Discussion over generic drugs has incensed exponentially over the past decade. With the introduction of online pharmacies the use of generic drugs from all over the world has increased. Almost half of all prescriptions today in the US are filled with generic drugs. Still, patients often ask if generic drugs are really as good as their brand-name counterparts. On an example of Tadalafil, a generic drug, and its counterpart Cialis we will explain their corresponding properties.
| number of pills | price per pill | |
| 360 | - | $1.49 |
| 90 | - | $1.80 |
| 30 | - | $2.47 |
Tadalafil (Cialis)
Tadalafil has been been helping men get and sustain an erection since 2003.
Tadalafil 20mg
more info…
Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. In other words, their pharmacological effects are exactly the same as those of their brand-name counterparts.
An example of a generic drug, one used for erectile dysfunction, is Tadalafil. A brand name for Tadalafil is Cialis. Another example is Sildenafil. A brand name for Sildenafil is that little miracle drug, that little blue pill Viagra.
Many people become concerned because generic drugs are often substantially cheaper than the brand-name versions. They wonder if the quality and effectiveness have been compromised to make the less expensive products. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) requires that generic drugs be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs.
Actually, generic drugs are only cheaper because the manufacturers have not had the expenses of developing and marketing a new drug. When a company brings a new drug onto the market, the firm has already spent substantial money on research, development, marketing and promotion of the drug. A patent is granted that gives the company that developed the drug an exclusive right to sell the drug as long as the patent is in effect.
As the patent nears expiration, manufacturers can apply to the FDA for permission to make and sell generic versions of the drug. Without the startup costs for development of the drug, other companies can afford to make and sell it more cheaply. When multiple companies begin producing and selling a drug, the competition among them can also drive the price down even further.
So there’s no truth in the myths that generic drugs are manufactured in poorer-quality facilities or are inferior in quality to brand-name drugs. The FDA applies the same standards for all drug manufacturing facilities, and many companies manufacture both brand-name and generic drugs. In fact, the FDA estimates that 50% of generic drug production is by brand-name companies.
Another common misbelief is that generic drugs take longer to work. The FDA requires that generic drugs work as fast and as effectively as the original brand-name products. Tadalafil, just like its brand name counterpart, should be taken at least 30 minutes before intended intercourse and it may produce an erection in response to sexual stimulation for up to 36 hours after taking the dose.
Sometimes, generic versions of a drug have different colors, flavors, or combinations of inactive ingredients than the original medications. Trademark laws in the United States do not allow the generic drugs to look exactly like the brand-name preparation, but the active ingredients must be the same in both preparations, ensuring that both have the same medicinal effects.
In that sense Tadalafil is a reversible phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) just like Cialis itself.