Is there a big difference between generic and brand-name drugs?
No, but there is often a big difference in price. Generic drugs are called by their chemical names. A brand-name drug carries the name assigned by its manufacturer. The products have the same ingredients. For example, Tylenol is the brand name for the drug acetaminophen. Standard practice and most state laws require that a generic drug be generically equivalent to its brand-name counterpart. That is, it must have the same active ingredients, strength, and dosage form—pill, liquid, or injection. The generic drug also must be therapeutically equivalent — it must be the same chemically and have the same medical effect.
