Generics are cheap, but are they just as good?

Generics are cheap, but are they just as good?

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Story Published: Aug 28, 2008 at 8:08 AM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 1:20 AM PDT

By Herb Weisbaum

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Generic drugs are clearly a way to save money.

Consumer Reports Medical Advisor Dr. Orly Avitzur says generics have the same active ingredient as the original and are required to be the same in almost every way -- same dose, same strength, same purity. Only the inactive ingredients, such as fillers can be different.

"Evidence is good that generics are safe and effective and a good choice for someone starting on a new medication."

And yet, some people say they switched to a generic and it didn't work as well. I asked Dr. Avitzur about that.

"Sometimes people don't like the way they taste or they may have unexpected reactions to those inactive ingredients, so after switching from any brand name medication to generic, if you have a problem, then certainly you should discuss it with your physician. But those kinds of incidents are quite rare."

While she recommends generics, Dr. Avitzur says you should never make a change on your own -- always check with your doctor first.

For More Information:

Consumer Reports: RX for Lower Drug Costs

Consumer Reports: Challenges to Generic Drugs

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter: Is Generic Good Enough?

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