How Good Are Generic Drugs?

About three-quarters of prescriptions in the U.S. are now for generic drugs. This has trimmed hundreds of billions of dollars from the nation’s rising health-care costs and, by allowing more people to afford the medication they need, has undoubtedly saved countless lives.

 When Is it Not Okay to Take a Generic Drug?

One expert explains what to look for when switching from a brand-name drug to a generic.

Buying into generic drugs

There are two ways generic drugs are used: generic substitution and therapeutic interchange.

Drugmakers Turn Cheap Generics Into Expensive Pills

Many drugs have active ingredients that can be purchased for a fraction of the cost

Generic Drugs: The Same, but Not

The law requires them to be the same as brand-name drugs in all ways that matter. But what science considers important is a moving target. An Object Lesson.

Here's Why You Should Always Buy Generic Drugs

Their lower prices actually have a simple explanation. Major companies pay for the marketing, advertising, and often development of a drug. Generic drug manufacturers have no such costs — and they pass those savings on to you.

Take the Generic, Patients Are Told. Until They Are Not

It’s standard advice for consumers: If you are prescribed a medicine, always ask if there is a cheaper generic.

The world’s biggest generic pharmaceutical companies

Common drugs going off patent have seen the generics industry push major companies such as Novartis and Pfizer for their market share.

Time to Free a Controlled Marketplace for Generic Drugs

Group Purchasing Organizations buy drugs and supplies for hospitals, supposedly to save money. But they have constricted supply and raised prices paid by patients and insurers.

Unpacking Drug Price Spikes: Generics

Though there’s much work to do to cure the generics market, the good news is public and private sector remedies do exist.

Why Are Generic Drug Prices Shooting Up

Consolidations within the pharmaceutical industry, and supply shortages due to various issues have played a major part in generic price inflation.

“The good, the bad, and the grey areas”

When doctors prescribe medications for the treatment of various ailments, they try to choose the best medicines for their patients without taking the prices of the medications into consideration most of the time. When the patients get to the pharmacy with the prescription, the pharmacists often change the medications for generic ones without even asking the patients.