Generic medications are just as safe and effective as their brand-name counterparts, and often cost less.  While nearly 9 in 10 prescriptions filled are for generics, many people have questions about whether they are really as good as the name brand medications and, if so, why there is a cost savings. To help educate patients about FDA’s rigorous review process, the economics of pricing, and related issues, FDA offers a range of educational materials, including videos, graphics, fact sheets, and related resources. Information and materials about generic drugs are also available in Spanish. Visit our Medicamentos Genéricos section.

 

• New Patient and Prescriber Educational Materials
• Infographics
• Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for Radio, Internet, Print
• Public Educational Materials
• Articles

New Patient and Prescriber Educational Materials

Patient/Consumer Public Service Announcement

Prescriber Advertisement 

Generic Drug Facts Handout

Stakeholder Toolkit

Sample social media posts and information cards for stakeholders to help share FDA materials, resources, and information.

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Infographics

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Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for Internet, Print

Radio Ads

Audio files and transcripts for radio announcements.

English Radio Ads

• Safe and Effective (15-seconds)
  • Audio (mp3 - 261 KB)
  • Script
• Safe and Effective (30-seconds)
  • Audio (mp3 - 336 KB)
  • Script

Spanish Radio Ads

• Doctor’s office (30-seconds)
  • Audio (mp3 - 509 KB)
  • Script

Public Educational Materials 

Brochures

• Brochure: Facts about Generic Drugs
• Questions, Answers, and Facts about Generic Drugs (HTML)
• Questions, Answers, and Facts about Generic Drugs
  • Low resolution (PDF-109KB) (FDA Archive)
  • High resolution (PDF-2MB) (FDA Archive)

• You know the questions that go through your mind when you take a generic drug? Here are the answers. (HTML)
• You know the questions that go through your mind when you take a generic drug? Here are the answers. (PDF - 76 KB)

Presentations

• What You Want to Know about Generic Drugs Presentation (PDF - 2.6 MB)

Fact Sheets

• What is the approval process for Generic Drugs?
• What’s Involved in Reviewing and Approving Generic Drug Applications? (PDF - 99.6 KB)

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Articles

• Saving Money on Prescription Drugs (2005)
• Study: U.S. Generic Drugs Cost Less Than Canadian Drugs (2004)
• Greater Access to Generic Drugs (2003)