The use of prescription medicine has increased over the years. Also increasing are the use of generic drugs versus their brand name counterparts. In fact, nearly 8 in 10 prescriptions filled in the US are for generic drugs. Many people question the safety of generic drugs, but the FDA concludes that generics provide the same quality and performance as brand name drugs:
- Generics must have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand-name drug
- Generic manufacturers have to prove that the drug is the bioequivalent as the brand-name drug
- Generic manufacturers must pass the same quality standards as the brand-name drug manufacturer