Question

The patient asks the nurse why generic drugs would be used and voices concerns that only the brand name product will be safe. What is the nurse's best response?

Select one:
a. Although initial cost is higher for a brand name it may cost less in the long run.
b. Generic drugs are always less expensive.
c. Some quality control problems have been found with generic drugs.
d. Most generic drugs are very safe and can be cost effective as well.

Answer 1

Most generic drugs are safe, approved by the FDA, and cost-effective alternatives to brand-name drugs. They undergo regulatory scrutiny to ensure that they are interchangeable with their brand-name counterparts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's best response would be that most generic drugs are very safe and can be cost effective as well. Generic drugs are the chemical equivalents of brand-name drugs whose patents have expired. They are typically less expensive because they don't have to repeat the expensive clinical trials that were conducted for the brand-name drugs and don't carry the same marketing costs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures through scientific evidence that generic drugs are interchangeable with or therapeutically equivalent to their brand-name counterparts. This process involves submitting an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA).

While there have been instances of quality control problems with generic drugs, such as the scandal in 1989, the FDA has measures in place to ensure that these issues are addressed. It's important to trust that the FDA's regulations on safety and efficacy apply to both generic and brand-name drugs, allowing consumers to feel confident using generics.