What do the words generic and ineffective have in common? Absolutely nothing! It is a common misconception that generic brands are less effective than name brand products, due to the gain of negative connotation surrounding the terms in society. The brand effect is studied by large pharmaceutical companies to understand what convinces consumers to buy their drug products and how that can be incorporated into gaining business and recurring sales. The difference in advertising and drug packaging from company to company can be enough to persuade consumers into purchasing their products. Society tends to be easily influenced in today's market, especially with the growth of social media presence amongst the general population. The strategic advertising that name brand companies put out onto online platforms is meant to introduce and familiarize us with their products hoping to make consumers more susceptible to purchasing their products. When describing drugs, patients tend to associate price with efficiency, meaning the more expensive the drug the better it will work. I mean, who doesn’t want to feel better, faster? The name on the box does not have any correlation as to how well a drug works, nor does the price tag! Next time you find yourself in the drugstore medicine aisle, look at the similarities between name brand products and generic products. Being an educated and informed consumer is important and will save you time and money, especially when you reach for the generic brands.
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| https://soieric.com/generic-vs-branded-medicines-in-india-a-quick-differentiation/ |
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, “generic medicines work in the same way and provide the same clinical benefits and risks as their brand-name counterparts. A generic medicine must be the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality, and in the way it is taken. Generic medicines also have the same risks and benefits as their brand-name counterparts.” (5) These generic medicines are required to go through the same strict pre-approval process that name brand products do. This protects the consumer from purchasing a less effective drug due to reasons including financial restrictions, limited access to health care or knowledge.
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SAVE OR SPLURGE?
What makes generic brands more affordable? The lower cost is attributed to not having to repeat animal and clinical studies required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. (4) Research can be costly and is not always guaranteed a successful outcome. The ability to skip the research portion of drug development saves cost and time. The estimated cost of research and development can range from $1-2 billion per drug. (4) The amount of time these medications also take to develop is also considered when determining a price point in drug stores. The development process can take on average 10+ years and the pharmaceutical company does not receive a financial return on its investment. (4) Generic medicines cannot get final FDA approval until protective patents of name brand drugs have expired. (1) This causes a delay in the timing of distribution to drug stores; however, these generic drugs applications are typically approved within 6 months of submission to the FDA. (3) The time and money saved by companies producing these generic drugs is a direct reflection into how they price their products and can sell to a wide demographic of customers. These drugs provide a more affordable option for patients who may have limited resources giving them access to pharmaceutical care.
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SHOW ME THE STUDIES
Multiple studies have been conducted to evaluate the influence branding and marketing have on consumers, specifically related to drug products. Authorized generic (AG) drugs, name brand drugs that are marketed as generic drugs, were used as an experimental control group, and name brand drugs of identical composition were compared to observe the bias consumers have towards favoring brand name drugs versus generic drugs to treat chronic diseases. “After analyzing data from more than 3.5 million patients, the authors (of the research study) observed that use of generics provided comparable clinical outcomes to those of the brand-name products for chronic conditions including diabetes (glipizide), hypertension (amlodipine, amlodipine-benazepril, and quinapril), osteoporosis (alendronate and calcitonin salmon), and depression and anxiety (escitalopram and sertraline).” (2) Another study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in terms of persistence and rate of seizures in epileptic patients, comparing generic versus name brand drug therapies. The results showed that 31 patients on the generic AEDs had hospitalizations and ER visits while there were 47 incidents recorded of patients that were on the brand name AEDs. The gap rate of which patients experienced seizure-like symptoms was an average of 124.2 days (about 4 months) for patients on the name brand AED, while the average gap rate for patients on the generic brand AED was 137.9 days
(about 4 and a half months). In other words, the generic brand medication outperformed the name brand medication, as it resulted in less hospitalizations and provided patients with relief from symptoms for a longer time. (1) Both studies present compelling data that supports the idea that generic drugs do not necessarily mean less effective. In fact, certain experimental data results favor the generic brand in terms of efficacy. Looking at the research, we should not write off generic brands!
