At the pharmacy it often turns out that for the same medicine there are several packs with different names and prices. The pharmacist may offer you a "cheaper version of the same medicine." This is the difference between original and generic medicines — a distinction that confuses many people, though it is actually simple. This article explains what a generic medicine is, why it costs less, and whether it is equally effective.
Note: this article is general, educational information and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Discuss substituting a specific medicine with a healthcare professional.
The active ingredient — what matters
Every medicine has an active ingredient — the component that actually works in the body — and a brand name under which it is sold. The same active ingredient can be found in medicines with different names and from different manufacturers.
That is why it helps to know the name of the active ingredient of the medicine you take, not just the brand name. This is especially helpful when travelling and abroad, where the same medicine is often sold under a different name.
What an original medicine is
The original medicine is the one a manufacturer first developed, tested and brought to market. Developing a new medicine is a long and costly process — it involves years of research and clinical trials. During its protection period, only that manufacturer may produce it.
What a generic medicine is
When the protection of the original medicine expires, other manufacturers may produce a medicine with the same active ingredient — this is a generic medicine. A generic contains the same active ingredient, in the same strength and form, and is intended for the same use as the original.
For a generic to reach the market at all, it must prove that it works in the body equivalently to the original. In other words, a generic is not a "weaker copy" — it is the same medicine under a different name and, usually, at a lower price.
Why a generic is cheaper
A lower price does not mean lower quality. The generic manufacturer did not have to bear the initial cost of developing and testing the active ingredient, so it can offer the medicine more cheaply. The price is lower for economic reasons, not because the medicine is weaker.
It is precisely thanks to generics that many medicines are more available and affordable to more people.
Substituting a medicine at the pharmacy
At the pharmacy, the pharmacist may offer you a generic substitute for a prescribed original (or the other way round) — the same active ingredient from a different manufacturer. This is common practice and is usually perfectly fine.
Even so, it is worth telling the pharmacist if you:
- already take several medicines and want to be sure there is no overlap,
- have a known sensitivity to a particular excipient (inactive ingredient),
- are confused because the same therapy now looks different (different pack, different name) — to avoid accidentally taking the same medicine twice.
If you take a medicine for a chronic condition, it helps to know the name of the active ingredient too, so you recognise the same medicine even when the manufacturer or the look of the pack changes.
A short conclusion
An original and a generic medicine share the same active ingredient and the same purpose; the generic is cheaper because it does not carry the initial development cost, not because it is weaker. Whenever you are unsure whether a substitution is all right, ask the pharmacist. And when a medicine is needed outside regular hours, dezurna.net shows which pharmacy in your town is open right now.