Generic Drugs

Have you been hesitant to try a generic medicine? If so, the following information may be of interest to you:

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Standards

  • Generic drugs must be bioequivalent to their brand-name counterparts. This means that generics should be absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate and reach the same blood levels within a specified time period.
  • They must follow the same good manufacturing practices enforced by the FDA that brand name drugs follow.
  • The FDA inspects manufacturing plants and monitors drug quality for brand and generic drugs.

These strict government standards ensure that generic drugs contain exactly the same ingredients as the brand-name drug and are just as effective and safe. By choosing a generic alternative, you can save a significant amount of money and still maintain the quality of healthcare you would receive with a brand-name drug. 

Generic drugs are improving lives for less. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist today if you are interested in trying a generic drug.

Learn more at www.fda.gov

Questions about Your Drug Coverage ?

*Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) is an independent company that serves as the pharmacy benefit manager for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and HMO Louisiana, Inc.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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