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| https://www.scripthero.com/articles/brand-vs-generic-prescriptions |
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Educating yourself about branding, marketing, and taking the time to read the labels can save you money and change your perspective on purchasing drugs in the future. Consulting with a pharmacist may also be helpful, as they provide insightful information regarding questions you may have about different branded medications. Although brand name drugs seem to appeal to consumers more than the generic brand, make the choice and switch to generic. The higher price does not constitute for the quality and efficacy of the medication. You are spending your extra money on the name, the packaging costs, and the developmental debt of the pharmaceutical company. Generic brands are equally as effective and cost less, so why wouldn’t they be the better choice? Physicians can do their part to encourage patients to do their own research to make informed and educated decisions. Educated consumers should feel confident about the quality and efficiency of the products that you are using. So read the labels, do your research, save your money, and reach for the bottom shelf generics.
REFERENCES
1. Gagne JJ, Kesselheim AS, Choudhry NK, et al. Comparative effectiveness of generic versus brand-name antiepileptic medications. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;52(Pt A):14-18.
doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.08.014
2. Desai RJ, Sarpatwari A, Dejene S, et al. Comparative effectiveness of generic and brand-name medication use: A database study of US health insurance claims. PLoS Med.
2019;16(3):e1002763. Published 2019 Mar 13. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002763
3. Ted Sherwood, The generic drug approval process, Food and drug administration website, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events4.
4. David Austin and Tamara Hayford prepared the report with guidance from Joseph Kile, Lyle Nelson, and Julie Topoleski, Research and development in the pharmaceutical industry, Congress budget office website, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57025, April 2021, accessed on October 26th, 2023.
5. Generic drug facts, Food and drug administration website, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/generic-drugs/generic-drug-facts, updated on November 11th, 2021, accessed on October 23rd, 2023.
-human-drugs/generic-drug-approval-process, updated March 17th, 2022, accessed on October 26th, 2023.
By Karly Brungs
A Master's of Medical Sciences Student at the University of Kentucky
Hey Karly! I think this is a great blog post that highlighted the important correlation between health and afforadability. I thought the quote "Generic medicines cannot get final FDA approval until protective patents of name brand drugs have expired" was very interesting because I didn't realize this was a factor in FDA approval. I think this definitely impacts individuals ability to take care of their health while avoiding the associated cost. I know people without health insurance often times cannot afford to purchase medications due to the high costs of name brand drugs so generic medications are a great alternative for them. There has also been a rise in companies like GoodRx that try and find the lowest prices for these medications to help people who can't always afford what they may need!
ReplyDeleteHi Karly! I loved the topic that you chose and think that your blog title was so much fun. Since COVID, it seems as though there is a big push for DUPES in this economy, rightfully so. I am glad that you chose to evaluate the difference between generic and brand name. By describing how the FDA regulates this, I now understand that generic and brand name are identical. It is odd to me how you mentioned that generic drugs can outperform brand name drugs. Is there a reason for this? Like Reece said, this topic should be read by more people as many can not afford certain medications, particularly those who do not have health insurance or those whose health insurance does not pay for that particular medication.
ReplyDeleteHey Emelia, thanks for reading! In that specific study with the anti-epileptic drug, the generic brand drug out performed the name brand drug in terms of less hospitalizations and provided relief from symptoms for a longer period of time. The journal source did not mention why the generic brand out performed the name brand, but I thought I would add it into the blog post to show that it is possible that generic brands are just as effective, if not more effective in some instances. I'd like to look into more studies to see how often this occurs when comparing generic vs. name brand medications, it would be interesting to find out just how much we could be saving ourselves!
DeleteHello Karly! This is a great article detailing the differences between generic and brand name drugs and the reasons for their differences. I can confirm that before being educated on this topic, I always thought the brand name more expensive drug was better because the more expensive the better, right? However, that is absolutely not the case, and your article gives evidence of that! My dad always said that these medicines are probably made at the exact same factory and just split off at the end of the assembly line to be packaged into different boxes. I don't know if that is true, but based on what you said here, it would make sense! I am curious if there has been an fluke accidents where the generic name drug has been messed up and resulted in very different outcomes compared to its brand name counterpart?
ReplyDeleteHi, Karly! This was a great read. Your blog post definitely debunks some of the myths that I believed about generic drugs. Personally, I tend to use the generic version of ibuprofen rather than Advil or Motrin. However, on the occasions that I get sick, I tend to use the name brand version of drugs like Mucinex because I think that they will be more effective in helping me to feel better quickly. However, after seeing the research you cited, I can see that is definitely not the case. I'm interested in hearing more about the process of going from name brand drug to generic drugs because that's not something I've learned about before (in regards to patents and the financial aspects). This was a very good post, and I will definitely apply what I've learned in the future!
