Chemical names are long and difficult to pronounce. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the generic, shortened names by which drugs are usually known. Drug companies give their products brand names. Many nonprescription and prescription pain relievers are available under both generic and brand names. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you the generic name.
Generic products tend to be less expensive than brand-name drugs and usually are just as effective.
However, because of differences in manufacturing methods, medicines with the same generic name produced by different companies may differ in the way they are absorbed by the body. For this reason, your doctor may prefer that you take a brand-name drug. You might want to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can use a less expensive medication. Pharmacies are careful to obtain high-quality generic products, so it is sometimes possible to make substitutions. Each is a different chemical.