Do you trust the FDA when they tell you that the generic drugs are equal to the brand name ones?

Question

Are you concerned with the quality if the drugs that are made overseas?

Answer 1

To date, there have been 24 on-line pharmacies reported to the FDA for the distribution of counterfeit medications (see link below for specific names of pharmacies). Some of the medications sold by these pharmacies were composed of talc and starch, other products were lacking the "active" ingredients of the authentic medication.

Here is the link to a service that verifies that the on-line pharmacy fills orders with a licensed pharmacy, and that the pharmacy requires a valid prescription, and verifies that secure transaction technology is used. They conduct surveillance shopping and periodic license checks to monitor compliance.
http://www.pharmacychecker.com/rating.asp

Remember, if the pharmacy has extremely low prices, no phone number and does not require a prescription for their drugs - buyer beware.

Answer 2

I try to believe it. Really, I do. But over many, many years, I was taught name brands were better than generics.

The residue of all that advertising has gotten into my head. Will I buy Bayer over store brand aspirin? Yeah. Every time. Store brand is the same. Intellectually, I know it is. But a little voice in my head whispers "Buy the good one." and I reach for the Bayer bottle.

Same thing goes for prescription drugs, to a lesser extent. My doc prescribes generic, and I accept that. Want the name brand, but I can afford generics better.

I haven't really spent much time worrying about the quality of foreign made drugs. I suppose it should be a concern. Somehow, that passed right over my head.

Answer 3

A generic drug is only a drug that is produced without a brand name. In other words after a certain period of time after the drug is first approved by the FDA other companies have the right to produce it as well as the company that originally did the research in making it.

Answer 4

I think generic drugs are equal in medicinal content to the original that they are mimicking. There may be a different "filler" used, and not as much care taken with molding the pill and making it look pretty. But when it comes to performance, I think they are absolutely equal.

As to drugs manufactured abroad....if they are manufactured to exacting standards, using ingredients that have been proven efficacious, then why not?

American drug companies have way too much of a monopoly on their products. They gouge their customers for every penny that the market can bear. And do not be fooled by all the hype that says they need to charge that much to pour the majority of their profits back into research.......this is patently ridiculous.....the majority of those profits are going directly into the rich stockholders pockets.

Answer 5

I don't trust the FDA at all...these days, this group seems to be in the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies, release far too many new drugs without knowing the side effects and interactions with other drugs... AND beware of foreign-made drugs that are not sold by an American pharmacy...if you purchase these drugs outside the US, there is NO guarantee you are getting what you pay for..NONE! Counterfeit drugs abound these days...if drugs are required for you to live, I, for one, am not taking chances. As far as generics, I ask my pharmacist...he/she is in a very good postition to tell me what to expect.

Answer 6

frequently used drugs are of equivalent high quality. The drug is the comparable chemically. some docs have self assurance that coronary heart drugs could continually be via type call. After years of a type call, then the patent is going away. The drug company makes funds via raising the value. recently i've got considered problems with shortages. How can there be production shortages whilst such quite a few drugs are avaialbe? qc is the comparable for considerable manufacturers as that's for the frequently used drugs via fact the federal government has jurisdiction over high quality. that's tremendously regulated. Fillers are interior the type names too.

Answer 7

Brand vs. Generic completely safe. As far as overseas drugs...No I would not use or purchase them.

Answer 8

Anything that is generic is exactly the same as the name brand. The only difference is that they don't have the fancy packaging, the name brand, and all the advertising.

Answer 9

Generic drugs have to meet the exact same qualifications of a brand name drug.

Answer 10

even though I'm not a senior I have used generics and I haven't had any problems so yes I trust them.