What is the difference between brand-name and generic medicines?
The original developer of the medicine generally manufactures the brand-name product. A manufacturer that did not originally produce the medicine generally produces a generic version. All the active ingredients in both versions are the same and generics are just as safe and effective as brand-name medicines. The primary difference is cost. Because the generic manufacturers do not have the cost of developing the brand-name medicine, they can produce it for less. Generic medicines must meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines before they can be sold. CVS Caremark also has an approval process to evaluate manufacturers. All manufacturers must meet our standards for their products to be purchased for dispensing by CVS Caremark.
