Pros and Cons of Brand Name and Generic Drugs
Aside from the fact that the same medicines are available for a price that is often much lower, most people don’t know the difference between generic and name brand drugs. For many, getting a drug that is affordable is their primary concern. However, since these drugs are used to treat some very serious illnesses, it is also important to get the most effective drug possible. Many wholesale pharmaceuticals which sell drugs to medical facilities and pharmacies offer both generic and brand name medications at a price that is lower than those from other pharmaceutical distributors. The quality of product they offer and the prices they attach will determine the quality and final cost to the patient.
Generic drugs are those which are made in the same way and using the same brands and ratio of ingredients as the brand name to produce a medicine that is a copy, including the dosage. They do not usually differ in how, or for what they are used, potential side effects associated with them, the effect they have on the condition for which they are prescribed, or the route of administration. Although there are many concerns about how generic drugs are made in order to keep their costs down, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict regulations that require generic drugs to be just as safe and effective as their brand name counterparts.
A Plus Corporation is one example of a wholesale pharmaceutical company located in California which is bound to the regulations of the FDA and which has been providing generic and brand name medications worldwide since 1994. They offer a wide range of products including brand and generic drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and food supplements that are the quality of product that physicians and their patients can depend on. Like A Plus Corp, the company that provides wholesale medications to any type of distributor should be licensed and have a history of trustworthy business practices.
Table of Brand Name VS Generic Drugs
Generic Drug
Brand Name Cost Generic Cost
Alprazolam
$140.00
$4.00
Lansoprazole
$241.00
$181.00
Fluoxetine HCL
$477.00
$4.00
Atorvastatin calcium
$141.00
$23.00
Amount Prescribed for 30 day use
Brand Name Drug
60
Xanax*
30
Prevacid*
60
Prozac *
Lipitor*
30
60 Metformin
$68.00
$4.00
Glocophage*
*Based on average dosage The only real difference between brand name and generic is the lack of expense manufacturers have for developing and marketing the generic drug. The research has already been performed once the brand name drug is introduced so that no further investment is required for these areas. People may notice that their most expensive drug is one that has no generic. This is because the original manufacturer of the drug is given exclusive rights to the drug according to the terms of their patent. Only at the end of this 20 year time period can other manufacturers
apply for the right to make and sell a generic version of the drug at a more affordable cost. The more companies there are manufacturing a generic version, the lower the costs are likely to go. Not only are generic drugs just as safe and effective as the brand name drugs, but many are made by the same manufacturers that make the brand name drugs. For the many people who are looking to get the medications they need at the lowest possible cost, generic drugs usually offer a significant savings. The purchase by medical facilities of these medications through a pharmaceutical wholesaler can mean greater savings to the facility and/or the patient without sacrificing quality or effectiveness. For more information visit http://www.aplususapharma.com.