The Truth about Generic Medications

Generic medications are known for being cheaper than traditional medications. That excites some people working with a small budget, but it scares people who assume that the meds won't work as well if they cost less to buy. If you are going to invest your accountant salary on some sort of medication, you want to make sure you're getting your money's worth. There is nothing wrong with that. The truth is that generic medications may not be any less effective than the name brands they mimic. Here are some facts about generic medications that you can think about when trying to select a medical solution for you.

Generic Medications Have to Work Like Name Brand Medications

If a generic medication is going to claim to work like a name brand medication, it has to hold up to that. The FDA is really specific about what generic medication can and cannot go onto the market. If there is a medication claiming to be something it is not, then it will not allow it to go into production. Generics are rigorously tested to ensure that their chemical composition and effectiveness are just like the name brands they are trying to emulate. Thus you don't have to worry about taking medication that isn't actually going to be effective.

The Active Ingredients Remain the Same

In every medication, there is a set of active ingredients and a set of inactive ingredients. The active ingredients are the ones that actually fix whatever problems you have. The inactive ingredients are the ones that make a pill look, taste, or smell the way it does. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the active ingredient. The rest of the ingredients are just filler. Generic medications always contain the active ingredient from the name brand drugs they are copying. Thus you know that you are getting the same care, even if the ingredients look a little different.

Generics Wait Seven Years to Go on the Market

It takes a long time for a name brand drug to get on the market, and then the drug has seven years to exist on its own without competition. Once that time runs out, generic medication manufacturers are able to release their versions of the drugs at a much lower price. This seven year process gives name brand manufacturers a chance to make a ton of money without competition, and it also gives the generic manufacturers a chance to test their products against the others. That way, you know that you are getting the help you need every time you take a generic medication

Generics Cost Less Money Because…

The main reason why generic medications cost less money is because they aren't heavily advertised. The manufacturers basically have to charge a little more than the active ingredient is worth, and then they can make the money they need to make. These medications aren't priced less because they are made of lower quality ingredients. They are cheaper because they don't have all the bells and whistles on the bottle and ads. When you start thinking about that, you may not have as much of a problem with generic medications.

There is nothing to be embarrassed about if you buy generic medications. As long as you get better, that should be all that matters. I try to find the generic version for anything that I take, and I can confidently say that I have saved a ton of money over the years. Do the same in your life, and see the results for yourself.