Such commonly asked questions are listed below with answers that you may find helpful. Generics must show pharmaceutical equivalence, which means that the amount of active ingredient, the dosage form, and the strength are identical to those of a comparable brand. The generic must also be bioequivalent, meaning the drug must be absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate and extent as the pharmaceutically equivalent brand. Collectively, pharmaceutical equivalence and bioequivalence define therapeutic equivalence. The FDA, the federal agency that regulates medications, evaluates generic drugs for therapeutic equivalence.
Therapeutic equivalence means having the same active ingredients as the brand.
It also means the generic can be expected to have the same clinical effect. Physicians commonly write brand name prescriptions knowing the pharmacist will substitute an equivalent generic. Explain to patients that if the doctor does not specify dispensing the drug as written, then by law, it is acceptable to change to the generic. My medication is awfully expensive. This is where the pharmacist can sympathize with the patient about the costly medication.