Eli5: what is the difference between a generic drug to the original drug, and why do some doctors will swear by the original drug?

Question

Eli5: what is the difference between a generic drug to the original drug, and why do some doctors will swear by the original drug?

In: 1046

Answer 1

Many times Doctors don’t care about the difference. The issue is more that the name brand is what’s at the top of their mind and that’s what they write on the prescription pad.

If the pad says “Tylenol” Pharmacists are required to dispense “Tylenol” not “Acetometophan”.

Where I live (Nova Scotia Canada), there is a rule that unless the prescriber says that the name brand is absolutely required, than they can dispense any generic. That is “Bio equivalent”