LOL.. how much cheaper can the generics be? Pur-Bloka was dirt cheap.
The generic name of a drug is the constant formulation name, based on class or structure or function of the drug, while the trade name is what the company gives the drug. A drug can be both generic and non-generic but it will always have a generic name - that is its real name - not dependent on manufacturer of its marketing department. Pur-Bloka is actually the generic version of the drug Propranolol. Propranolol is the actual drug and you'll find this name written on the box of Pur-Bloka in small letters, and you'll find the same name on every box of Propranolol no matter what trade name the drug is given.
For example VIAGRA (tradename) actually has a generic name of SILDENAFIL.
ZOCOR, the anti-cholesterol drug is actually known by its generic name of SIMVASTATIN. When the patent expires for a given drug, other companies can copy the drug and reformulate it to suit their needs and then they give it a different TRADE NAME but the GENERIC NAME always stays the SAME
and has to appear on the bottle and on the package insert so that pharmacists, doctors and patients know what the actual drug is without
having to memorise that this particular drug goes by a dozen different
trade names.
The antibiotic combination of Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid (generic names) goes by the trade name of Augmentin (this is the name the first pharma company gave the drug) and other names, for instance there is also Augmaxcil - which is a generic version of Augmentin and should be equivalent to Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid (generic name). Its a little confusing since generic companies also user trade names for their drugs and those are never the same as the generic name.
When it comes to drug prescriptions, they should ideally mention the generic name of the drug. However not all generic and original preparations are the same (in terms of absorbtion of the drug into the blood stream and similar issues), so sometimes the doctor will ask for the specific original preperation. If the doctor can't remember the generic name (because he's visited by too many drug company reps or for reasons of just not having enough time) the trade name may be written and the words ('or generic equivalent' or 'or GE') may be written next to the drug name. The pharmacist can then issue the actual med or the generic version.
