Are Generic Drugs as Effective as Name Brands?

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Although generic drugs are proven to be the same as their brand name counterpart, each person is unique.  So while it is very uncommon, it is possible that you may respond somewhat differently to a generic drug.  However, these differences are usually subtle and rarely result in a difference of how your disease is controlled.

A variety of factors influence how a drug affects one person compared to another. Individuals may respond differently to excipients, which are non-active ingredients in drugs.  Excipients are used to help form the bulk of a pill.  They also help distribute the active ingredient (or drug) evenly throughout the pill.  These ingredients affect the way the body absorbs the active ingredient. For example, one medication may not seem to work well for a patient, while another with the same active ingredient, but different excipients, may work better.  It’s rare that an excipient would cause a significant difference in how the drug works.  However, excipients found in both brand and generic drugs can cause problems with patients who have certain allergies, such as wheat or milk allergies, or have an intolerance to gluten because of celiac disease.

Even with brand name drugs, your friend may respond to a drug differently than you do. An individual’s particular body chemistry, age, weight, as well as other medications or food he or she ingests can influence how any medication is absorbed and metabolized by the body.  These responses can be highly individualized and varied.  

It is important to know that a generic drug is expected to have the same effect as the brand name drug taken by the same person.  However, if you feel your response is different, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.