Archive for the ‘Frequently asked medication questions about buying generic drugs:’ Category

What are the most popular Generic Drugs – Who is winning the prescription drug war?

No Comments
Category Frequently asked medication questions about buying generic drugs:

Every year Americans save money by buying the generic form of their prescription drugs. In some cases we, the consumer, do not have a choice, as our insurance companies require us to take the generic form if it exists. But how much of the prescription drug profit is coming from these generics?

According to a 2005 study by IMS Health, 4 of the top 10 prescription drugs were generics. Of these 4 generic drugs, many of us wouldn’t realize that they were no the brand name, the designer drug itself. Generic drugs have become that popular, that widely used, that the names seem to be just as good as the brand name version.

Heading up the popular generic drugs, ranked second by the WalMart study, and currently third in the nation according to RxList, is Hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is often given as the generic to a Vicodin prescription. Tramadal, the generic for Ultram, also comes in the top ten prescription drugs. Tramadal is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Fibromyalgia. Rounding out the top ten we have two antibiotics, the same antibiotic but made by two different companies; Teva and Warrick. Amoxicillin has probably been in most of our houses at some point. We have probably never thought of it as being a generic since many doctors prescribe this drug by the name itself. It is a semi-synthetic form of penicillin and is used to treat a series of bacterial infections.

It seems that as fast as the prescription drug market grows so does the generic drug market. The biggest hurdle currently for generic drug manufacturing is the drug patents that are held by the drug companies. On average, in the United States, a drug patent is 17 years long, and some can last up to 20 years. This time period can start before the drug is marketed to the mass population. What this does mean is that for that given time period the drug company holds the only approved FDA certification to produce the medication.

Maybe one day the FDA and the patent office will realize the usefulness of generics, not just to break up a monopoly held by a profit loving drug company, but also for the American populous’ wallet.

For cheap generic drugs online – see TheDrugCompany.com

Tags: , , , , ,

What are Generic Drugs – Identical Meds for Less

No Comments
Category Frequently asked medication questions about buying generic drugs:

Many questions cross a person’s mind when they are waiting to have a prescription filled and the pharmacist offers them a generic drug rather than brand name prescription they were prescribed. There are so many questions. Will the medicine work the same way? Is the medication exactly the same as the brand name medicine? Does the generic medication have different side effects? Is the generic medication as safe as the original brand name medication? Why does the generic medication cost less than the original brand name medication? The answer most of these questions are simple and positive.

Generic medications are released to the market when the patent protection on the original formulation expires which then opens the market to competition. This competition between the original brand name prescription and the generic, usually brings down the price of both the generic and brand name medications. The reduced price created by the competition helps reduce the cost of medications for both patients and insurance companies.

Generic medications can be produced once the patent held on the original brand name drug expires. Some drugs are never patented and some are not eligible to be patented by the developers. Also drugs developed in certain countries with out patent laws are also not protected when they are originally developed and can immediately be produced in generic form. Patent laws determine when generic drugs can be produced and the FDA is the governing body that regulates and completes certifications for generic drugs.

The FDA regulates prescription medications and also works to ensure that generic medications are identical to the drugs that they are an alternative form of. To be considered identical by the FDA a generic drug must have the same dose as the original brand name drug, as well as the same strength, the intended use and route of administration must also be the same as the original product.

Generic medications are generally positive in all ways and there are large benefits to having generic medications on the market. They are considered identical to the original product by the FDA which regulates by the FDA to insure to the general public that the generic medications are just as safe, efficient and affective as its brand name counter part.

For cheap generic drugs, check out TheDrugCompany.com

Tags: , , , , ,
Next Entries →