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Are generic drugs as good as brand-name drugs?
Yes. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a generic drug is the same as a brand-name drug in dosage, safety, strength, quality, the way it works, the way it's taken, and the way it should be used. Generic drugs use the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs and work the same way. So they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name drugs.
Because there are usually many drug makers competing to make generic drugs, their costs are 70% lower (on average) than brand-name drug costs. Generic drug makers must prove to the FDA that their product performs in the same way as the brand-name drug. Today, almost half of all prescriptions are filled with generic drugs.
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(Primary Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Medicare and You Handbook 2007. This content may have been added upon by Q1Group LLC to include further examples, explanations, and links.)
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Last updated on: 07/18/2008
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