Generic Drugs Are Generic Drugs as Safe and Effective as Brand-Name Drugs?
This article is based on information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What is a brand name drug? A brand name medication can only be produced and sold by the company that holds the patent for the drug. Brand name drugs may be available by prescription or over-the-counter. For example: • Valsartan, a medication used to treat high blood pressure, is sold by prescription only by Novartis Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Diovan. • Loratadine, a medication used to treat allergies, is sold over the counter by Schering-Plough HealthCare Products under the brand name Claritin
