When a new drug becomes available, it is sold under a brand name chosen by its manufacturer and protected by a patent. After the drug's patent protection expires, other manufactures can begin offering the additional medications with the same active ingredients as the brand name drug. These are called generic drugs.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all drugs, both brand-name and generic drugs, meet the same requirements for quality, strength, purity and potency.
Generic drugs can provide real value. Generic drugs usually cost from 30-75 percent less than their brand-name counterparts, and, since the FDA is very strict about approving generic drugs, you can be reassured that the generic drug you receive is a safe and effective alternative to the brand-name drug.
It?s more important then ever that consumers have access to safe, effective, and affordable medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to help you better understand the generic choices available to you. View the updated UOP preferred drug list on this site.
There are many medications that come in dose and forms, which can be split. If you are comfortable with splitting tablets, it is possible to literally cut the costs in half. A physician would need to make sure though that splitting tablets is appropriate for a particular patient.
