When someone is sick, the basic response in today's world is to medicate. However, in today's world, whenever a consumer is out to get something (even something that's badly needed), the first inclination is to go with what's the most economical option. A person's health can therefore be a touchy subject in this regard, with both the well-being and the financial situation of the patient being thrown into the pot for consideration. Granted, there are cheap generic drugs available on the market that are lower in cost than their branded, trademarked counterparts. There is, however, the lingering question of whether or not price dictates quality. As with most other things, there are both positive and negative points to both sides, with the decision usually falling squarely on the shoulders of the person deciding.
Cheap generic drugs, provided they're made by reputable pharmaceutical companies, have the same exact ingredients as their branded counterparts. The core ingredients, the compounds in the medication that make it work and fix problems in the body, are the same both cheap generic drugs and the more expensive, brand-named ones. There are typically very few differences between the two. For example, in a number of skin care treatments, the active ingredients are of a lower concentration in the generic ones than their prescription or branded counterparts. In most cases, however, the only real difference between the two would be the packaging. A number of cheap generic drugs are made by the same pharmaceutical companies that sell the trademarked medications.
The appearance of generics differs from branded ones primarily due to trademark laws. In some cases, any non-essential ingredients in the medication can also differ, but these do not have any impact on the effectiveness of the drugs. Local regulations and marketing needs may also affect how a generic drug is produced, with a certain medication being sold as a pill in one country, but as a tablet in another. However, in most cases, a trademarked or branded drug will retain its form regardless of what country it is marketed in. The appearance is also retained, mainly because this aspect of it is trademarked, with most customers being familiar with both name and design.
Cheap generic drugs are not designed to be any less effective than their branded counterparts. There are some cases where the active ingredient is in a lower concentration, but this usually occurs if the generic version is over-the-counter, while the branded one is available only by prescription. They aren't less effective and they don't take longer to work than the branded ones.
However, one thing that must be kept in mind is that not all branded medications have a generic counterpart. Some medications only come in the branded form, and these tend to be very expensive. Of course, in situations where this is the case, the expense usually comes from the fact that the patient is likely to have no other choice. A medical professional like a doctor or pharmacist is likely to have a better idea of which medications have a generic counterpart, if the patient's finances aren't up to purchasing a branded drug. In reality, the differences between the two tend to be superficial and, for the purposes of fixing a problem, one is just as good as the other.
by Harvey
