Are brand name drugs better than generic drugs?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra Are brand name drugs better than generic drugs?

JB.

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. Your question was “Are brand name drugs better than generic drugs?”

A generic drug is a drug approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as a substitute as a result of the expiration of the original patent on the brand name drug.

The FDA approves generic drugs the same way they do brand name drugs – that is they review studies on how the drug works. Generic drugs are less expensive and essentially the same as the brand name equivalents. There are only a few exceptions to this rule. Some believe that thyroid hormone supplements may vary depending on the manufacturer.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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