Brand-Name Drugs, Generic Drugs, and Illegal Prescription Drugs

If you've thought about buying prescription drugs on the internet you may have found the whole experience rather confusing. Here are some questions you might have wondered about.


Are generic drugs as good as brand-names?
Are drug copies such as "generic viagra" safe to use?
Does it matter if a drug is not "FDA approved"?
Are you breaking US law if you buy non-FDA-approved drugs on the internet?

These are just some of the questions many people have about online pharmacies and online drugs. The purpose of this article is to answer some of these questions

1. What is a Generic Drug?In the US and many other countries, a "generic" drug is a copy of a brand-name drug. It has identical active ingredients as the brand-name version, and so it is the same as the brand-name version in dosage, safety, strength, quality, performance, and intended use.

A generic version of a brand-name drug is not just similar to its brand-name counterpart. It is identical in all its important characteristics. It must not look like the brand-name version, and it may have a different flavor. But the amount of important active ingredients is the same,and therefore it has the same therapeutic characteristics as its brand-name counterpart.

2. Does every Brand-Name Drug have a Generic Counterpart?

No, every brand-name drug does not have a generic counterpart. This is especially the case with newer drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. These brand-name formulations are patent-protected for 20 years from the date of the submission of the patent. That means that no other drug company can introduce a "generic" version of any of these drugs while its patent is in effect. This allows the original developer of the brand-name drug to recover research and development costs.

When the patent for a specific drug expires, other companies -- including the original developer of the brand-name drug -- can apply to the FDA to sell generic versions.

This also explains why legitimate generic drugs are cheaper than their brand-name counterparts. A generic manufacturer does not have to recover research and development costs and can therefore sell them for less. This also has a tendency to drive down the price of the brand-name version as well.

3. Do Generic Drugs have to be FDA-Approved?

Yes, all prescription drugs, including all generic drugs must be FDA approved. In order to be sold to the public, generic drugs must pass the same FDA inspections as their brand-name counterparts. They must be manufactured to the same high standards, and the facilities where they are produced are subjected to the same inspections. In fact, an estimated 50 percent of all generic drugs are produced by the same company that produces the brand-name version of the drug.

4. Is there such a thing as a Non-FDA-Approved Generic Drug?

No, technically speaking, there is no such thing as a non-FDA-approved "generic" drug.  As outlined above, legitimate "generic" drugs must have the same characteristics as their brand-name counterparts, and must pass through the same FDA approval process in order to be sold to the public.

When an offshore company copies a brand-name drug before its patent expires it cannot get FDA approval because it is breaking US law.

5. Problems with Offshore Copies of Brand-Name Drugs

There are two major problems with so-called "generic" drugs that are not FDA approved.

It is illegal to sell these drugs in the US (and other countries) because they are ignoring US and international patent laws
It is dangerous to buy and use these drugs, because they are not subject to inspection and regulation. According to some sources, "many of these generics are created in unsanitary, make-shift labs and over half of these medications tested are cited for being unsafe for onsumption." In many cases they are found to contain "little to none or too much of the active ingredient."

6. How Can You Be Sure You are Buying FDA Approved Drugs?


The website should say "FDA Approved" or "FDA Approved Pharmaceuticals"
Websites offering "generic" versions of newer drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Propecia are selling non-FDA-approved versions of these drugs. These drugs have not been around long enough for their patent to have expired, so the "generic" copies are illegal copies.
Never buy from a website that has no phone number to call or physical address you can verify.
The online pharmacy should have knowledgeable licensed consultants able to answer your questions.

For FDA-Approved prescriptions, visit Online FDA-Approved Prescriptions [http://www.mybestscripts.com] - Men's Health, Women's Health, Pain Remedies, Quit Smoking, Weight Loss & More... Next day delivery available.

Rick Hendershot is a writer and online publisher. For online promotion ideas, see Power Listings [http://www.linknet-promotions.com/power-listings.php].

Medications: Are You Taking Too Many Prescription Drugs?

I recently discovered that a few of my over-40 patients appeared to be over-medicated from a combination of prescription drugs they had been given by different doctors. They came in complaining of not feeling well and said that they had been taking all of their prescriptions.

When I asked them what prescription medications they were taking, some reeled off a long list of drugs and others would bring in all of their pill bottles. One person was taking so many prescription drugs that they kept them in a shoe box! I was astounded at the amount of prescription drugs some were taking daily, often with duplicates and triplicates of the same types of drugs. No wonder they were feeling so poorly, complaining of things like memory loss, weakness, and stomach upsets.

