Same medicine, different brands: Which one should you choose?

Multiple brands of medicines with the same generic name are available in the market for the same disease. The packaging is different, the names are different and the prices also vary. This naturally raises the question: Are they all the same? Or does the difference in price also mean a difference in the quality of the medicine?

Suppose a patient in Bangladesh is taking amlodipine 5 mg for high blood pressure. Since multiple brands of the same generic medicine are available in the market, a patient may buy another brand on their own if the brand prescribed by the doctor is unavailable. The same applies to metformin for diabetes or paracetamol for pain. A decision should not be made based only on the brand name or price.

The main active ingredient or API should be the same in medicines with the same generic name. However, there may be differences in the quality of raw materials, formulation, manufacturing process, storage and quality control.

Bioequivalence, meaning the effectiveness and bioavailability of two generic and brand name medicines being equivalent, is an important consideration here. For certain medicines, it is evaluated how the active ingredient is absorbed in the body and how closely it corresponds with the reference medicine within the specified range. Therefore, the assumption that a higher price means a better medicine and a lower price means an inferior medicine is not correct.

Patients should ensure the correct generic medicine, correct dosage and a reliable source. If the prescribed brand is unavailable, it is safer to consult a doctor or pharmacist rather than changing the medicine on their own. In the case of medicines, the main considerations should not be only the name or price but also quality, safety, effectiveness and the patient’s needs.

Author: Deputy General Manager, Unimed Unihealth Pharmaceuticals Limited