Teacher’s Diary
Do you dare to be a brand name or are you just a generic? First things first, let’s check out how it works with medications:
If you check their packaging, medications sometimes have more than one name. One of these names would be the generic name of the medication while the other name would be its brand name. For example, Ibuprofen is the generic name whilst Hedex or Nurofen are two brand names for ibuprofen; Sildenafil is a generic name for Viagra (its brand name).
Paracetamol which is extremely popular is the generic name for Panadol, Calpol, Tylenol, Emzor Paracetamol or Dawa Ya Magi etc. Paracetamol has been around for over one hundred years. It is sold in its generic name as well as by brand names. Paracetamol is sold in many countries by a range of manufacturers that each use different brand names.
The generic or scientific name of a medication refers to the active ingredient in the medication. This is the official medical name for this medication given by an expert committee. Generic medications are usually cheaper even though they contain the same active ingredients and have the same clinical effects as their brand versions. Generic names do not start with capital letters.
A manufacturer, the pharmaceutical company or the distributor of the drug selects and names a drug its brand name. The brand name therefore acts as the trade name of the medication. An easy to pronounce, quick to remember and aesthetic – for recognition name is usually coined as a brand name. The brand version of a medication is just as clinically effective because it contains the active ingredient of the medication.
In some people’s experiences, some generic drugs work differently from their brands and vice versa. This may be so if you bear in mind that even though generic and brand drugs have the same active ingredients, they may differ in some add ons like: Colouring Agents, Emulsifiers, Fillers, Preservatives and Binders.