Today, I'd like to talk to you about the potentially serious health risk of over-medication and how to prevent it.

How To Prevent Over-Medication

Over-medication is commonly referred to amongst medical personnel as polypharmacy, the taking of an excessive amount of prescription, pharmaceutical drugs. It is actually reaching epidemic proportions in the United States today, and it's most common in over-65 patients. It also occurs, however, in younger patients with multiple health conditions, including people who may be taking over 20 different drugs a day!

A patient may unknowingly be taking several prescriptions of the same types of drugs. How is that possible? Well, here's how.

A new patient came to me complaining about feeling ill with symptoms that were not related to her asthma condition. It was discovered that she was taking 5 different drugs, when only 2 were needed She had seen a few different doctors in the past and all had prescribed a drug for her condition. Trying to trust her doctors and follow their orders, she had just continued to take all of them! When we omitted the 3 extra drugs, her symptoms and ill-feelings disappeared.

Unfortunately, over-medication is not often discovered until a patient winds up in the hospital from either an overdose, or when they become ill from over-treatment, and/or side effects from taking too much of certain drugs. Sometimes a pharmacist notes that a patient has several doctors prescribing similar types of drugs and will alert the patient and/or physicians.

Did you know that 1.5 million adverse drug reactions occur in the United States every year, with thousands of them fatal? Research has shown that over half of all those events could have been prevented by streamlining a patient's drugs to the actual symptoms and effects of their specific medical condition. We've become, sadly, a culture of "a pill for every ailment". What can happen when a patient starts complaining about possible side effects from too many drugs is that another doctor will step in and prescribe a different medication for the same symptoms! Pretty soon, the patient is taking a whole arsenal of pills and not feeling any better. The answer is not to stop telling your doctor about ill feelings from possible side effects, but rather to better monitor the drugs you are given.

Before you end up in a hospital from an overdose or making yourself feel worse from taking too many medications, here are some ways to prevent from becoming over-medicated:

Talk to your pharmacist - ask if any of the medications you are taking could be causing certain side effects. Pharmacists often know specific side effects and drug interactions of specific drugs better than many doctors do. That's their job. It is important to tell them about any prescriptions you may have received from another pharmacy that you are continuing to take, as they will only know about the drugs dispensed from their pharmacy to you. This will help rule out duplicates of the same class of drugs, i.e. drugs for diabetes, drugs for heart condition, tranquilizer drugs, pain drugs, etc.

Talk to your physician - ask your doctor if it is possible to reduce the amount of drugs you are taking every day or week. Give the physician any information obtained from your pharmacist, i.e., drug information sheets that should include side effects or drug interactions. Or, have your doctor speak directly to your pharmacist about the drugs you are taking. It is likely the two of them can work out a more efficient pill taking regimen. Some physicians may feel insulted that you're asking them to work with a pharmacist on your behalf to reduce the amount of your prescriptions and may even reprimand you for not trusting him or her. If so, find another doctor.

Take Your Medications Correctly - it's not always the doctor's fault. Some people do not take their prescribed medications correctly or just don't take them at all. They continue to complain of symptoms and continue to have abnormal lab results, but are embarrassed to tell their doctor they didn't take their prescriptions consistently. A doctor may then think that the drug he prescribed to you is not working and may either increase the dosage or give you another prescription! Be sure to follow the directions on your prescription bottles exactly. Get a pill reminder box and fill it, or have someone you trust, fill it every week to ensure you are taking your medication as prescribed.

Know What Each Medication Is - it's up to you to participate in your health care. Know what each medication you take is for and how to take it correctly. Read the drug information sheets that are given by your pharmacy, discuss any questions with the pharmacist and/or your physician.

Don't Forget OTC's and Alternatives - even though these agents are sold "over-the-counter" they sometimes may interact adversely with prescription drugs or prevent them from working. Make sure you tell your doctor about any herbal supplements, vitamins, minerals, pain relievers, etc. For example, calcium cannot be taken within 3-4 hours of taking thyroid hormone as it will inactivate it. Grapefruit extract, an herbal supplement which some people take, can also interact with and/or prevent certain drugs from working. This is why it is important to detail everything you take.

