Many medications have two names because more than one version of the medicine may be available.
- The brand name is the name given to a medicine by the pharmaceutical company that makes it. This is also called the proprietary name.
- The generic name or scientific name is the name for the active ingredient in the medicine that is decided by an expert committee and is understood internationally. This is also called the non-proprietary name.
For example, sildenafil is the generic name of a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (the inability to get an erection). Pfizer, the company that makes sildenafil, sells it under the brand name Viagra.
Brand names for medications
Pharmaceutical companies take out a patent (exclusive rights) for each new medicine they discover. This patent lasts for up to 20 years, during which time the medicine is studied in clinical trials and then approved for sale by expert committees, such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). When the medicine becomes available, only the pharmaceutical company that discovered it is able to sell it using their brand name, until the patent runs out.
Generic names for medications
After the patent runs out, other companies can produce their own version of the medicine. For example, ibuprofen is the generic name of a medicine used to treat pain. Some companies will sell ibuprofen as branded versions, such as Nurofen and Hedex. Other manufacturers, such as Boots or Tesco, sell it under the generic name ‘ibuprofen’.
Medicines sold under their generic name are usually cheaper because the research and development costs are lower. However, they contain the same active ingredient as the equivalent branded medicines.
Generic medicines also go through detailed safety and quality requirements. See the Health A-Z for more information about how medicines are licensed and safety and regulation.
Being prescribed generic medications
You may be prescribed a generic medicine instead of a branded medicine because:
- generic medicines are as effective as branded versions
- generic medicines can cost up to 80% less than branded versions
Prescribing generic medicines frees up NHS funds for use elsewhere.
Generic medicines that are different
In some rare cases, branded medicines are prescribed because they are the most suitable product. If this applies to you, it’s important to stay on the branded medicine, rather than changing to a generic medicine. Your GP will let you know if this is the case.
For example, the body absorbs some medicines used to treat epilepsy in slightly different ways. This has a big effect on how the medicine works. In these cases, you should continue to use the brand you’ve been prescribed.
Read more about medicine names for examples of cases in which branded medicines may be prescribed in place of generic medicines.
Read the answers to more questions about medicines.
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