Generic Drugs Uses and Side Effects

Generic drugs are copies or replicas of brand-name drugs that are dispensed with the same dosage, intended use, effects and side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original (patented) drug. Generic drugs are often substantially cheaper than the brand name drugs they take after.  This happens for a number of reasons. The first is that the manufacturer of parent medication has spent considerable resources on the research, development, marketing, and promotion of the drug.


The said drug is protected by exclusivity and patent rights for a period of time (usually set at 20 years) whereby the original producers of the medicine can recoup the funds invested. Toward the end of the patent expiration, the manufacturer and other producers can apply to develop a generic version of the drug, with incurring the base costs associated with producing such medicine from scratch. https://diigo.com/0bf3y8

 

 What is meant by generic medications?

Generic drugs are deployed under close scrutiny and regulation from government agencies tasked with the responsibility of oversight. A major stipulation for this class of medicines is that generic drugs must contain the same active ingredients as the patented brand name formula of the original manufacturer. In other words, a generic drug must fall within the same bioequivalence for the active ingredients associated with the original formulation. However, there could inconsequential differences in terms of color, form, flavors or a difference in non-active ingredients.

In ensuring fairness to initial manufacturers of medicines, generic drugs are only available after the expiration of the patent rights accorded the brand name formulation. Most countries peg the duration of this protection window at 20 years; although nations like the U.S.A might grant an extension to this window by as much as 5 years.

http://www.medicalmingle.com/doctor1970/blog/2018/02/10/what_is_meant_by_generic_medications

Definition and Classification of Generic Drugs Across the World

The World Health Organization (WHO), during the World Health Assembly in 1975, published a resolution to develop means to assist Member States in formulating national drug policies. Since then, and following the recommendations of the WHO, many countries have developed their own national drug policies. The framework of these recommendations is often considered to be built around improving access to “essential drugs” that in most cases mirror the Essential Medicines List from the WHO, currently in its 18th edition . According to the WHO, this list includes the most efficacious, safe and cost-effective medicines for priority conditions. Most of the drugs included are off-patent and available as generic products, which are often offered at lower prices than the innovator branded product, potentially reducing costs for patients and the healthcare system . The use of generic pharmaceutical products is then promoted, in order to reduce costs and increase access to healthcare . But, despite highlighting the need for rigorous quality and safety assessments for pharmaceutical products in order to achieve these goals, the quality of pharmaceutical products available in the market in many developing countries varies, in part because of the lack of clear and specific requirements for generic pharmaceutical products.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4519628/