What the difference between Brand Medicine versus Generic Drug

Generic Drugs: The True Free Lunch You may have asked yourself before, what is the difference between brand medicines and generic drugs? Due to other products, you may associate the word generic with knock-offs that are sort of close to the original product, but differ a lot in quality. They may be much cheaper, but they are never the same. Using that experience, you may assume the same could hold true for brand-name medicines and the generic drugs that proclaim to be equivalents. However, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.

To understand the true difference between brand-name and generic drugs, you need to understand the legal concept of the patent. The reason drug companies pour millions of dollars into the development and testing of drugs is because once their drug is approved by the FDA for use that company will receive a patent. The drugs we usually think of as brand-names are those that received the patent first. The patent prevents competitors from releasing their own versions of these drugs for twenty years, unless the patent holder licenses out that right for a rather hefty fee. Since the patent holder is the only company with the right to sell or license these drugs during that time frame, it can create a lot of revenue to help offset the cost of all that expensive research and development that went into that brand medicine. The amount of money spent to develop the drug is also reflected in its retail price to the consumer.

A generic drug enters the equation after that patent expires. Competitors are suddenly legally able to produce the same drug without paying for a license to do so from the former patent holder. Due to the fact that the competitor did not spend all that money for research and development, they are able to sell it at a much cheaper price. You may think that the cheaper price may also reflect a difference in quality, but this is false. All generic drugs must undergo extensive testing to prove to the FDA that they contain the exact same ingredients, dissolve in the human body at the exact same rate, have the exact same dosage requirements, and so forth. How generic drugs are allowed to differ from brand medicine is negligible such as the use of different colored pills or different preservatives. So in the case of generic drugs, something that seems too good to be true is actually true. They are nearly identical to brand-name drugs in nearly every way except for the difference in cost to the consumer.

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Generic for Advair (250 mg)

The generic drug for Advair (250mg) (fluticasone-salmeterol) current availability:

Trade Brand Names: Advair, Seretide, Viani, Adoair, and ForAir. Ⓡ Registered mark of and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline.

This brand product is sold in other countries as Seretide Diskus.  Seretide is not a generic but rather a trade name the manufacture has decided to market the SAME product under in another market.  I.e. UK.

Commonly prescribed to relieve the symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath. Fluticasone is the anti-inflammatory component of the combination; salmeterol treats constriction of the airways. Advair is used in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Rx required. Seretide Accuhaler is the international generic name assigned to reference the active ingredient. A cheap generic alternative is available.

Where to get the cheap generic for Advair (250mg):
Cheaper generics for brand name drugs such as Advair are not always available in all countries at the same time. Patents expire on various dates worldwide, which opens up the market for competition by pharmaceutical companies to make and distribute their generic brand drug with the same active ingredients (fluticasone and salmeterol) and medicinal properties as Advair. An Advair generic is currently available at:
www.thedrugcompany.com/asthma/advair_inhaler/250.0025/

Contact your pharmacy’s generic drugstore specialist to see if your expensive brand name medication has or will have a generic equivalent available in your area anytime soon. If not, be certain whomever you buy from is a licensed online pharmacy. Advair generics are available from India, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Japan. Advair can be purchased through licensed Canadian pharmacies.

Advair Discounts and Money-Saving Tips:

  1. Buy the generic drug online.
  2. A patient assistance program may provide discounts or free Advair medications to qualified individuals; ask your doctor for a less expensive alternative.
  3. Free Advair coupon on website or get free price quotes for Advair
  4. Ask for doctor samples

Advair generic name:
All drugs have a generic name, a short unique international reference for the medicine. Fluticasone-Salmeterol is the trade generic name for Advair. The brand and generic names come in the following strengths:

  • Advair 250mg / fluticasone-salmeterol 250mcg

Advair generic brands:
Generic vs brand name medicine. What is the difference?

  • Advair is the trade name marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Vs. fluticasone-salmeterol is the name marketed by generic companies.
  • Advair’s and generic brand’s ingredients are fluticasone propionate and salmeterol xinafoate.
  • The FDA or equivalent regulator in each country regulates Advair for safety as do the pharmaceutical generic companies.

