Do all brand-name drugs have a generic version available?
Not all do, but more than three-quarters of them have a generic version and others will soon be available. Here are just a few common brand-name drugs that now have generic equivalents: • Pravachol® (generic name pravastatin sodium) for high cholesterol • Zocor® (generic name simvastatin) for high cholesterol • Prozac® (generic name fluoxetine HCl) for depression • Zoloft ® (generic name sertraline HCl) for depression • Zantac® (generic name ranitidine HCl) for ulcers and heartburn • Flonase® (generic name fluticasone propionate) for allergies What can I do if there is no generic equivalent available? In cases where a generic equivalent is not available, there may be a generic in the same group of drugs that will work just as well. These are called generic alternatives. Ask your doctor if a generic alternative is available in the same drug category as the brand-name drug. Why are generic drugs less expensive? When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other manufacturers can produc
