If they experience anything out of the ordinary, they should immediately contact their physician. Patients should also ask their physician to explain to them why they are taking a particular medication, how the medication works, and how long they will have to be on the therapy. It is also very important that the patient understands and is able to follow the directions regarding how and when to take their medicine. Accurately following the directions can help to avoid problems. If a patient has concerns over any aspect of taking their medication, they should discuss these with their physician or pharmacist who can provide them with information and assistance to alleviate any uncertainties.
Patents protect new drugs for a specific time period from the time they are discovered.
During this time period, only the brand- name product can be sold. Once the patent expires, the Food and Drug Administration allows other companies to manufacturer equivalent versions of the brand product. These are known as generics. Generic products may be different from the brand-name product in size, shape, color, and sometimes taste because the inactive ingredients of the product are not required to be the same. All generic drugs however are required to pass rigorous scientific testing to show they are safe and effective.