Are generic medications just as effective as brand-name medications?
You’ll probably find varying opinions regarding this subject, but generally speaking, generic medications can be as effective as branded products. Some medications have extremely small dosages (measured in micrograms or 1/1,000,000 of a gram), such as thyroid medications and some heart medications (i.e., Synthroid, Levoxyl, Digoxin). Theoretically, these dosages can be affected by variations in the manufacturing process, as well as the efficiency of the quality control mechanisms utilized. Pharmaceutical manufactures of brand name products tend to have superior processing ability, and engage in tightly regulated quality control protocols to ensure the accuracy of the dosage of each medication made. Thus, in these instances, brand name medications are generally preferred since a small variation in the actual dose of the medication may have significant consequences clinically.
