What is the difference between a brand-name and a generic equivalent drug?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, generic drugs are the same as their brand-name counterparts in active ingredients, dosage, safety, strength, and performance and are held to the same strict standards as the brand-name drug. The only noticeable difference between a generic and its brand-name counterparts may be the shape and/or color of the drug. While generic drugs are just as effective as the corresponding brand-name drugs, they typically cost up to 70 percent less, helping control health care costs. It also helps keep members’ out-of-pocket costs down.
