Definition: A brand name drug is a medication sold by a pharmaceutical company under a trademark-protected name. Brand name medications can only be produced and sold by the company that holds the patent for the drug. Brand name drugs may be available by prescription or over the counter.
Examples: Sildenafil, a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction, is sold by prescription only by Pfizer Inc under the brand name Viagra.
Loperamide, a medication used to control and relieve the symptoms of diarrhea, is sold over the counter by McNeil Consumer Healthcare under the brand name Imodium.
