Have you found yourself having a difficult time getting and maintaining an erection? A doctor may have recommended Viagra or other erectile dysfunction drugs for you to take. However, those brand-name medications may end up costing you a lot of money, even if you have a great health insurance plan. It could be in the best interest of your bank account and your bedroom that you start using generic Viagra.
Cheaper Medication
The greatest benefit of generic prescription medication is the difference in price. On average, generic drugs cost 85 percent less than their brand-name version. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives patents and exclusivity to manufacturers allowing them to profit on a name brand like Viagra. Years of testing and marketing end up impacting the cost of a brand-name prescription drug.
Ask your healthcare provider about the generic option, commonly known as sildenafil citrate, and work with your pharmacy to get this more inexpensive version. You can even purchase generic Viagra online with or without health insurance to help your bottom line in the long run. These generic medications through online pharmacies are a better financial option than dealing with high deductibles or high copays. Across the United States, this option is also recommended for those who are looking for some discretion in their need for erectile dysfunction medication.
The Same Effectiveness
In order for generic options to hit the marketplace, they have to have the same active ingredients and effectiveness as their brand-name counterparts. This also applies to the strength of the medication, as well as the dosage and quality. New brand-name drugs in the United States are usually protected by patents that prohibit others from selling generic versions of the same drug. Once that period of market exclusivity expires, generic medication can receive FDA approval and be sold in pharmacies.
While generic Viagra may not come in the shape of the little blue pill that’s copyrighted by Pfizer, this generic option of sildenafil provides patients with relief in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In fact, the reason generic medicines tend to cost less than brand names is that drug manufacturers don’t need to repeat clinical studies to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. This has led to a nationwide savings of $1.67 trillion throughout the years 2007 and 2016.
Whether being prescribed Viagra or Cialis, a generic version of the medication can provide the sexual stimulation that has been lacking in the bedroom for some time. Bear in mind, that while a generic option is as effective as an ED drug, it still comes with the same side effects as Viagra.
Rigorous FDA Protocol
In order for a generic version of a prescription drug to hit the marketplace, it must meet the highest standards put in place by the FDA. Federal officials require drug manufacturers to demonstrate that a generic version of a drug can effectively substitute the brand-name prescription it’s copying. The abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA, submitted by companies must show that the generic medicine has the same active ingredient as its name-brand counterpart. It must also demonstrate the same inactive ingredients, strength, manufacturing protocols, and labeling.
The FDA Generic Drugs Program conducts a thorough review of all generic options to meet these requirements. Officials take part in roughly 3,500 inspections of drug manufacturing plants annually. This is designed to ensure that these medicines work just as safely and effectively, keeping in compliance with standards set forth by companies like Pfizer to create generic options for drugs like Viagra. The FDA takes into account all levels of the supply chain from the accrual of active ingredients to being sold to consumers, making generic Viagra just as safe for patients.
