Are Generic Drugs as Effective as Name Brands?

Are Generic Drugs as Effective as Name Brands?

Sick and tired of high drug costs? You're not alone. Americans spend more than 150 billion dollars per year on pharmaceuticals, and with costs rising all the time, many are looking to generic alternatives. These products promise the same benefits as their name-brand equivalents, but at a fraction of the cost. When considering something as important as your personal health, do generic drugs measure up?

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Generics Are Not Tested for Safety and Efficacy
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  • F2XL
    What the Deuce?

    So drug companies are going to make products that kill their customers and thus cut their revenue? You'll need to come up with something more plausible than that.

    - F2XLUS December 2, 2008 7:13PM

    Reply to this Recommend (0) Icon flag Side: Yes

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  • Leslie
    Elijah

    I have been having allergic reactions to some antibotics, and have had some of the negative side effects to changes to generics blood pressure pills in the past. A pharmacist once suggested that possibly I was experiencing reactions to the different fillers or presevatives? Not sure exactly of his terminology, but just looking at the different ingredients and suspicions about mercury etc in vacinations, I wonder if the ingredients are all exactly the same in generics, and if so why are they so much cheaper? IF fillers and preservatives or whatever are slightly different or changed because cheaper, could people have alleric reactions to slight or different chemicals in generics and name brand? I have been told to go to a allergist and have tests for antibiotics. But what else should I request especially when I have had a life long problem with skin reactions to metal and certain synthtics??

    - LeslieUS September 23, 2009 3:01PM

    Reply to this Recommend (0) Icon flag Side: Uncommitted

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Do Generic Drugs Work?

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  • Peter Kowey MD
    Peter Kowey, MD
    Dr. Kowey is chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at the Lankenau Hospital and the Main Line Health System. He is also professor of medicine at... More

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