Why pay more? – Generic versus branded medicines

Category: Other

You get what you pay for’. We are constantly reminded of and personally one that I am a believer of, but does this phrase hold true when deciding between generic versus branded medicines? Generic or non-proprietary medicines are not patented, whereas proprietary medicines are patented and are given brand names by the manufacturer. As an example, Ibuprofen is the generic name and Nurofen is one example of a brand name. The difference? Most generic medicines are cheaper than brand named medicines, since costs associated with clinical trials and researches after patent expiration are avoided.