According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a generic prescription drug is the same as a brand-name prescription drug in safety, strength, quality, the way it works, how it’s taken, how much should be taken, and the way it should be used. Generic prescription drugs use the same active ingredients as brand-name prescription drugs and work the same way. Generic prescription drugs have similar risks and benefits as brand-name prescription drugs.

Generic prescription drug makers must prove to the FDA that their product performs in the same way as the brand-name prescription drug. Today, almost half of all prescriptions are filled with generics. In some cases, there may not be a generic prescription drug available for the brand-name prescription drug you take. Talk to your doctor.