Branded or generic: what changes and what does not

A question we hear every day at the counter is whether a cheaper version of a medicine is just as good. It is a fair question, and the answer needs a little care.

Every medicine has an active ingredient, the substance that does the work, and a strength, such as 500 mg. Many companies make medicines with the same active ingredient and strength under different names. Some are sold under a well-known brand name and some under the ingredient’s own name, often called a generic. They can differ a great deal in price, sometimes by three or four times.

What stays the same is the active ingredient and its amount. What can differ is the filler and binding ingredients, the coating, the size and colour of the tablet, and the packaging. For most people these differences do not matter, but for some, such as those with allergies to a particular filler, or people on medicines where the dose must be very precise, the choice is something to discuss with the doctor.

Our rule is simple. If your prescription names a specific product, we give you that product. If it is out of stock, or if you ask about a cheaper option, the pharmacist will tell you what alternatives exist and their prices, and we change nothing without your approval or your doctor’s. If the prescription names only the ingredient, we show you the options and let you choose. Either way, the bill shows exactly what you received, so your doctor can see it at your next visit.