August 2006
»
Health Tip: Using
Generic Drugs
16 August, 2006
As the cost of prescription drugs continues
to soar, patients and doctors alike are turning to generic
alternatives. But are they the same?
Yes, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Generics
are chemically identical to their brand-name counterparts,
and are equally safe and effective.
Like brand-name drugs, prescription generics must also
be approved by the FDA.
Brand-name drugs are more expensive because the manufacturers
must pay hefty fees for creating and patenting new drugs,
says the FDA. A new drug is protected by patent for a
number of years, but once that patent expires, other drugmakers
are able to produce the bioequivalent generic at a lower
cost.
To read more, Visit:
http://www.lufkindailynews.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/fda-/533915.html |
