The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) continues its consumer friendly tips that should be taken into consideration when purchasing prescription medication. This is the second installment in a series of tips on this particular topic. The department recently launched a prescription drug survey aimed at educating and assisting seniors on prescription medication costs. The survey will be conducted on a monthly basis as part of its mission of assisting, educating and protecting consumers.
Consumer tips on prescription medication:
· Generics vs. brand name medications — Consumers should always ask their doctor or pharmacist if a generic brand is available for their particular prescription medication. Generic drugs are usually less expensive than their brand name counterparts. This price difference is mainly due to the high cost of research and development associated with producing brand name drugs; however, there are other factors to consider. Advertising costs for brand name drugs are extremely high, and recouping this cost is a major consideration when its manufacturer sets a drug’s retail price.
A generic drug is identical or the bioequivalentto a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality,performance characteristics and intended use.Generics are drugs that contain the same pharmacologicalingredients as name brand products but at a fraction of the cost. This occurs when name brand drugs lose their patent and become part ofthe public domain. Health professionals and consumers can be assured that FDAapproved generic drugs have met the same rigid standards as theinnovator (brand) drug.
Generics may sometimes be shaped differently from brand names, such as a generic tablet versus a brand name capsule. But they still have the same active ingredients and are manufactured to the same standards as brand name medications. Generic drugs look different than brand name drugs because trademark laws do not allow generics to look exactly like brand name drugs. Colors, flavors and other inactive and inert ingredients such as fillers may be different.
Continue to listen for additional consumer tips next week.
