what are generic drugs and they differ in what respect from all other branded drugs or formulations?

Answer 1

cost less for the SAME thing

Answer 2

when brand name drug companies discover a drug, they have a patent for 17 years and during they have the sole right to produce that drug. after 17 years is up, then anybody who applies to the FDA that wants to can make that drug, and the copy-cat versions of the drug made by other companies are called generics. they have to have the same amount of ingredient, but sometimes the amount your body absorbs differs slightly so on some very dose sensitive drugs (coumadin/warfarin and synthroid/levothyroxine are the two most common) doctors wont want you to use generics, but in general they work just as well and are way cheaper

now the above only applies to prescription and over the coutner FDA approved drugs. when dealing with vitamins and herbal/natural products there isnt any FDA oversight so generics and brand name might not work the same

Answer 3

Generic drugs have exactly the same active ingredients as the brand name ones. Thats the only difference ,the name. They have to abide by the strict fda standards as any other drug maker. I use generic medication for my epilepsy, and save hundreds of dollars

Answer 4

They are drugs that are no longer under patent protection. They are usually made by a lab different from the one that originally patented it. As for their effectiveness, they are chemically identical to the name brand drugs. Their only diffenrence is that they may not be the same size, shape, colour as the Name brand.