Generic versus branded medication
The next time a pharmacist asks, “would you like the generic brand of the medication that has been prescribed to you?” – a person should think carefully about the answer.
This is the advice given in Australian research conducted last month on whether generic medication is better than branded medication.
The study found that since the sale approval of generic medicines in 1994, it has become common practice for pharmacists to offer a generic substitute when filling a prescription.
Research has shown that 88% of people filling a prescription in the last two years have been recommended a generic medicine by their pharmacist instead of the original medicine their doctor has prescribed.
Branded (or original) medicines are those developed by pharmaceutical companies, which do research about pharmacologically active ingredients.
Generic versions are legal medicines which have been manufactured in safe conditions and tested for equivalence to the brand that they copy.
Below is a list of things older people should know about generic brands of medication –
- Particularly for elderly people and those with visual or cognitive impairment, sticking to the same brand of medication may help avoid confusion.
- Generic medicines are not (despite popular opinion) always cheaper. Laws in Australia prevent generic versions from being sold for more than the original medicine, but they can be sold for the same price. When there is a price difference, it’s usually less than $5.
- While a generic and a branded product might be therapeutically equivalent, individuals may still have unexpected reactions to a different formulation of the medication.
Do you prefer generic or branded medication? Tell us what you think in the comment box below.
