Product — Swast Aushadhi Kendra

Common Myths About Generic Drugs

A generic drug is the same as the brand-name drug and can be made only after the brand’s patent expires.

• Generics take longer to act in the body.
• Generics are not as potent as brand-name drugs.
• Generics are not as safe as brand-name drugs.
• Generic drugs are likely to cause more side effects.
• Generic drugs are sold loose.
• Generic drugs are not good because they are low-priced.

Facts — What the Evidence and Regulations Say

• To sell a generic, firms must prove it delivers the same amount of active ingredient in the same time frame as the original product.
• Regulators require generics to match the quality, strength, purity, and stability of brand-name drugs.
• All approved drugs must be safe and effective; generics have the same active ingredients and work the same way in the body, carrying the same risk-benefit profile as brands.
• There is no evidence that generics cause more adverse reactions; ongoing safety monitoring shows no difference.
• Generics are properly packed and handled with care during storage and distribution — 'sold loose' is a myth.
• A generic drug is pharmaceutically and therapeutically equivalent to its branded counterpart.