Generic Prozac: Better than Branded or the Same?

People often wonder what the difference is between generic medication and branded medication. Aside from the price, there are a few distinct differences and how these differences affect those who take these medications can be seen in what these differences are. Prozac is the brand name of the medication generically called Prozac Fluoxetine Hydrochloride. Prozac is the most popular brand of this medicine that is used to treat depression and all it entails. When you usually buy Prozac, the name Prozac hydrochloride is often the brand you mention, not the generic Fluoxetine Hydrochloride name that it has. If you decide on getting generic Prozac however, you may need to tell your pharmacist that you want the generic type and not the branded ones.

The Difference between Generic Prozac and Branded Prozac

There has been a long standing debate on the differences between generic medication and branded medication. Some people argue that generic medication does not give you the kind of effects that their branded counterparts do or that they lack some of the strength that their branded counterparts have. There are those who also argue that generic and branded are essentially the same, have the same effects, treat your problems the same way and are differentiated only by the price. While there is some truth to some of these arguments, you can only find the truth in this on a case to case basis since people react differently to medications. There are doctors who do approve of the generic Prozac for use by their patients, especially if they see that their patients cannot readily afford the more expensive branded ones. There are also doctors who insist that their patients should only purchase the non-generic Prozac due to the side effects that some of their other patients seem to be experiencing with the generic ones.

Is Generic Really the Same as Branded?

Theoretically, generic Prozac should have the same effect as its branded counterparts, however, there are indications that some people do not readily take to the generic kind of Prozac as they did with the “real Prozac”. There are also some ailments that are treated with branded Prozac that should not be treated with the generic type. One example of this situation is the use of Sarafem for PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. While Sarafem has the same formulation as both branded Prozac and the generic Prozac, these two are often unauthorized for use on the treatment of PMDD since they are not approved for this kind of ailment and only Sarafem seems to be. Since Sarafem and generic and branded Prozac all have the same formulation, there are some doctors who do prescribe these in the place of Sarafem due to costs and availability as well as due to insurance matters. The generic drug as well as its branded counterpart is supposed to have the same effect since they all have to adhere to the strict guidelines that the FDA has set for their manufacture. The reasons why some people seem to react differently to the branded and the generic types can be chalked down to a few factors. Some of these may be psychological while others may be physiological.

The Different Dosages of the Generic Brand

As with any drug, generic or otherwise, Prozac comes in many different strengths, forms and dosages. You can find liquid Prozac, tablets and even capsules for your medication needs. The dosages for Fluoxetine can come in 10, 20 and 40 milligram capsules and tablets. There are also liquid Fluoxetine that has 20 milligrams of the medication in each 5 milliliters of the liquid or equivalent to one teaspoon.

Choosing Between Generic and Branded

When it all comes down to choosing between branded medication and generic medication, the choice is often left to the consumer. What you can afford when it comes to what you need in terms of your medication is what having the option to choose between generic and branded is all about. Since the generic medicine and branded Prozac do have the same formulation even though they may look different and come from different pharmaceutical companies, since they are subjected to the same strict FDA requirements, they should essentially give you the same effects. The difference in price that you get from buying generic versus branded can be attributed to the patents that most branded Prozac makers have on their products. This usually covers the color, shape and packaging of the item as well as the development of the drugs by the company with the patent for developing and marketing this drug.