Generic brands are distributed under the generic pharmaceutical manufacturer’s name and prominence is given to the active ingredient. Some common generic companies:

  • Ranbaxy Laboratories – India
  • Apotex – Canada
  • Barr – USA

Buy Advair online: a most popular brand name bronchoconstrictor among sufferers of wheezing.

Generic Advair does not exist: Price conscious consumers know to ask for the generic medicine as a low cost alternative to a prescribed brand name. They often mistakenly ask for the generic equivalent of a brand drug by adding “generic” pre or post the trade name. i.e. “Advair generic”.
This is a common error as the consumer does not know the brand’s chemical name. Health professionals know what they are looking for, but since Advair is a registered name, their request does not exist.

A generic alternative is only available where a patent has not been issued or after it expires. To properly request a quote, ask for the chemical name. You can find it on the label of your product under active ingredients.

Find a cheap generic price for almost any brand-name medicine. http://www.thedrugcompany.com/product/advair for Advair and generic price availability.

  • Generic Advair (250mg) can be purchased here at 250mcg/50mcg (2 x 30 dose) for $71.00*.
  • Generic Advair (250mg) can be purchased here at 250mcg/50mcg (4 x 30 dose) for $94.00*.
  • Generic Advair (250mg) can be purchased here at 250mcg/50mcg (6 x 30 dose) for $144.00*.

Whereas Advair, the brand costs:

  • Advair 250mcg/50mcg (2 x 30 dose) for $209.98*
  • Advair 250mcg/50mcg (4 x 30 dose) for $406.75*
  • Advair 250mcg/50mcg (6 x 30 dose) for $602.75*

*Pricing/Prices subject to change.

Definitions:

  1. bronchodilator – a substance that acts to dilate constricted bronchial tubes to aid breathing, used esp. for relief of asthma.
  2. fluticasone-salmeterol – is the generic name for an approved bronchodilating oral inhaler.
  3. Advair – is a trade mark used to brand the drugs fluticasone and salmeterol used in combination
  4. Generic prescription – is a directive given from a medical doctor in the form or the chemical name rather then requesting the brand or brand only without substitution

Generic for Plavix 75 (Clopidogrel)

The generic drug for plavix 75 (clopidogrel 75) current availability:

Trade Brand Name: Plavix ®. Registered mark of sanofi-aventis. Marketed by pharmaceutical companies: Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership. Commonly prescribed to lower heart attack, stoke, or clot risk. Clopidogrel keeps blood platelets from sticking and is the international generic name assigned to reference the active ingredient. Rx generally required, although some pharmacies in the world are allowed to dispense this medications without prescription. We are advised by our Canadian pharmacy that a cheap generic alternative is available.  Learn more:

Where to get a cheap generic for Plavix: Finding a low cost alternative for Plavix in many countries is next to impossible, unless you are willing to switch to another blood thinning medication.  Which is certainly not advisable:  if your symptoms and platelet aggregation are under control with this prescription therapy.

Cheaper generics for brand name drugs are not available in all countries at the same time.  Internationally, patents expire on various dates, opening up the market for competition by pharmaceutical companies to manufacture and distribute their generic brand drug with the same active ingredient (Clopidogrel) and therapeutic properties as Plavix.   After much exploration we found where in the world a Plavix generic equivalent is currently available.

http://www.thedrugcompany.com/blood_thinner/plavix/75/

To get the Plavix generic substitute and save, you may need to purchase from an international or Canadian pharmacy.   But contact your pharmacy’s generic drugstore specialist to see if your expensive brand name medication has or will have a generic equivalent available in your area anytime soon.  If not, be certain whomever you buy from they are a licensed online pharmacy. Clopidogrel generics are available from India, United Kingdom, South African  and can for  purchased through licensed Canadian pharmacies.

Plavix (clopidogrel) discounts and money saving tips.

  1. Buy the generic drug online. Free Clopidogrel generic for plavix price quote
  2. A patient assistance program may provide discounts or free plavix medications to qualified individualsask your doctor for a less expensive alternative.
  3. Free Plavix coupon
  4. Free Clopidogrel generic coupon
  5. Ask for doctor samples

Note: A generic prescription may be required to convert from brand medications.

Plavix generic name: All drugs have a generic name, a short unique international reference for the medicine.  Clopidogrel is the trade generic name. The brand and generic name comes in the following tablet strengths:

  • Plavix 75 mg / Clopidogrel 75 mg

Patent protection is due for expiration in 2010 for Canada and in USA 2011.

