Definition: When the patent of a brand name medication expires, a generic version of the drug can be produced and sold. Generic versions of a drug must use the same active ingredients as the brand name drug, and it must meet the same quality and safety standards.
Before approving a generic drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires tests and procedures to assure that the generic drug can be substituted for the brand name drug.
Examples: Because of the patent process, medications that have been on the market for less than 17 years do not have a generic equivalent being sold. Your doctor, however, may prescribe a similar medication to treat your condition that does have an available generic equivalent.
For example, if you are taking Lipitor (Atorvastatin), which is still on patent protection, for high cholesterol , your doctor can switch you to simvastatin, the generic version of Zocor.
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