Question

A patient has asked you about the difference between a generic drug and a trade- or brand name drug. You explain that a generic drug (select all that apply)

A. has the potential for abuse and dependence
B. has the same chemical composition as the brand name drug.
C. may have several brand names
D. may have several generic names
E. is usually less expensive than a brand-name drug

Answer 1

Generic drugs are equivalent to brand name drugs in composition and efficacy, usually have one generic name but may have multiple brand names, and are typically less expensive due to cost savings on research and development. The potential for abuse and dependence is not inherently linked with the drug being generic.

Step-by-step explanation:

A generic drug has the same chemical composition as a brand name drug, is usually less expensive than a brand-name drug, and while it may have several brand names, it typically has only one generic name. Generic drugs are subjected to an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure they are interchangeable with or therapeutically equivalent to the original approved drug. The potential for abuse and dependence of a generic drug is not determined by its status as generic but by the drug's pharmacologic properties.

Regarding the pricing, generic pharmaceuticals are significantly cheaper than brand name ones mainly because they do not have to bear the original costs of research and development that the brand name drugs do. The costs saved on these fronts are often passed on to the consumer, making generics more affordable.