Canadian generics manufacture Apotex , briefly distributed a generic for plavix in 2006.   Prior to Bristol-myers squibb obtaining a court ruling to protect it’s patent against infringement.

Clopidogrel generic brands: Generic vs brand name medicine.  Lets compare the brand medicine versus generic drug: What is the difference?

  • Plavix is the trade name marketed by Sanofi-aventis Vs. clopidogrel is the name marketed by generic company (companies).
  • Plavix’s active ingredient is clopidogrel Vs. the generic brand’s contains and is commonly referred to as clopidogrel.
  • The FDA or equivalent regulator in each country regulates Plavix for safety.  But so are the products of pharmaceutical generic companies.

Generally speaking, due to therapeutic efficacy requirements the only difference a consumer should experience when consuming a generic equivalent is price.   Generic brands will be distributed under the generic pharmaceutical manufacture’s name and prominence given to the active ingredient. Some common generic brand names are:

  • Ranbaxy Laboratories – India
  • Apotex – Canada
  • Barr – USA
  • Cipla – India
  • Ratiopharm – Euro
  • Teva Pharmaceutical Industries – Israel

Buy Plavix online; a most popular blood thinner medication brand name drug . To explore if switching to a generic blood thinner is right for you give one of our health professionals a toll free call.  Or chat with them online.  They will happily discuss your alternatives and how much you could save by buying Plavix online.

Be sure to ask about generic price availability and our risk free satisfaction guarantee.

Generic Plavix does not exist: Price conscious consumers know to ask for the generic medicine as a low cost alternative to a prescribed brand name.  However, they often mistakenly ask for the generic equivalent of a brand drug by adding “generic” pre or post the trade name.  i.e. “Plavix generic”

This is a common error due to the fact that the consumer does not know the brand’s chemical name. Even though health professionals know they are looking for, factually since Plavix is registered name, their request does not exist.

A generic alternative is only available where a patent has not been issued or after it expires.  To properly request a quote, ask for the chemical name.  You can find it on the label of you product under active ingredients.

Quickly find a cheap generic price for almost any brand name medicine. Search here for Plavix; and generic price availability

Get your free Plavix and Clopidogrel generic coupon here

Definitions:

  1. Blood thinner – an anti coagulating medicine used in preventing the formation of blood clots
  2. Clopidogrel – is the generic name for an approved blood thinning medication.
  3. Plavix – is a trade mark used to brand the drug Clopidogrel
  4. Generic – is a generalized class for a substance not having a brand name
  5. Generic prescription – is a directive given from a medical doctor in the form or the chemical name rather then requesting the brand or brand only without substitution
  6. Plavex – is a common misspelling

Who decides a drugs Generic Name?

Name that Drug – How Generic Drugs get Their Names Who decides a drug’s Generic name? Surely they don’t just pick these names for drugs out of a hat. Names for drugs can be complicated sounding and difficult to pronounce. Generic drugs have completely different names from their brand name brothers or sisters (we want to be fair here). The reason a generic drug receives a different name from the brand name is so, that when it comes to dispensing drugs in a pharmacy, there won’t be any confusion as to which drug a customer receives.

When a company first develops a drug, it is given a chemical name and also a code name. The chemical name is usually one that most of us couldn’t even pronounce. The chemical name refers to its chemical structure. For instance the drug Tylenol has a chemical name of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol. When researchers are developing a drug they use the code name as an easy way to reference the drug during their research.

The United States Adopted Names Council (Isn’t that a mouthful?) is the official entity that assigns the generic name. This is a council that consists of five volunteers, one person from the American Medical Association, one from the American Pharmacists Association, one from the United States Pharmacopeia, a member of the FDA, and a member at large. The at large member is not a large person. It is a person chosen from lists compiled of the members from the three professional organizations involved in the council. This council has been naming generic drugs since June of 1961.

The company who developed the drug gets to choose the brand name. The FDA has the final approval over the brand name. A good example of this would be Tylenol. In Tylenol’s case the generic name is Acetaminophen and, of course, the brand name is Tylenol.

The FDA approves all drugs that come on the United States market. The FDA not only approves the drugs, but it must also approve both the generic and the brand names. Any company that wants to sell a drug after the drug’s patent expires can only use the generic name. The original manufacturer retains the brand name and can also sell the drug under both the brand and generic names.

