Discount Generic Drugs

Savings From Discount Generic Drugs

Generic medicines are widely considered to be cheap drugs when compared to their brand name equivalents. The statistics support this view!

In the US in 2000, the volume of prescriptions filled with cheap drugs ("generics") was 42%. Yet this volume represented only 8% of the total dollar value of the drugs dispensed that year. These figures demonstrate powerfully the savings possible when health professionals and patients choose to use generic medicines.

Put in individual terms the average price of a prescription for a generic drug was $19.33 while the average price of a brand name drug was $65.29 in the US in 2000. This represents significant savings at a personal level. Using generic discount drugs therefore has the potential to save individuals hundreds of dollars each year, and yet provide exactly the same medical benefits received from their brand name equivalents.

Switching to Generics

Many brand name drugs have generic equivalents available. In some countries over half of all prescriptions filled are for generic medicines. This is expected to increase over the next decade. This does not mean that all of these generic medicines will be supplied on generic prescriptions because in some countries pharmacists are allowed to substitute a generic medicine on prescriptions even though a brand name product may have initially been prescribed. However usually this is only done when the Doctor approves it.

The figures do indicate that generic medicines are widely accepted by medical professionals and patients. Many insurance plans also encourage patients to accept generic medicines over their brand name counterparts whenever it's medically safe. This level of use demonstrates the widespread acceptance of generic medicines as discount prescription drug alternatives so long as the quality is assured.

Summary

A generic prescription drug is usually a discount prescription drug. However this does not mean it is a lower quality product so long as it is sourced from a country that has strong regulations controlling the standards that generic pharmaceuticals must meet in order to be available there. For further information on discount generic drugs visit SaveRxCanada.to.