Generic Drugs Are Need Of Time

Everybody knows that economic recession is hitting the world badly and thus every one wants to save their money in whatever way possible. One most essential thing that every one needs is the medicine, whatever it may be to survive and fight back the disease, we always need medicines. But, nowadays ever medicines have become so expensive. So many people tend to avoid them and land up in a big problem than before. Right now the demand for the high quality, low costs drugs is very more. The good news is that we have an option of the generic drugs available that are high in quality and low in price. The only need is to understand and not to believe in myths like generic drugs are or inferior quality. Generic drugs are the cheapest available option of the branded drugs in the market and show the same effects like the generic drugs. The most important thing is that generic drugs are approved by the FDA and WHO.

The financial income of the people is greatly affected because of the financial crises. All the markets are sinking because they are suffering too much lose. But, humans can not live without the medications if they have the ill health. Thus, to all these men generic drugs could be a best option to save the money. Reasons for the cheap price of the generic drug are— the cost of production of generic drug is very less as compared with the original brand name companies, no investment is done for the research on generic drug as the research is already conducted by the brand name manufacturer, clinical trials are not conducted by the generic drug manufacturer because they are previously conducted by the brand name manufacturer, and no cost is involved in the advertising and marketing of the generic drug because they get the benefit of the advertising and marketing done by the original drug manufacturer. Thus, generic drug allows the manufacturer to earn lots of profits.

Generic drugs not only save the money of the customers but also save the investment of the government in the pharmaceutical sector. US govt. has saved about 1 Billion dollars because of the generic drugs in the year 2007-08. Insurers are also very beneficial due to the use of the generic drugs. Insurance companies are asking the doctors to follow the step therapy that means doctors should first prescribe the generic drugs and if these drugs fail to produce the required effect then they should prescribe the more expensive brand-name drugs. FDA is sending pamphlets to the big pharmacy chain in US to promote the generic drugs. FDA is even asking these pharmacies to promote the sale of generic drugs. FDA says that all drugs must work well and be safe. FDA makes sure that before approving that generic drugs are of high quality, strong, pure, and stable as their respective brand-name drugs.

Generic drugs are allowed to be sold in the market only after they satisfy the following criteria:

• Generic drug should have the same ingredient as the original drug.
• Generic drug must be identical or bioequivalent to the original drug.
• The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the generic drugs should be similar to the original drugs.
• Generic drugs should be similar in strength in comparison with the original brand name drug.
• The side-effects of the generic drug are less or more than the original brand name drug.

Generic drugs are manufactured in the world class units that are checked and then approved by the FDA. The safety of the generic drugs is not at all in doubt because no casualties till date are noted by the intake of the generic drugs. Thus even the pharmacy distributors believe in the generic drug manufacturer and thus the sale of generic drug increases. Customer is using generic drugs because of the cost benefits and he is enjoying the same effects that he used to get by the original branded drugs. Hence, we can conclude that generic drugs perfectly match the demand of time.

By: jeffturner