Generic vs. Brand name medications

Describe how you feel about generic vs. brand pharmaceuticals. Do you think one is more effective or better than the other? What would you recommend for your patients if they asked you if thy should buy generic vs. name brand, knowing they will most likely do what you say for ALL their prescription drugs, no matter what it is?

As far as how I feel about generic vs. name brand pharmaceuticals, my feelings remain mutual towards using both types of medication. Although I am all about saving money when you know that the generic product is just as good as the name brand name. I look at the situation this way if you were to go to Wal-mart to buy bread; just because you buy the Great Value brand (which is the Wal-mart brand) does not necessarily mean that you are getting less form the item compared to buying the brand Sunbeam. Just like medications, generic brands were placed out in the stores in order for people with lower income could afford the necessary pharmaceuticals for their families. Also, there are health care insurances that will only cover generic brand medications because of the difference in price and if you were to sit down and do the math (you could see a dramatic difference in most cases). Although that brings up the fact that insurance companies would not necessarily except medications that would not cure/or heal the under lying cuase of disease/illness; if they knew the intervention of medication would not be effective because that would leave them in a bad situation. Meaning more cost towards them if these medications that were prescribed were not effective. Get the piture? I leave you with this note "Research that has been completed on this topic of generic vs brand name has shown that generic names are a lot more affordable and are just as effective as the brand name medications (if not more) that are out in the pharaceutical world." So, you make the choice is really better than the other product??? : )