A generic medicine contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength and in the same form, as the original branded medicine. It has to meet the same quality standards. It usually costs considerably less, because the manufacturer did not pay for developing the medicine in the first place.
Every medicine has two names
Each medicine has a generic name — the name of the actual chemical — and one or more brand names given by the companies that sell it. Paracetamol is a generic name. Dolo, Crocin and Calpol are brand names for the same medicine.
Once you know this, medicine pricing starts making sense. Two boxes on a pharmacy shelf can look completely different and cost very different amounts, while containing exactly the same active ingredient at the same strength.
Why the price difference is so large
When a company develops a new medicine it holds a patent for a period, during which only it can sell that medicine. The price reflects the cost of research, trials and approval.
After the patent expires, other manufacturers can produce the same medicine. They only have to prove their version delivers the same active ingredient into the body in the same way. With several manufacturers competing, prices fall — often dramatically.
Do generics work as well?
For the great majority of medicines, yes. A generic must contain the same active ingredient at the same strength and meet the same regulatory quality standards.
There is a small group of medicines where doctors prefer you stay on the same product once stable — some thyroid, epilepsy and blood-thinning medicines, where small differences in absorption matter more. For these, ask your doctor before switching between brands in either direction.
How to pay less without taking a risk
- Ask your doctor to write the generic name on the prescription, not only a brand
- Ask your pharmacist whether a lower-cost version of the same medicine is available
- Check whether a Jan Aushadhi Kendra near you stocks what you need
- Buy from a licensed pharmacy that gives you a proper bill
- Check the expiry date and that the packaging is sealed and undamaged
- If you are on a thyroid, epilepsy or blood-thinning medicine, confirm with your doctor before changing brand
Medicines on HealthWiky
Each medicine page lists the generic name alongside the brands it is commonly sold under.
- Amlodipine besylate Amlopres, Amlokind, Stamlo
- Amoxicillin Mox, Novamox, Amoxil
- Acetylsalicylic acid Ecosprin, Loprin, Delisprin
- Atorvastatin calcium Atorva, Storvas, Lipvas
- Azithromycin Azithral, Azee, Zithromax
- Cetirizine hydrochloride Cetzine, Alerid, Okacet
- Domperidone Domstal, Vomistop, Domcet
- Glimepiride Amaryl, Glimestar, Zoryl
- Ibuprofen Brufen, Ibugesic, Combiflam (with paracetamol)
- Levocetirizine dihydrochloride Levocet, Xyzal, Teczine
- Levothyroxine sodium Thyronorm, Eltroxin, Thyrox
- Metformin hydrochloride Glycomet, Glucophage, Obimet
- Montelukast sodium Montair, Montek, Telekast
- Omeprazole Omez, Ocid, Omecip
- Ondansetron hydrochloride Emeset, Ondem, Vomiraf
- Pantoprazole sodium Pantop, Pan, Pantocid
- Paracetamol Dolo 650, Crocin, Calpol
- Rabeprazole sodium Razo, Rabekind, Rabium
- Salbutamol (albuterol) Asthalin, Ventorlin, Levolin (levosalbutamol)
- Telmisartan Telma, Telmikind, Telsartan
Frequently Asked Questions
Are generic medicines as good as branded ones?
A generic contains the same active ingredient at the same strength, and has to meet the same regulatory standards. For most medicines the two work the same way. A small number of medicines with a narrow safety margin — some thyroid, epilepsy and blood-thinning medicines — are best kept consistent, so ask your doctor before switching those.
Why is the same medicine so much cheaper under another name?
The company that develops a medicine holds a patent and prices it to recover development costs. Once the patent expires, other manufacturers can make the same medicine, and competition brings the price down sharply. The tablet itself is the same active ingredient.
Can I ask my pharmacist for the generic version?
Yes, you can ask. Whether it can be substituted depends on the prescription and local rules, so the pharmacist may need to check with your doctor. Asking your doctor to write the generic name on the prescription makes this easier.
What are Jan Aushadhi stores?
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras are government-supported outlets that sell quality-tested generic medicines at substantially lower prices. They stock a wide range of commonly used medicines.