Does a generic drug look different than the corresponding brand name medication?
In the United States, trademark laws do not allow generic products to look exactly like the corresponding brand name drug. Therefore, generic manufacturers use different inactive ingredients, such as fillers and dyes, so that the generic products differ in color, size, shape or flavor from the corresponding brand name drug. These differences affect how the drug looks, but do not change the drug’s effectiveness. Even though the color, size, shape, or flavor may be different, the active ingredients, strength and dosage form must be the same as the corresponding brand name drug.
Related Questions
- A non-preferred drug is a medication that has been determined to have an alternative drug available that is clinically equivalent. If I am taking a brand name drug when a generic equivalent is available, at what co-payment level will this drug be available?
- If brand name drugs and generic drugs have the same active ingredients, why do they look different?
- Does a generic drug look different than the corresponding brand name medication?
