What’s the difference between generic and brand-name drugs?

Did you know that, particularly in the U.S. and some other countries, many medications have two names — a generic name and a brand name — that can sound completely different? If, like me, you’re managing neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), you might recognize some of the following: modafinil, omeprazole, gabapentin, duloxetine, zolpidem, buprenorphine/naloxone, and ravulizumab-cwvz.

Now, how about this list: Provigil, Prilosec, Neurontin, Cymbalta, Ambien, Suboxone, and Ultomiris?

If you thought the names in the first list might correspond to those in the second, you’d be correct.

All of these medications are part of my treatment plan. The first list contains the generic names of my treatments, while the second list cites the corresponding brand names. I live in Canada, where we widely use generic medications. That can sometimes cause confusion, and I’m no exception. During a recent appointment, my doctor reviewed my medication list and asked if I were taking Ambien. No, I replied. I was stunned when he repeated the question using the generic name, zolpidem. That was on my list, but I hadn’t realized that the two names were the same thing.

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That got me thinking: What’s in a name? In my mind, I mistakingly thought Ambien was primarily prescribed for anxiety disorders, something I don’t believe I have. But it’s actually used for sleep disorders. This is a reminder to me that a name can shape our perception. To me, understanding the purpose of a medication matters more than what it’s called.

To make matters more confusing, some medications are a combination of drugs, so they have more than one generic name. For example, I use Suboxone for pain management. (It’s also often used to treat opioid dependence or addiction.) Suboxone’s generic name is buprenorphine/naloxone.

Generic vs. brand name

Medications have both a generic name and a brand name because of how drugs are developed, approved, and marketed. As Adragos Pharma explains it, “A generic name refers to the chemical name or common name given to a drug, representing its active ingredient rather than its brand name. A generic name drug, therefore, is a medication that contains the same active ingredient as a branded drug but is sold under its generic name.”

According to Pfizer, two organizations approve the names of generic drugs: the U.S. Adopted Names Council and the World Health Organization INN Programme. Generic drug names use a system that groups similar drugs together based on their function or chemical structure.

For example, zolpidem belongs to a class of drugs called sedative-hypnotics. Duloxetine is part of a group of selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. These names help healthcare professionals recognize a drug’s classification or chemical composition, which is useful when prescribing or substituting medications.

When a pharmaceutical company develops a new drug, they patent it and give it a brand name for marketing. The brand name is unique to that company and is often easier to remember or pronounce than the generic name. Companies create brand names to make their drug more recognizable and appealing to doctors and patients. In the U.S., drug brand names are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the Patent and Trademark Office. In Europe, they’re approved by the European Medicines Agency.

Both names exist for a couple of reasons. When a new drug is developed, the pharmaceutical company has exclusive rights to sell it under their brand name for a certain amount of time, as research and development are expensive. Selling the medication with exclusive rights allows the company to recover its investment (and make a profit).

When the patent expires, other pharmaceutical companies can produce a generic version of the medication, as Pfizer explains. While these drugs are as effective as the first version, they’re usually much cheaper, making them more accessible to patients. That’s why my private insurance company will approve only the generic version of a drug unless my healthcare specialist specifically prescribes the brand-name version of it.

Generic drug names also ensure consistency across different countries and manufacturers so that healthcare providers can prescribe the correct medication regardless of the brand name.

Both the generic and brand names of medications serve a purpose. By understanding what goes into a name, we can better understand how the parts of our healthcare management strategies fit together and, in my case, better communicate with healthcare providers.

Note: Neuromyelitis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Neuromyelitis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.