Are generic and brand name drugs equally effective?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency that regulates medications, evaluates generic drugs for therapeutic equivalence prior to approval. Therapeutic equivalence means having the same active ingredients as the brand. It also means the generic can be expected to have the same clinical effect. There is a rating system in place by the FDA. Almost all generic drugs dispensed today receive the highest FDA rating. Your pharmacist is the best source for information if you have specific questions on using a generic for any of the prescriptions you take.