Patents for brand name drugs, in the United States, are usually for 20 years. When the patent expires on a brand name drug, this allows generics to be sold and makes the cost of the drug go down. Insurance companies encourage covered persons to use generic drugs and many companies, like Wal-Mart, sell generics at very cheap prices.

Find great deals, discount drugs and generic drugs at http://www.thedrugcompany.com/

Name that Drug – How Generic Drugs get Their Names Who decides a drug’s Generic name? Surely they don’t just pick these names for drugs out of a hat. Names for drugs can be complicated sounding and difficult to pronounce. Generic drugs have completely different names from their brand name brothers or sisters (we want to be fair here). The reason a generic drug receives a different name from the brand name is so, that when it comes to dispensing drugs in a pharmacy, there won’t be any confusion as to which drug a customer receives.

When a company first develops a drug, it is given a chemical name and also a code name. The chemical name is usually one that most of us couldn’t even pronounce. The chemical name refers to its chemical structure. For instance the drug Tylenol has a chemical name of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol. When researchers are developing a drug they use the code name as an easy way to reference the drug during their research.

The United States Adopted Names Council (Isn’t that a mouthful?) is the official entity that assigns the generic name. This is a council that consists of five volunteers, one person from the American Medical Association, one from the American Pharmacists Association, one from the United States Pharmacopeia, a member of the FDA, and a member at large. The at large member is not a large person. It is a person chosen from lists compiled of the members from the three professional organizations involved in the council. This council has been naming generic drugs since June of 1961.

The company who developed the drug gets to choose the brand name. The FDA has the final approval over the brand name. A good example of this would be Tylenol. In Tylenol’s case the generic name is Acetaminophen and, of course, the brand name is Tylenol.

The FDA approves all drugs that come on the United States market. The FDA not only approves the drugs, but it must also approve both the generic and the brand names. Any company that wants to sell a drug after the drug’s patent expires can only use the generic name. The original manufacturer retains the brand name and can also sell the drug under both the brand and generic names.

Patents for brand name drugs, in the United States, are usually for 20 years. When the patent expires on a brand name drug, this allows generics to be sold and makes the cost of the drug go down. Insurance companies encourage covered persons to use generic drugs and many companies, like Wal-Mart, sell generics at very cheap prices.

Top 10 Selling Generic Medications

Medication prescriptions are more popular then ever in not only the United States but the entire world. More and more people are seeking help for their ailments and and Doctors are prescribing a number of medications to help their patients. Increasingly popular are generic medications as companies continue to roll out these generic drugs at a relentless pace. These drugs are not only cheaper but they accomplish the exact same ting as the name brands do. The following is a list of the top selling generic drugs in the United States.

1. Pantoprazole Sodium – This is a proton pump inhibitor drug used to treat erosive esophagitis and hypersecretory conditions. This drug reduces gastric and acid secretion and increases gastric mucus and bicarbonate production, creating a protective coating on gastric mucosa.

2. Fentanyl - This drug is commonly used to treat chronic breakthrough pain and is commonly used in pre-procedures. It is 100 times more potent than morphine.

3. Amlodipine Besylate-Benazepril – Commonly used for blood pressure control. This drug helps widen the blood vessels and helps with blood flow.

4. Lamotrigine - This is a popular anti-convulsant drug commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It can help prevent and/or control seizures and can also act as a mood stabilizer.

5. Metoprolol Succinate ER – Used to treat angina (chest pain) as well as hyperextension (blood pressure). It is also used to treat or prevent heart attacks.

6. Risperidone – An anti-psychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of bi-polar disorder such as manic depression. It is also used in autistic children to treat irritability.

7. Omeprazole - This drug is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions that concern excess stomach acid. It is also used to promote healing of erosive esophaigitis.

8. Azithromycin - An effective drug for use against bacteria’s that cause things such as tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia.

9. Fexofenadine HCL – This is an antihistamine drug used to help prevent allergies and hay fever.

10. Oxycodone HCL – Derived from morphine, it is a medication that is used for extreme pain relief.

These are just the best selling brands. Tis is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to generic medications. These days you can find a generic medication for just about any name brand out there. The generic version has the same effect and is considerably cheaper. For discount medication visit http://www.thedrugcompany.com.