MISSD always stresses the importance of monitoring for adverse drug effects when stopping, starting, or changing a drug dose or type. The same recommendation is made when changing a medication between generic and brand name.

“Don’t assume that your side effects are normal, especially when you have not experienced them before when taking the same drug. You can also submit adverse drug reports to the FDA via their MedWatch program and report any possible concerns,” said Dr. Joshua Brown, a drug safety researcher for the Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.

“Generic drugs make up an estimated 90% of all prescriptions dispensed to patients. In clinical training, we are all taught that generics are the same as the name brand. However, as generic drug recalls continue to occur, and after reading the book Bottle of Lies by Katherine Eban, you start to get a picture that it may not be true,” said Brown.

Read the full article at https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/name-brand-vs-generic-drug