What is a generic medication?

A generic medication is defined as a medication that is equivalent to a brand-name drug in dosage, strength, and administration but is marketed under its chemical name rather than a brand name. This equivalency means that the active ingredients are the same as those in the branded version, ensuring that patients receive the same therapeutic effects.

Generics are required to meet the same rigorous standards set by the FDA for safety, efficacy, and quality as brand-name drugs. The primary distinction lies in the branding and often the cost, as generic medications typically come at a lower price point due to reduced marketing expenses and the expiration of patent protections on the original branded versions.

This definition emphasizes the importance of therapeutic equivalency between generics and their brand-name counterparts, allowing them to be substituted interchangeably in the context of treatment. Such substitutions must also comply with regulations regarding bioequivalence, further assuring health care providers and patients of their effectiveness and safety.