Do generic acne treatments work as good as the brand name?
“Although the active ingredients are the same, the inactive ingredients may differ widely. So if you respond to a brand name drug, you may be allowed to use the generic version without a question, or vice versa.”
Your dermatologist has given you an acne medication prescription. The pharmacist questioned if you needed the generic drug instead when you went to get your prescription filled. He said it was the same drug. You're still uncertain. Is a generic acne product the same as labels by brand name? Were they doing the same thing? You want to make sure that your acne is treated as effectively as possible.
Generic drugs v/s Brand name
Both medications are composed of two parts: the active ingredients (the ingredients that make the medication work) and the inactive ingredients (all the other "things" included in the product). Generic medications have the same active ingredients as their counterparts for the brand name. In both branded and generic drugs, these additives should work in the same way.
Although generic medicines have the same active ingredient as branded medications, inactive ingredients — or the "fillers" which bind the pill together and then help break it down once it's in the body — often vary between generic and branded products.
There's another thing to consider with topical acne medicines— the vehicle. The vehicle is essentially the basis to which the active ingredient is added in topical acne medications.
Think of it like this: the vehicle is the "things" you place on your face which deliver to your skin the healthy, functioning component. Although both the branded acne medication and its generic equivalent would have the same active ingredient, it will be customized for the product (or base). This means that your skin will have a different feeling. Even if the active ingredient is the same, you may prefer the feel of one medication over the other. The brand and generic prescription are not the same exactly. By principle, because each medication includes the same active ingredient, essentially the same will function.
However, this is where it gets a little tricky. The vehicle can also influence how the drug works. Your dermatologist may choose to use one product than the other because of the vehicle's variations, even if the active ingredient is the same. In comparison to the inactive ingredients, the cost is another disparity between generic and name-brand medicines. Generic medicines, in general, are less expensive. But this may not make a big difference to your wallet. The co-pay may be the same for both, based on your coverage. And in some situations, the advertised medication may potentially be less than the generic drug (if your insurer has agreed with the supplier a lower price). Obviously, if you're paying out-of-pocket for your acne medicines, you'll want to pay attention to the price issue.
Are Generics a better substitute?
Generic drugs vs brand name have the same profile for safety and side effects. Sometimes, due to one of the inactive ingredients in it, people may experience an adverse reaction to a particular generic brand of medication. Most medicines can replace generic medicine. Some people with conditions where small changes in concentrations of drugs can have significant effects may prefer using the same brand instead of swapping between generics.
A clinic will be the best place to get details about generic and advertised medications. Ask if the generic version is OK during your appointment. However, not every prescription medications have a generic equivalent. Your dermatologist may want you on a branded drug for a specific reason. Then you and your physician will be on the same page if your pharmacist recommends a generic alternative. If you need to keep the prescription costs down, let your physician know in advance. Keep this in mind, your doctor may prescribe a medicine that works for you and fits your budget, whether it's a brand name or a generic option.
Here are a few examples:
Think of all the brand / generic names you know: Q-Tips and swabs of cotton; Kleenex and facial tissue; Tylenol and acetaminophen. Acne medicines also have brand names as well as generic versions.
- Name-brand Retin-A and generic tretinoin
- Name-brand Azelex and generic azelaic acid
- Name-brand Minocin and generic isotretinoin
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