Generic drugs: A safe and affordable alternative to brand-name drugs
Generic drugs are the generic equivalent of the brand name drug with the same dosage, strength, action, quality, administration, and intended use. Market availability depends on the generic manufacturer proving the generic drug has the same active ingredients as the brand name and that it works the same way in the body, in the same amount of time but a different prescription drug costs.
As trademark laws in the United States prevent generic medications from looking exactly like their brand-name counterparts you may find that the shape, size or color look slightly different. This, plus the fact that the prescription drug prices for generic medications are less expensive, are the only differences between generic and brand-name drugs.
Patent expiration dates on brand-name drugs have a lot to do with why generics are cheap prescription drugs. When the patent expires on a brand-name drug, generic manufacturers can produce a copy of the brand-name and sell it at a considerable discount. That helps keep the cost of prescription drugs affordable.