What is a generic name?

Generic name drugs contain the same active ingredients that name-brand drugs contain and are FDA-approved, but they almost always cost less. Generic name drugs can only be released after the patent for the brand-name drug has expired (which generally takes 20 years), so not all drugs can be purchased in a generic form. But some drugs that are available only in brand-name form do have a generic equivalent, which may be a slightly different formulation or a combination of two generic drugs. Ask your doctor if a generic drug is right for you.