Phentermine
Comparison
Since there
are several different brands of phentermine as well as generic
phentermine, most consumers have questions about the differences
and similarities between generic phentermine and brand name phentermine.
Some of the
brand name phentermine drugs are: Adipex-p,
Dapex, Fastin, Ionamin, Obe-Nix, Obephen, Obermine, Obestin-30,
Ona-Mast, Parmine, Phentrol, T-Diet, Teramin, Unifast Unicelles,
Wilpowr. (To compare prices of generic phentermine, visit Cheapest
Phentermine Online.)
The following
are frequently asked questions regarding generic vs. brand name
drugs.
What
Are Generic Drugs?
When an company
develops a new drug, it normally gives the drug two names. One
is its generic name - the name of the chemical compound that makes
up the drug. The other is the brand or trademarked name.
A brand name
is protected by a patent for up to 20 years. When the patent expires,
other manufacturers can produce the generic equivalent of the
brand and sell it under its generic, or chemical, name.
What
is the difference between generic and brand-name drugs?
Generic drugs
are identical or bioequivalent (+/-20%) to a brand name drug in
dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality,
performance characteristics and intended use. For information
on known side-effects of phentermine, visit Phentermine
side affects.
How
Are Generic Drugs Approved?
Generic drugs
must be approved by the FDA for marketing. Before the FDA will
approve a generic drug, the following conditions must be met:
- The generic
must contain the same active ingredient(s) as the brand name
although inactive ingredients may vary.
- The generic
must be identical in strength, dosage form, and route of administration.
- It must
be bioequivalent to the brand name product, although the range
of equivalence is relatively broad (+/- 20%) and the test relatively
limited.
- The generic
must meet the same batch requirements for identity, strength,
purity and quality and it must be manufactured under the same
standards of GMP regulations required for brand name drugs.
The major
difference between the review of a brand drug and the review of
a generic drug is that the manufacturer of the generic drug is
not required to duplicate the original medical studies proving
the safety and efficacy of the chemical compound.
Since medical
usefulness of the brand name drug has already been established,
only bioequivalence/ therapeutic equivalence testing is required
for a generic drug. The FDA approves only those generic drugs
shown to be bioequivalent/therapeutically equivalent to their
brand name counterparts.
What
Are the Manufacturing Standards for Generic Drugs?
The manufacturing
facilities of all pharmaceutical companies, whether they are makers
of brand or generic drugs, must pass stringent, regular inspections
by agencies of the federal government. There is no difference
between the manufacturing standards set for generic pharmaceutical
companies and those set for brand pharmaceutical companies. The
approval for both manufacturers may take several years. Many pharmaceutical
companies that make brand name drugs also make drugs sold under
generic labels. Conversely, many generic companies manufacture
drugs for brand name companies.
What
Is the Quality of Generic Drugs?
To be considered
"bioequivalent/therapeutically equivalent" to its brand
name counterpart, a generic drug must not only have identical
active chemical compounds, but the quantity and speed of absorption
of its active ingredients into the bloodstream must also be the
same or similar, within ranges designated and approved by the
FDA. (Most oral medication must be absorbed into the bloodstream
before it can produce the medical results your physician is trying
to achieve.) If the FDA is satisfied with the tests submitted
by the manufacturers for its review, the agency rates the generic
drug as bioequivalent/therapeutically equivalent to the brand,
recognizing it as equal to and interchangeable with it. Your pharmacist
dispenses only products that have been approved by the FDA.
Sometimes
the generic version of a drug may have a different color or shape
from its brand name counterpart. These differences have no effect
on the medical action of the drug. They are created simply to
distinguish the appearance of one drug from another.
What
are the advantages of using generic versus brand-name drugs?
The biggest
advantage of using a generic alternative is price. You can save
as much as 90 percent over the cost of brand-name medications.
Generics average 40 to 60 percent less than brand-name drugs.
For information on special discounts on phentermine, see Phentermine
free shipping.
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