OTC Drugs: Prescription vs. Generic - any difference??

[BillGates]

I am a frequent user of Sudafed due to allergies/hay fever and see a 96 pack of Sudafed for about $12-$13. 96 packs of a generic "equivalent" are about $4.00.

Do any of you drug addicts know if there is any perceptable difference, or if you're just paying for the name.

I considered that perhaps the name brand could be more expensive due to a more controlled/extended release or better purity/higher quality of the active ingredient (pseudoephedrine HCl)...

I would think the FDA is very strict on drug purities, contents, etc - but I always feel better buying "the real deal."

Any comments?

 

[BillGates]

By the way, this question was not meant to be directed only at Sudafed - it applies to all name brand vs generic over the counter drugs...

 

[Flashram]

You are paying for the name. I usually go with the brand name if it's about the same price as the generic, but other than marketing there is little to no difference in prescription or over the counter drugs.

 

[DougK62]

It depends on the drug. You'll just have to try and see.

 

[deerslayer]

I work at a pharmacy and the pharmacist there always tells people to get the generic. I dont think there is any significant difference besides the price.

 

[Mday]

federal law (US), all the active ingredients in medications are the same. so, if you get generic, and it's 500 mg of acetaminophen, it is the SAME as extra strength tylenol, but cheaper. generic brands will be right next to the brand-name, read the label, if it's the same active ingredient(s), they do the exact same thing.

When it comes to liquids, there is a slight difference. the active ingredient is still the same, but the liquid stuff may differ. ie, how it tastes, how it goes down (smoothness), how much liquid you need to drink to get the actual dosage of active ingredient, etc... When it comes to pills, the outer coating or form of pill may differ, but generic medicines also have different coatings and are usually comparable to the name brand in terms of quality.

as for sudafed, i use the generic equivalent. the pills are practically even the same size and are the same color. in my case, my generic is CVS for sudafed. dont forget to check the expiration date.

 

[SuperTool]

Check the ingridients. If it's the same, get the generic one, unless difference is under 20%.
Generic just means they didn't spend all that money advertising to become "brand name"

 

[dethman]

those drugs you mentioned will probably be the same except for gimmicks like 'gelcaps' and 'extended release'. but neither require a prescription though...you can buy sudafed from any drugstore.

your question is name brand vs. generic OTCs, not prescription vs. generic right?

in terms of prescription vs. otc, usually the doses are higher for the same prescription drugs. (ie i don't think you can buy an 800mg motrin OTC).

 

[vi edit]

Generic is pretty much just a name brand that is older than 7 years and the patent has worn out on it.