27. What are generic drugs?

The word generic refers to the drug’s chemical name (its active ingredient). Once the exclusivity time period expires, other companies may manufacture the drug formula, but they cannot use the same name.

Generic drugs have the following characteristics:

• They have the same healing effect and work in the same way within the body
• They have identical strength
• They are identical in presentation (ex: pill form), although their color and shape may vary
• They are administered the same way (ex: orally)