Did you know that some generic prescriptions are perfect substitutes for brand-name drugs prescribed by a doctor? In fact, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name ones. They are also identical in terms of dosage and relative potency. Generic prescriptions serve as copies of common prescription drugs, which have similar side effects and share the same route of administration. These drugs are required to be thoroughly screened during the FDA approval process before hitting the shelves at pharmacies nationwide.
People aren’t always trusting of generic drugs because they cost significantly less than their brand-name counterparts. This could imply a lower quality and effectiveness of the chemicals used by manufacturers but is not always the case. The real difference lies in pharmaceutical companies bypassing the development and marketing steps which incur heavy expenses. In many cases, the company follows a lengthy procedure to research, develop, market, and promote the drug. This is their way of obtaining a patent to sell new drugs.
Once their patent begins to expire, other manufacturers can request the FDA for permission to sell their own brands of the original drug, except this time, they aren’t concerned with the startup costs. This explains why generic prescriptions are more affordable as the market price is being driven down by competition. It’s simply not true that generic drugs are produced under a lack of the proper regulations. Many people have specific health conditions that complicate the unintended effects of taking conventional medicine.
Other misconceptions include the claim that generic drugs react slower than brand-name drugs. They tend to appear in different combinations of colors and flavors so you can spot the difference. For instance, metoprolol is one generic drug used to reduce the symptoms of hypertension. The brand-name drug is called Lopressor, which is the one commonly sold at pharmacies. Generic prescriptions are effective against a variety of life-altering diseases.
There are many advantages to taking these drugs, especially if you are looking for blood thinners, asthma medication, or a prescription for rheumatoid arthritis.
Taking Generic Blood Thinners
Blood thinners (aka anticoagulants) are effective in treating blood clots. A while ago, Warfarin was the standard prescription made by doctors. Four new drugs are now available: Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran, and Edoxaban. These anticoagulants work just as well as Warfarin by unclogging plaque found in blood vessels.
As an advantage, these generic blood thinners wear off faster to relieve any risk of bleeding as a side effect. You won’t need as many blood tests every month. In addition, generic prescriptions are less likely to interfere with your other medications so you won’t be forced to exchange one set of symptoms for another. Furthermore, their performance isn’t affected by the quantity of vitamin K you’ve consumed.
Generic Asthma Medications and Inhalers
What are the generic alternatives to asthma inhalers? Surprisingly, there are only two generic inhalers on the market. One of them is Xopenex, a rescue inhaler containing active ingredients such as levalbuterol. This medication works better than a brand-name inhaler because some people are harmed by albuterol, a substance that elevates the heart rate and causes shakiness.
Another option is to take a corticosteroid inhaler called AirDuo RespiClick. It consists of therapeutic chemicals including fluticasone propionate and salmeterol powder to reduce shortness of breath. Unfortunately, most controller inhalers are only available in brand-name versions, recognized as Proventil, ProAir, and Ventolin. Generic versions of nebulizer solutions are being sold: Budesonide is the proper substitute for Pulmicort Respules, an inhaled steroid.
Generic Rheumatoid Arthritis Prescriptions
The cost of over-the-counter drugs is on the rise. Understandably, people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) would prefer access to more affordable generic medications. RA patients are treated through two different procedures. One involves taking oral generic drugs, whereas the other requires injection of Enbrel as a biologic treatment, which is a newly tested prescription drug. RA is an autoimmune disease causing joint inflammation, swelling, and stiffness.
Three generic drugs known as methotrexate, Azulfidine, and Plaquenil were combined in a clinical study. Methotrexate is particularly well-received because it not only reduces the risk of joint damage but also protects patients from the likelihood having a long-term disability. According to medical researchers, taking a three-drug therapy of generic prescriptions saves the patient over $20,000 compared to taking Enbrel, a brand-name drug, for a year. Both treatments showed the same level of performance in terms of pain relief.
