for cheaper medicine, you need to have at least some information about it. Knowing what a generic is, you can, after consulting with a doctor, choose the most suitable option. Some tips for those who decide to use generics.

1. Buy drugs at pharmacies that are licensed and by competent pharmacists. They will give the necessary advice, and the risk that you buy a fake will be minimal.
2. Along with the drug in the package should be instructions. The paper should be of high quality, the font should be clear, the address of the manufacturer must be indicated with the contact phones.
3. Pay attention to the manufacturer and the country of manufacture.
4. For any disease, when purchasing a drug that is an analogue prescribed by a doctor, it is better to consult with a specialist again. Your health may depend on this.

If you still decide to use a generic, carefully study the item above - "Generic drugs: table."

The advantages of cheaper analogues

Consider the positive aspects of generics, and there are many of them. It:

• Low prices.
• They make it possible for low-income groups to be treated.
• Modern generics produce good quality.
• They expand the possibilities of treatment for both the doctor and the patient. These drugs are not inferior in effectiveness to the original, if you did not come across a fake.

Disadvantages of generics

In addition to the positive aspects, there are also negative aspects that must be taken into account if you decide to replace the original drug with a generic drug.

1. There is a possibility that the active substance and excipients of the generic can be produced on poor equipment, because of this their quality is lost.
2. The side effects of generic drugs have hardly been studied.
3. A poor quality analogue can cause an allergic reaction and do not have a good therapeutic effect.

Summing up, we can conclude: when buying generics of drugs, the list of which is very large, be very careful, but for the treatment of serious diseases it is better to use the original drugs. Take care of your health.