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A generic drug often costs significantly less than the brand name version of the drug. For example, on Drugstore.com, a popular online drugstore, 50 mg. tablets of Zoloft, a medication used to treat depression, recently cost $100.00 for a 30-day supply, while the generic version, Sertraline HCl, cost $15.00 for a 30-day supply – a savings of $85.00!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for approving and regulating the use of generic medications. According to the FDA, all drugs, including brand name drugs and generic drugs, must work well and be safe. Generic drugs use the same active ingredients as their brand name counterparts and, therefore, have the same risks and benefits.

However, there is some controversy about the safety and effectiveness of some generic drugs. Despite the fact that the active ingredient in a generic medication is the same as in the brand name counterpart, small differences could effect how the generic medication works in your body. This may be due to how the generic medication is produced or the type and amount of inactive materials present in the medication. For some people, these slight differences may cause the drug to be less effective or lead to side effects.

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