Generic vs. Brand Names of High Blood Pressure Drugs

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all generic and brand name blood pressure medications sold, dispensed and used. The generic name for a drug is usually the active ingredient for that drug.

Examples

• Brand name blood pressure drugs (with generic names) include Diovan (valsartan), Avapro (irbesartan) and Micardis (telmisartan). Generic blood pressure drugs (with their brand names) include lisinapril (Prinivil, Zestril), enalapril (Vasotec) and furosenide (Lasix).

Generic Equivalents

• Generic equivalent blood pressure drugs have the same quality, active ingredients, effectiveness, strength and purity as the original drugs they replace. People may report more side effects for generics, mostly because these side effects were not caught during the brand name phase of the drug.

Therapeutic Equivalents

• Therapeutic equivalent blood pressure drugs are used to treat the same condition in place of the original drug; they have different active ingredients or drug type. Therapeutic equivalents are often prescribed for those who may have allergies or major side effects to the original drug type.

Prices

• As long as they don't bear the original brand name, generic drugs are significantly cheaper than the original drugs they replace (up to 90 percent in some cases). The prices vary depending on individual pharmacies and the demand for that drug.

Facts

• The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Blood pressure drugs may also be used to treat chest pain (angina) and heart conditions (cardiac conditions).

Disclaimer

• Always check with your doctor if you have questions about medications. Since the FDA has no international jurisdiction, imported drugs may not be as safe.