ReplyDeleteHi, Karly! I loved your blog post! I think this is a topic that is relevant in so many peoples lives! Even as a college student needing to purchase medication while also trying to save money, I find myself wondering the difference and debating between the two. I find it interesting that people tend to prefer one or the other. For example, my mom nearly always buys generic since she claims it’s the same formulation for cheaper whereas my dad tends to by brand name as he claims it works better. Neither of them have any strong evidence but stand true to their beliefs! I like how you included information about the FDA approval process. I was unaware that patent expirations played a role in the timing of generic drug releases. Regardless, I will definitely start researching generic vs. brand name medications more and save my money! This is a great post that everyone needs to read! This information could make such a huge impact on the finances of patients with chronic diseases. Great job!
ReplyDeleteKarly, as others have mentioned, I had no idea that patent protection for name brand medications impacted or affected FDA approval for generic drugs. That is a very interesting point and further reiterates the saying, “money makes the world go round”. I will say that I was somewhat aware that generic medications function relatively the same as name brand medications, solely because my mother is a nurse and taught us to look at the actual drug name for medications. I know that there can actually be scenarios where name brand is preferred over generic, and vice versa. For example, my aunt takes thyroid medication and it has to be the name brand due to the dye that is in the generic version. The same can be true for needing to take the generic version of a medication over the name brand due to a factor such as the dye. Great blog post, this was very thorough, and would be easily understood by the lay person.
ReplyDeleteHi Karly! This post taught me so much about the difference between generic vs. brand name drugs! I was very interested to see that a large portion of the price difference comes from the debt gained by pharmaceutical companies during the long process of drug development. As you mention, I think many people assume that cost is correlated with the effectiveness of the drug, and the research you provide in your blog shows that this is not the case at all! In fact, it seems that the price of the drug relates to the agenda of the pharmaceutical company and its desire for profit, to eliminate its debt, etc. rather than the efficacy of the drug itself. During my time working in a pharmacy, I have heard many complaints about the cost of over-the-counter allergy and pain-relief medicines, so I think increasing education on this topic would likely save a lot of consumers both stress and money when it comes to common medications like Ibuprofen and Claritin. When it comes to drugs like Adderall or Synthroid, I know there are sometimes cases in which brand name is preferred due to a specific detail in manufacturing or coloring that is used, so it may be a more case-by-case matter in these instances, but nonetheless increasing consumer education overall is incredibly important in my opinion. Thank you for such an interesting and informative read!
ReplyDeleteKarly, amazing post (and amazing title)! I have said this for every blog post, but I hope you shared this to your social media accounts to educate your friends, family, and community. Personally, I think I will share this one myself and highlight this part: “These generic medicines are required to go through the same strict pre-approval process that name brand products do. This protects the consumer from purchasing a less effective drug due to reasons including financial restrictions, limited access to healthcare, or knowledge.” I also did not know the reason as to why generic drugs are cheaper—this makes sense to me but I did not think about it! This was an extremely informational post, and I applaud your hard work.
ReplyDeleteHi Karly! Your piece provides a very insightful analysis of the myths associated with brand-name versus generic drugs. It's particularly comforting to know that per the FDA'S guidelines, generic medications and name-brand products are subjected to the same rigorous screening processes for efficacy, safety, and quality guarantees and that they offer the same therapeutic advantages.
ReplyDeleteThe price differences between generic and name-brand medications was insane. $1-2 billion for research and development for a single medication is what allows generic drugs to be the affordable prices they are. It really is so important that people are educated about branding, and marketing, and that they read the labels. Encouraging people to become informed about their prescriptions and speak with pharmacists can help them select more affordable, yet similarly effective generic alternatives. I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that spending more on brand names doesn't necessarily equate to better quality or efficacy. Both physicians and patients need to reevaluate their perceptions and make informed decisions based on the actual effectiveness of medications rather than their brand names.
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ReplyDeleteHey Karly!
