Generic drugs are identical copies of brand-name drugs, containing the same active ingredients. The main difference lies in the name, price, and sometimes non-active ingredients, but their efficacy and safety are equivalent.

The primary differences between generic and brand-name drugs include:

Name: Brand-name drugs have a proprietary name assigned by the pharmaceutical company, while generic drugs have a non-proprietary name based on the drug’s active ingredient.

Price: Generic drugs are generally more affordable than their brand-name counterparts due to lower development and marketing costs.

Appearance: Brand-name drugs often have distinctive shapes, colors, and markings, while generics may look different. However, the active ingredients remain the same.

Patent Status: Brand-name drugs are initially protected by patents, granting exclusivity to the pharmaceutical company. Once the patent expires, other manufacturers can produce generic versions.

Non-active Ingredients: While generics must contain the same active ingredients, there may be variations in non-active ingredients (such as fillers and preservatives) between the generic and brand-name versions.

Despite these differences, both generic and brand-name drugs undergo rigorous regulatory scrutiny to ensure they meet the same standards for safety, efficacy, and quality. Generics are considered interchangeable with brand-name drugs, providing a more cost-effective option for consumers.