Like some of my patients, you may need to take several prescription medications for various health issues that you may have. However, if you are taking a long list of medications, there is a risk that you may be over-medicating and you should take the time to talk to your doctor about possibly having your personal "pharmacy" reduced to a more effective, and safe, amount.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

Institute For Healthy Aging

www.healthyanswers.com

Direct consumer advertising of prescription drugs pose Coût

When one watching on television, a newspaper or a magazine is impossible not to inonde and announcements for many prescription drug benefit drug medicine. This was not always the case, not until 1997, when he FDA lignes for continuous to consumer publicite, advertise depenses massive pharmaceutical research this.

He might not be seen some interet, only two countries in the world allow us to mark two direct to consumer prescription de publicite: State and New Zealand.

Eastern montants de money involved sont echelonnement. A study of the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2006 to $ for a drug company passed on advertising, the $ 4 Add in itional ventes. Doesn't sound very comme, does it?

But real numbers in large impact. In 1999, only two years after the FDA allowed for continuous consumer publicite it form the current, Pfizer has spent $ 55 million advertising is cholesterol drug Lipitor, reduire. Vente de Lipitor jumped 56% this year to almost a million dollars.

As ad spending, the number of control by the FDA exerce failed. According to the New England Journal of medicine, FDA has 142 violation of the letter to the company pharmaceutical research in 1997. By 2006 the FDA has sent letters violations only 21.

John revenus de ad, pharmaceutical research company found new ways to entice customers to buy brand. Celebrites publicite was born. Pfizer was now celebre publicity featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik promote Lipitor "as a doctor and a father." As it turned out, Dr. Jarvik was not a doctor medical asylum despite his etre inventeur de artificielle the heart. Dr. Jarvik had a medical degree from the University of Utah but apres UN medical degree of a doctor must complete a series of these tests for certification to practice medicine.

reps: John. d Dingell (D MI), Chairman of the Committee on energy and trade, and Bart Stupak, the President of the oversight and investigations on du, launched an investigation effet of East trompeuse annonces on consumer approved by the FDA.

In February 2008 Pfizer agreed to remove the advertising and promotion Lipitor featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik. Rep. Dingell declared "Pfizer's decision was a wise man, and I'm glad the investigation of their suppression Des annonces Lipitor featuring Dr. Jarvik. We believe that Pfizer, and true commitment to ' une clarte in advertising; colleagues and I look forward to meeting with team gestion Pfizer to discuss the plans the ration to consumers advertising. "

The FDA will continue to monitor direct to consumer publicite by drug company to ensure annonces sont verite equilibre and accurate.

The pharmaceutical research research and manufacturers Fabricants of America (PhRMA) represents leading pharmaceutical research of research and manufacturing company biotechnologie. Trade and lobbying this group position official who want direct to consumers who walked to those who are sick critical consciousness disease are two types of illness and traitements that might be available to treat them. Show study must lead to consumer publicite apporte patients s in the doctor's Office and commence conversation is important for the doctor patient health on without this can take place.

The drugs industry is lobbying to have great montage campagnes continuous for consumers who walked the permis in Europe and Canada. health action International (HAI-Europe), December 2001 definir suite knowledge leadership to continue to ban direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs. Donne current debate in the United States on health care reform some raison braid pertinents.

HAI-Europe to 4 reasons to continue the ban on direct to consumer publicite.

1. Continuous to consumer publicite disques taking medications, prescription couts, threatening national health the care services and universal access to health health as a the Valley amental at right.

2. Continuous to consumer fails to inform publicite. Does not give impartial, point and client information those who are sick s needed for health health informed decisions.

3. Continuous to consumer publicite compromises security. It can lead to rapid exposition in drug dangerous before risk sont totalement reconnus. Ajouter, itionally, most new drugs are costlier than traitements, but provide better therapeutic.

4. Continuous favorise la publicite for consumer medical isation of life normal. Two braid annonce drugs are to be used in a large target audience, often for condition and '' '' style legere that problem may need treatment drugs.

The debate will continue but don't look for a change in practice advertising drug company aux.

Sheila Guilloton is the owner of Prestige Aux, a health agency specialises mise health and dental insurance for businesses and individuals are. Source and all the transporteurs, avocats and conseille customers on how to choose the most appropriate social security. To learn more about insurance and health care reform http://www.examiner.com/x-11804-Health-Care-Examiner visit