- Myth: Generic Drugs do not have to be approved by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration).Fact: All generic prescription drugs must be approved by the FDA. Like brand drugs, generics must go through rigorous testing and evaluation. The FDA only approves a generic if it has the same qualities as its brand name counterpart.
- Myth: Generic drugs don’t work as well as brand name drugs.Fact: A condition for FDA approval of generics is that they must work precisely like the brand name drug. Brand name and generics have equivalent effectiveness.
- Myth: Generic drugs look and act differently than brand drugs.Fact: Although the color and shape may be different in generics, the active ingredients are exactly the same. These differences do not change the way the drug works in the body. Generic and brand name drugs must look different do to copyright laws in the United States.
- Myth: Generic drugs are less expensive because they have quality problems.Fact: Generics drugs are cheaper because generic companies do not have to spend significant amounts of money on drug development and clinical trials. Brand drugs companies spend a lot to development a new drug so they must charge more for their product. Generics create the same drug at a lower cost to patients.
- Myth: Generic drugs are not as safe as brand-name drugs.Fact: Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient as the brand drug therefore giving the same effectiveness and potential side effects. The FDA reviews safety of both brand and generic drugs before they are approved and even after they have been put on the market to ensure patient safety.
