Generic medications can offer substantial savings. Generics in general, produce the same outcome and health benefit as the brand name product. Manufacturers of generics must follow the same “Good Manufacturing Guidelines” as those of the manufacturers of the proprietary product. Also, the FDA has developed clear guidelines for generic manufacturing. The FDA website, www.fda.gov/cder/about/faq/default.htm contains a tremendous amount of information on FDA approved medications including generics. The site contains information on newly marketed products, newly approved generics and drug recall information. The link, www.fda.gov/cder/ob/default.htm provides information about brand to generic conversion along with the actual FDA rating. Many other web sites have valuable information about generic medications. For an overview of generic products go to:

www.fda.gov/cder/about/faq/default.htm
www.tevapharmusa.com (click on “Facts about Generic Drugs”)
www.theunadvertisedbrand.com
www.kroger.com/generic/

Generics do provide the same active ingredient in the same quantity as the brand name alternative. Generics may however contain different inert ingredients such as binders and fillers than a brand name product. For example, sometimes the dye is different. These small differences have on occasion caused intolerance in a patient. However, generics now represent the major medications administered in hospitals and pharmacies throughout the United States.

For most medications, generics offer a safe and inexpensive alternative to the brand name product. However, certain medications have been identified in which substitution of the generic product can lead to low or high drug serum levels. These products are unique in that they are effective only within a “narrow therapeutic index.” Low blood or high blood concentrations of these products can result in an inadequate response or side effects. For these medications, additional monitoring may be required when switching to a generic medication. Your pharmacist knows which medications should not be interchanged. Ask your pharmacist if a generic would be right for you, then consult your doctor.

Generics Released in 2007

Many brand name medications go off patent every year. When a medication’s patent protection expires, it can be introduced as a generic medication by another company if the appropriate testing has been done. Recently, a number of high volume medications have gone off patent and become available as generic medications. These include: simvastatin (Zocor), Norvasc (amlodipine), citalopram (Celexa), omeprazole (Prilosec) and carvedilol (Coreg). Importantly, these generics represent a significant cost savings to you. For years the Health Alliance has been using Zocor as the predominate cholesterol lowering medication within a similar group of medications. Generic Zocor offers substantial cost savings to you over other cholesterol lowering agents in this class. Table 1 lists the various brand name medications that Zocor can replace. Ask you doctor if you can use generic Zocor (simvastatin) in place of the Brand name products.

Table 1. Therapeutic Alternatives to Lipitor and Crestor

New Generics on the Horizon

 A number of high volume generics are expected to be released in 2008. Included are medications used for sleep disorders, asthma/COPD, osteoporosis, behavioral disorders and migraine. If you are receiving treatment with one of these agents, watch closely for the release of these generics. Table 2. lists these generic products that should become available in 2008.

Table 2. Generic products expected to be available in 2008