Generic is what? Generics: list of drugs and table

Man is imperfect, and from time to time we begin to overcome various diseases. Then medicines come to the rescue. However, not all medicines are easily purchased because of their high cost. Science does not stand still, humanity is looking for ways out of any existing situation. One of the inventions that helps not to refuse treatment due to the high cost of the drug is generics.

What is a generic

This term is taken from English and sounds in Russian as "generic", or "ginerik." Generic is a medicinal product that, according to its purpose, can replace an innovative medicine, it does not have a patent and goes on sale when the license expired. The generic drug has a difference in composition from the original in both quantitative and qualitative aspects (additional constituents).

Before the sale of a new drug, it must pass the tests and mandatory registration. It can be valid for 10 to 25 years. This drug can be sold only by a firm that has rights to it, that is, a patent. No one else can release this drug. If the term of the license has not expired, and someone has issued the same medication, it is considered illegal. When the drug license ends, the principal active ingredient may be used by any firm to manufacture its new drug. Generic is the same drug that is issued after the expiration of the license. There are several conditions that manufacturers must comply with, producing such substitutes for expensive drugs.

Requirements for generics

Despite the fact that these are not original drugs, they also have their own requirements:

• The ratio of active pharmaceutical substances in the preparation, their qualitative and quantitative index should be observed.
• It is necessary that the generic meet the requirements of established standards.
• It must be produced in conditions of good manufacturing practice.
• Generic should be equivalent to the original in degree and speed of absorption.

Different generics can produce generics. Often, the same drug has several analogues, but only released by different firms. Therefore, the composition, and therefore their effectiveness, may differ. Not all manufacturers comply with the conditions for the release of generics. As a result, copies and counterfeits appear. What is the difference between them?

Copy or fake?

Some people think that these two concepts are absolutely identical, but this is not so. Copies of medicines are produced without a license. This can be compared to pirated copies of video films. Such drugs can start to produce other enterprises without waiting for the end of the term of the license of the main producer, without even changing the name.

Counterfeiting in the market is a very frequent visitor. It is cheaper than the main drug, since the active substance is replaced by a cheaper one. Accordingly, the effectiveness of such drugs is very doubtful. There is a high risk of complications and exacerbations of the disease. The production of such funds is punishable. In order to avoid the purchase of counterfeits, it is necessary to buy medicines only in specialized pharmacies that have licenses and work directly with manufacturers.

From what has been said above it is clear that a generic is not a copy and not a fake. And what is the difference between the generic and the original?

Generic and original

The difference between the original drug and the generic is in the process of its creation. Also you can find some more differences.

1. Generic is a drug that does not pass comparative studies with the original.
2. It only checks compliance with the speed and degree of absorption in the body of the generic in comparison with the original.
3. The safety of the drug is not studied.
4. Generic is distinguished by the composition of auxiliary substances.

Recently, manufacturers themselves, without extending the patent, produce generic drugs. When they are produced, much less money is spent. In this case, the fact that generics and original preparations are produced on the same equipment and under the control of the manufacturer is positive.

A few words about the cost of generics

The question arises - why generics are cheaper than the original drugs? Medication-analogues do have a lower price compared to the original. For the majority of the population this factor plays an important role in the choice of the drug. Here are some points that contribute to the low cost of generics.

The manufacturer does not need to spend money on:

• Marketing research.
• Advertising.
• Laboratory research.
• The original preparation may have, in addition to the active ingredient, auxiliary components. In generic drugs, they may be absent.

For example, the preparation "Teraflu" for lowering the temperature has an additional flavor, dye and so on, and its analog "Paracetamol" does not have any costly components. For "Teraflu", "Paracetamol" is a generic.

Effectiveness of generics

If the manufacturer is responsibly approaching the production of analogues of expensive drugs, then by efficiency they are almost inferior to the original drugs. In their composition they have the same active substance. Most manufacturers of medicines are involved in passing and the release of generics.

In order to obtain permission for the sale of a particular analogue, the manufacturer must prove the bioequivalence of the generic in relation to the expensive analogue.

Manufacturers invest some of their profits in research activities in order to improve the quality, safety and efficacy of drugs. This gives reason to believe that quality generics can be as effective and safe as their analogues.

Pick up the original analog

If you consider generic drugs, you can see that almost every drug has a cheaper analog. Very often, with the appointment of a long-term treatment, and even including several drugs, the patient has nothing left to do but to purchase an unoriginal drug.

Cheap generics can be of great help in treating many diseases. Why Buy Dear "Panadol", if you can buy a cheap "Paracetamol"? The effect will be almost the same.

When studying the question of what generic drugs exist, the list can be made quite long, but it is very important to compare the cost of these drugs for clarity. Sometimes, going to the pharmacy, we go on about the pharmacist and get an expensive medicine. And if you know what you can replace it, then in some cases you will not have to spend extra money.

Medicines-generics: table

Information in the table on cheaper analogs of medications does not call for replacing the original drug with a generic drug in each case. In some cases this is not justified. It is better to always discuss these issues with your doctor.

This is not a complete list of analogs of the original drugs, but it can be continued almost indefinitely. Only on the basis of this information, we can conclude that analogs-generics are available for almost all medicines.

How to choose a generic

Before you go to a pharmacy for a cheaper drug, you need to have at least some information about it. Knowing that such a generic, you can, after consulting with the doctor, to choose the most suitable option. A few tips for those who decided to use generics.

1. Acquire medicines in pharmacies that have licenses and competent pharmacists. They will give the necessary advice, and the risk that you buy a fake will be minimal.
2. Along with the drug in the package should be an instruction. The paper must be of high quality, the font should be clear, the address data of the manufacturer with the indication of contact phones must be indicated.
3. Pay attention to the manufacturer and the country of manufacture.
4. For any disease, by purchasing a drug that is analogous to that prescribed by a doctor, consult with a specialist once again. Your health may depend on it.

If you still decide to use a generic, carefully study the item above - "Generic Medicines: Table."

Advantages of cheaper analogs

Consider the positive side of generics, but there are a lot of them. It:

• Low prices.
• They give an opportunity to be treated and low-income segments of the population.
• Modern generics produce good quality.
• They expand the possibilities in treatment for both the doctor and the patient. These drugs are not inferior in effectiveness to the original, if you did not get a fake.

Disadvantages of generics

In addition to the positive sides, there are also negative ones, which must be taken into account if you decide to replace the original drug with a generic drug.

1. There is a possibility that the active substance and excipients of the generic can be produced on poor equipment, because of this, their quality is lost.
2. Practically not studied the side effects of generic drugs.
3. A low quality analog can cause an allergic reaction and not have a good therapeutic effect.

Summing up, we can conclude: when buying generic drugs, the list of which is very large, be very careful, and for the treatment of serious diseases it is better to still use the original drugs. Take care of your health.