Does the generic drug look like the brand-name drug?
Not necessarily. On rare occasions the generic drug and the brand-name drug may have a different size, shape or colour. But they will work exactly the same. Are generic drugs widely used in Canada? Yes indeed. Generic drugs fill more than 40% of all prescriptions in Canada. Are there generics available for Over-The-Counter drug products? Yes. The patents have expired on most over-the-counter drugs, and therefore most have a generic equivalent. You often see generics as the “house” brands marketed by pharmacies. For example, ASA is marketed by many pharmacies under their drug store names. What about the ingredients in a generic drug? Do the ingredients make some products taste different? The active ingredient(s) in a generic drug and branded drug must meet the same standards set by the Health Protection Branch of the Federal Government. However, non-medicinal ingredients in a drug product are used to give the product its shape, colour and taste may differ. Drug manufacturers, both brand
