| If you've thought about buying prescription drugs on | | | | Yes, all prescription drugs, including all generic drugs |
| the internet you may have found the whole | | | | must be FDA approved. In order to be sold to the |
| experience rather confusing. Here are some questions | | | | public, generic drugs must pass the same FDA |
| you might have wondered about. | | | | inspections as their brand-name counterparts. They |
| - Are generic drugs as good as brand-names? | | | | must be manufactured to the same high standards, |
| - Are drug copies such as "generic viagra" safe to | | | | and the facilities where they are produced are |
| use? | | | | subjected to the same inspections. In fact, an |
| - Does it matter if a drug is not "FDA approved"? | | | | estimated 50 percent of all generic drugs are |
| - Are you breaking US law if you buy | | | | produced by the same company that produces the |
| non-FDA-approved drugs on the internet? | | | | brand-name version of the drug. |
| These are just some of the questions many people | | | | 4. Is there such a thing as a Non-FDA-Approved |
| have about online pharmacies and online drugs. The | | | | Generic Drug? |
| purpose of this article is to answer some of these | | | | No, technically speaking, there is no such thing as a |
| questions | | | | non-FDA-approved "generic" drug. As outlined above, |
| 1. What is a Generic Drug?In the US and many other | | | | legitimate "generic" drugs must have the same |
| countries, a "generic" drug is a copy of a brand-name | | | | characteristics as their brand-name counterparts, and |
| drug. It has identical active ingredients as the | | | | must pass through the same FDA approval process in |
| brand-name version, and so it is the same as the | | | | order to be sold to the public. |
| brand-name version in dosage, safety, strength, | | | | When an offshore company copies a brand-name |
| quality, performance, and intended use. | | | | drug before its patent expires it cannot get FDA |
| A generic version of a brand-name drug is not just | | | | approval because it is breaking US law. |
| similar to its brand-name counterpart. It is identical in | | | | 5. Problems with Offshore Copies of Brand-Name |
| all its important characteristics. It must not look like | | | | Drugs |
| the brand-name version, and it may have a different | | | | There are two major problems with so-called |
| flavor. But the amount of important active ingredients | | | | "generic" drugs that are not FDA approved. |
| is the same,and therefore it has the same | | | | - It is illegal to sell these drugs in the US (and other |
| therapeutic characteristics as its brand-name | | | | countries) because they are ignoring US and |
| counterpart. | | | | international patent laws |
| 2. Does every Brand-Name Drug have a Generic | | | | - It is dangerous to buy and use these drugs, |
| Counterpart? | | | | because they are not subject to inspection and |
| No, every brand-name drug does not have a generic | | | | regulation. According to some sources, "many of |
| counterpart. This is especially the case with newer | | | | these generics are created in unsanitary, make-shift |
| drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. These | | | | labs and over half of these medications tested are |
| brand-name formulations are patent-protected for 20 | | | | cited for being unsafe for onsumption." In many |
| years from the date of the submission of the patent. | | | | cases they are found to contain "little to none or too |
| That means that no other drug company can | | | | much of the active ingredient." |
| introduce a "generic" version of any of these drugs | | | | 6. How Can You Be Sure You are Buying FDA |
| while its patent is in effect. This allows the original | | | | Approved Drugs? |
| developer of the brand-name drug to recover | | | | - The website should say "FDA Approved" or "FDA |
| research and development costs. | | | | Approved Pharmaceuticals" |
| When the patent for a specific drug expires, other | | | | - Websites offering "generic" versions of newer |
| companies -- including the original developer of the | | | | drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Propecia are |
| brand-name drug -- can apply to the FDA to sell | | | | selling non-FDA-approved versions of these drugs. |
| generic versions. | | | | These drugs have not been around long enough for |
| This also explains why legitimate generic drugs are | | | | their patent to have expired, so the "generic" copies |
| cheaper than their brand-name counterparts. A | | | | are illegal copies. |
| generic manufacturer does not have to recover | | | | - Never buy from a website that has no phone |
| research and development costs and can therefore | | | | number to call or physical address you can verify. |
| sell them for less. This also has a tendency to drive | | | | - The online pharmacy should have knowledgeable |
| down the price of the brand-name version as well. | | | | licensed consultants able to answer your questions. |
| 3. Do Generic Drugs have to be FDA-Approved? | | | | |