Generics pros and cons

Abstract

AbstractAlthough generic drugs have been replacing branded drugs for many years, but it is only required since 1992 that they have the same active and inactive ingredients.However, are generic drugs really the same as branded drugs? In systemically applied drugs, the amount of the active substance can be tested. In eye drops, however, we do not know the exact amount of the active substance which reaches the eye. Hence, the knowledge that the active substance is a small part of the whole drop and that the inactive parts may be changed in generic drugs lead to the conclusion that a generic eye drop may differ from the branded counterpart.The advantages of generic drops are mainly the costs: A new generic drug needs only the proof of the therapeutic equivalence or the pharmacokinetic bioequivalence and a sufficient compatibility, therefore it is much cheaper to produce a new generic drug than a branded drug.The disadvantages are manifold: The drop can vary in the inactive substances and therefore in the tolerability. The shape of the bottle, the tip of the bottle and the size of the opening of the tip can vary, leading to a considerable difference in number of drops in one bottle.Last but not least the patients may be sceptical about a generic drug, not knowing if it is as effective as the branded drug and having problems adapting to new shapes and colours of the bottles.Generic drugs have taken over a big part of the anti‐glaucomatous drug market. However, we need to inform the patients that there may be substantial differences between generic and branded drugs and check the patients more often after changing their medication.