ReplyDeleteI can confidently say that I learned something today! I had no idea that generic drugs were basically the same as name-brand drugs. I have always bought the more expensive drugs because I thought that they had to work better. My parents and I have always had the "these drugs are more expensive for a reason" mindset. However, your blog has shown me that this is not a price-effective mindset to have. It makes complete sense that name-brand medications are more expensive because of the time they take to develop and the clinical trials that they must go through before anyone can officially purchase them, but I have never thought about it. This is extremely important today because many people complain of the high medication costs that they must pay to receive their therapies, especially in older populations who must take several medications, are retired, and not making the same salary that they once made. I believe that physicians and pharmacists should make this information known to their patients to help relieve the financial burden that so many patients face today. This was a great read. Great job!
I want to start by saying that this blog topic is one that has always been really interesting to me. Whether individuals should go with the cheaper option or get the name brand. I have always wondered if there were true influential differences between the generic drug versus the actual drug. I think it is important as you mentioned that people know to educate themselves before just taking a drug. I think it is interesting that the drug companies making a less expensive version have to wait for the original drug company's patents to expire for FDA approval. I also like that you pointed out that the price of the drug may show how much the products going into the drug cost, meaning “you pay for what you get”. This is a topic that I like is hugely relevant in the current climate of today’s society and will be continuously spoken about more in the coming years.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting and informative blog as it highlights the fact that generic drugs are not less effective than name brand drugs. The Food and Drug Administration requires generic drugs to meet the same standards as name brand drugs in terms of dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality. The lower cost of generic drugs is attributed to not having to repeat animal and clinical studies and not having to bear the costs of research and development. Multiple studies have shown that generics are equally effective as name brand drugs. Educating oneself by reading labels and consulting with pharmacists can lead to informed decisions that save money without sacrificing quality. Physicians can also encourage their patients to do their own research and make informed decisions.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who grew up in a generic-only household, I've been told from a very young age that generic drugs were the same as name-brand, but I never actually investigated why that is on my own. Thank you for explaining what makes a drug "generic." This is such an important topic because I think that there is a stigma surrounding generic or "knock-off" products in general that has been applied to over-the-counter treatments. Many prescription drugs we take may be generic and we just don't know it and call it by their brand name instead, like lamotrigine/Lamictal or Atorvastatin/Lipitor. The idea of designer vs. knockoff medications can be harmful to people of lower SES, so this was a very relevant and helpful topic!
ReplyDeleteKarly, this was such an interesting topic to dive into and I learned a lot! Being a pharmacology minor I always assumed the name brand vs generic version were the same but thanks to you I now know why. Your advice to read the labels and do some research is something more consumers need to hear! You should definitely share this blog post elsewhere because it is incredibly informational and could save people lots of money!
ReplyDeleteHello, Karly!
ReplyDeleteYour blog post comparing generic and brand-name drugs was not only informative but also enlightening. I now have a better understanding of the subject. Learning about the stringent FDA standards for generic medications, as well as the reasons for price differences, was eye-opening. Many of us have been taught that brand-name drugs are superior, but your post effectively refutes that belief with solid evidence. Your blog post has certainly sparked a valuable discussion, and I believe it's a topic that should be widely shared in order to help people make more cost-effective and informed health-care decisions. Fantastic job!
Hi Karly!! This was such an interesting read. Like some of our other classmates, I always knew that generic brands were very similar to brand names. However, I never knew why that was and I still had a bias to choose brand names. I really enjoyed learning about why they are cheaper. I feel as though going with brand names is definitely a trend in society and even more so with social media and influencers. This is such a great topic and I wish it was discussed more in healthcare. Thank you for bringing awareness to this and educating us! This was a really informative blog post!
ReplyDeleteHi Karly. I completely agree with this well written blog. My parents have always pushed me to go for generic for foods and cleaning supplies, generic drugs should not be any different. I only wish the patents for drugs expired sooner. It angers me with the costs of brand name drugs. I know some eye drops that cost thousands of dollars per month, and without it patients may go blind, but the patients for some of these won't expire for years. I completely support generic drugs and wish more people did the same!
ReplyDeleteHi Karly!
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this informative and insightful blog! Gaining knowledge on a topic like generic vs name-brand drugs is beneficial for us students and almost everyone in this country. Growing up, I always assumed that the name-brand drug is a faster-acting and more productive version of the desired drug than the generic brand. If I were to choose between Tylenol and generic acetaminophen, 9/10, I would have selected Tylenol. It wasn't until my cousin, a pharmacist, enlightened me on the difference between the two. It has saved me money and many of my family members' money. Not all generic versions are as good as the name-brand version, so it is always important to do your research. Again, Thank you for this delightful read!