Which is Better, Generic or Name Brand? No Appointment Necessary

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, January 15 and May 14, 2005
Show 202

Dr. Lisa Thornton:

So you're getting a prescription filled…which is better, name brand or generic and what's the real difference? 

Jennifer Villeneuve, PharmD:

I do get this question quite often.  Because of the savings in price, most patients are willing to take the generic equivalent because who doesn't like to save money?  It's a very common question and there are very legitimate reasons to encourage patients to take the generic equivalent for the branded medication.  A brand name medication is a medication that is initially put to market by a manufacturer, who has done research to develop the drug product, to do the testing in patients prior to it coming to the market.  Once their patent has expired then manufacturers of generic equivalent medications are able to also have that medication available to patients in the same chemical form, just carrying the chemical name of the medication on the bottle.  I do love it when patients come and ask me questions about getting the generic equivalent, before they actually receive it.  It does give me a chance to educate the patients about the benefits to them for getting that medication.  Generic medications do carry a lower price, but the patient should be ensured that the quality of a generic medication is not any less than the quality of a brand name medication.  They are very high quality medications and the cost savings is passed onto the patient.