Generic - what is this newfangled word, and even in relation to medicines? It turns out that this word can be called an analogue of a medication. But only conditionally. Why? Let's try to figure out what a “generic” is, what are its features and differences from the original tool, why there are so many generics now. Should they replace the already familiar means of a familiar manufacturer?
Generic at a Glance
Generic - what is it? We will not delve into the jungle of pharmacology, explain with a simple example. Suppose a person invents a bicycle, patents his invention and starts selling it profitably. There is a factory in the neighborhood, but they can’t invent something better than a bicycle. Previously, the patent was “eternal”, that is, assigned to its first developer. Now the validity of a patent is limited. So, if you imagine that the right of the inventor of the bicycle has expired, then the neighboring factory has the right to produce the same product, but at a price several times lower than the original. Why? Maybe because the steering wheel is no longer made of good steel, but of a cheaper alloy, and the saddle is not leather, but of dermantine. And manufacturers are new to their field.
That is, the technique and technique plus the main components of the composition are preserved. But the additional components can be completely different from the original. Generic drugs are bicycles from that neighboring factory. Their effect should be identical, but sometimes side effects from a generic can be stronger than from the original remedy.
Why are generics available?
One of the answers in the previous section. Because the second bike is not invented, and before the invention of the motorcycle it is still very early and / or there are no engineers, materials or opportunities to produce it.
Generic, whose price is much lower than the price of the original "bike", is bought no less than his noble ancestor. As a result, the consumer has the drug cheaper, and the seller has the buyer. And all is well, except for some nuances. Not all generics match the quality of the original and exactly repeat its effect. This happens due to the seemingly appropriate, but not always completely repeating original technology of production. In addition, components that have undergone less serious processing and cleaning are sometimes used.
List of generics of popular drugs
Now many drugs have their "successors." Famous brands replace their generics, the list of which is very long. We will mention the most famous and compare prices.
Now he has taken and is not inferior to his position in dermatology "Bepanten" - a cream whose active ingredient is vitamin D. The only minus of this cream is the price. But generic is replacing it - inexpensive, but acting similarly to the original "Dexpanthenol" (370 and 100 rubles, respectively).
Continuing the topic of creams and ointments, we recall the cream gel from leg fatigue and against thrombophlebitis "Lyoton". He also has a successor - heparin acryl gel (370 and 250 rubles, the first and second in comparison).
The advertised Mezim (200 rubles per 10 pcs.) Also has an analogue in the world of generics - Pancreatinum (40 rubles per 50 pcs.).
Also applies to the treatment of gastric diseases - Omez (180 rubles) and the Russian analogue Omeprazole (45 rubles).
Sufficiently expensive and effective antipyretic Nurofen (120 rubles) has a cheap analogue of Ibuprofen with a similar active substance - 40 rubles. This also includes Panadol and Paracetamol (60 and 5 rubles, respectively).
The well-known antibiotic Sumamed has the generic Azithromycin.
For the treatment of fungal diseases, including thrush in women, the drug "Flucostat" (200 rubles) has long been produced. But few people know about the existing analogue of "Fluconazole" at a price of 15 rubles.
"Voltaren" and "Diclofenac" (180 first, 600 rubles. The second) will equally help with polyarthritis and rheumatism, but "Diclofenac" will make it much cheaper - 50-60 rubles.
With allergic manifestations, including seasonal ones, Zirtek saves. But his generic "Cetirinax" is able to eliminate allergy symptoms as effectively, and is several times cheaper than other generics.
The list will continue with the antiviral (effective for herpes) "Zovirax" and "Acyclovir" (200 and 20 rubles for comparison). We will end the list with the immunostimulant "Immunal", which is a tincture of Echinacea purpurea, respectively, its analogue is the usual alcohol tincture of Echinacea.
Generics "Viagra"
Means "Viagra" has long established itself in the pharmaceutical market as effective in violation of erectile function. A serious drawback of the tool is its price, it is quite high. To help men and their wallet - generics of "Viagra": Generic Viagra (Malegra-100). The active substance in both medicines is sildenafil. It acts by stimulating blood circulation in the pelvic area. The price of a generic is about 6 times lower.
Drugs vary, of course, by price. And the manufacturer. The original product is released by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Generic is made in India, which is a huge pharmaceutical monster and sells its products in all European countries.
The drug "Levitra" and the generic "Levitra"
The direct competitor of Viagra is Levitra and its generic drug with the same name. Here, the manufacturer of the original is the German company Bayer, and the generic is manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company. The active substance of both the original and generic is vardenafil. Generic "Levitra" differs from the original drug in that the active agent in the second is declared in three dosages - 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg, then the Indian remedy is available in only one version - with vardenafil in an amount of 20 mg.
Generic or original?
There is an opinion about the generic that this is almost a fake. This judgment is erroneous. In most cases, the generic is in no way inferior to the original. But sometimes the doctor can not only prescribe an expensive original tool, but also strongly recommend buying it. Why is this happening? Does the doctor benefit from this? In fact, a specialist, recommending it is the original, looking for not a benefit for himself, but a benefit for you. Especially when it comes to treating a child or a person with concomitant chronic diseases. The point is the degree of purification and special technology. Some drugs require expensive equipment, and they simply can’t be cheap. Generic may have a similar composition, but non-compliance with the technology leads to deterioration in quality and effect. The snag can also be in the form of a drug release. For example, a pediatrician will most likely prescribe “Summamed” rather than “Azithromycin,” because the former is released in syrup and suspension, the latter only in capsules, which are difficult and sometimes impossible for the child to swallow.
Also, if we talk about the Levitra drug described above, then patients aged and with high blood pressure are recommended to take the drug, starting with a dosage of 5 mg. As we recall, a generic is available only in the 20 mg version. It is not very convenient to break the tablet into four parts, it is easier to buy an optimally dosed version of the original.
Well, in general, generics (reviews of which are quite positive in the majority) are a good option with a limited budget. Moreover, for some of them the price may be ten times lower.
When it is advisable to buy a generic. Reviews
Above, we examined how the “heir” drug differs from its “ancestor", and when it is worth buying the original. But what about generics? Reviews about the drugs in most cases correspond to reviews and about their "successors". That is, if the original is suitable for the person (which consists in the maximum action and the minimum of side effects), then, most likely, a generic is also suitable. In addition, its purchase will significantly save the budget. The only thing we would like to emphasize: a doctor’s consultation is necessary both when buying the original product, and when buying a generic.
conclusions
Generic - what is it? Replacing old drugs with new, cheaper ones? Yes and no, as there are still differences.
Sometimes they are quite significant, as, for example, the degree of purification of the components of the drug or the amount of the main active substance. And sometimes it’s just a release form.
In any case, before you buy the product, carefully study the composition. For example, in the case of Panadol and Paracetamol, the composition of the preparations is similar, and the price varies quite significantly.
When buying a generic, pay attention to the amount of active drug. It may vary.