| In 2007, 63% of sales of prescription medications | | | | cases. These medications still undergo approval from |
| within the United States were for generic drugs. This | | | | the FDA, and they must also be tested to ensure |
| is a massive contrast to its 18.6% market share in | | | | they retain at least 80% of the original drug's |
| 1984. The increase is attributed primarily to changes | | | | medicinal effects. This similarity - termed |
| set down by the Hatch-Waxman Act, which made it | | | | bioequivalence - does not mean that both |
| simpler and more cost-effective for pharmaceutical | | | | medications have the exact same chemical |
| companies to release generics to the market. | | | | composition. The FDA requirements are in place |
| Prior to the new regulations, pharmaceutical | | | | simply to ensure that both perform their functions in |
| companies that wanted to market a generic version | | | | very similar manners. |
| of a drug had to present separate test data to the | | | | There may be instances when generics for a given |
| Food and Drug Administration prior to approval. Under | | | | medication are not available, even on the Internet. |
| the new rules set by the Hatch-Waxman Act, | | | | This most often occurs with drugs that have |
| generic drugs no longer had to undergo that process, | | | | recently been released to the market, and thus the |
| saving pharmaceutical companies the time and money | | | | patent protections on the active ingredients are still in |
| required to perform a second round of clinical tests. | | | | place. Within the United States, a generic counterpart |
| Instead, so long as the generic counterpart was | | | | can only be produced once the patents have expired |
| identical to the branded counterpart, approval could | | | | or if the original manufacturer deems them to be |
| be given. | | | | impossible to enforce. The protection on patents in |
| Today, it is not unusual to buy medication online and | | | | other countries may vary. |
| find sites selling the generic version of a medication | | | | The choice between a generic and brand-name drug |
| that is much cheaper than a brand-name pill. This is | | | | can be difficult. Both should be comparable in their |
| because manufacturers of generic medications incur | | | | interactions and effects once inside the body. It is still |
| fewer costs than those that first developed the | | | | best to consult a medical professional before |
| drug. They do not shoulder the cost of the research | | | | choosing one over the other. Inquire whether or not |
| and development of the drug or the burden of | | | | generics would achieve the same effect as |
| conducting clinical trials. Since the pressure to recover | | | | brand-name drugs with a doctor before making a |
| from production prices is much lower, generic | | | | purchase. However, the availability of these cheap |
| manufacturers can sell their products as cheap | | | | drugs is a welcome relief during this time of change in |
| medication alternatives. | | | | the health care system. |
| Generic medication can be considered safe in most | | | | |