Do Doctors Prefer brand Names vs Generic Viagra?
Is there any difference in the medications used in brand names vs generic drugs? According to pharmaceutical regulations, generic drugs must contain the same active ingredients, at the same concentration, as the corresponding name brand formula. Let’s take name-brand Viagra as an example. The name brand medication contains the active ingredient Sildenafil citrate, which is used for treating erectile dysfunction. Generic brands of Viagra, although they do not look the same as the name brand, also contain the active ingredient Sildenafil citrate. The generic medications are administered the same way (orally, in this case), and they work in the same manner. The generic versions are FDA approved and are held to the same standards of quality and safety as name brand Viagra.
If there is no chemical difference between brand names vs generic drugs, then why are generic drugs so much cheaper? This is due to the varying costs of production between brand names vs generic medications. When a pharmaceutical company goes through the process of bringing a new drug to market under a brand name, there are a wide variety of costs involved. First there is research and development of the drug, and then it must be tested adequately through clinical trials. After testing, there is the tremendous expense and time factor of getting the drug approved by the FDA. Once this is accomplished, the drug company needs to market the medication to the public. The price of name brands vs generic drugs reflects all of these expenses, because the company with the name brand needs to recoup all of these costs through sales of the drug.
Generic medications, however, are basically reverse-engineered from the original name brand formula. While the name brand is protected by copyright in regard to the name itself, the appearance, and the packaging, the active ingredient is considered public information and can be used in the generic formula. Since the name brand drug is already recognized, the generic drug manufacturer does not have to spend money on marketing. Thus, generic drugs are much cheaper to produce and sell when considering brand names vs generic meds.
Advantages and disadvantages to brand names vs generic drugs: With brand name medications, consumers may feel a sense of familiarity and trust, because they have seen TV advertising about the medication and heard the name from their doctor. But generic medications are less expensive, and insurance plans are more likely to cover the full cost of filling a prescription.
When it comes to choosing brand names vs generic drugs, it is really your personal preference which should determine which medication to use.