‘Is generic OK?’: Answering the question pharmacists - and Aussies - keep asking
“Is generic OK?”
Millions of Australians have heard those three words at a pharmacy counter and paused before answering, unsure what to say.
Both of these products contain the same active ingredient, but the brand-name option on the right is usually more expensive. James Alcock
On the one hand, generic medications tend to be less expensive, especially when it comes to common drugs like ibuprofen and paracetamol. But many Aussies fear compromising on price also means compromising on efficacy, and that’s a chance they don’t want to take with their health.
Which once again begs the question: is generic OK?
Prof Andrew McLachlan AM, clinical lead at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, said the answer is usually yes.
“When you’re at the supermarket, you might hear the word generic and think, ‘well, I’m paying less, it wouldn’t be as good,’” he tells nine.com.au.
“But actually, for medicines, the alternative or ‘generic’ brand must meet exactly the same high standard as the [brand-name] medicine that’s on the market.
“Otherwise they would not be approved for use in Australia.”
That still doesn’t mean you should rush to the chemist to swap your brand-name medications for more affordable generic options, at least not without careful consideration.
What’s in a (brand) name?
A brand-name medication, also known as an ‘innovator’ drug, is the original versions of a medication that was first brought to market.
“It typically takes about 10 to 15 years and up to $2.5 billion of research to take a promising discovery to the final branded medicine that is approved as safe and effective for patients,” Liz de Somer, chief executive of Medicines Australia, tell nine.com.au.
“For every single brand medicine that is approved for patients, approximately 10,000 other candidates fail or do not proceed.”
Once the patent assigned to a brand-name medication runs out, usually after about 20 years, other pharmaceutical companies can produce and sell copies with the same active ingredient; this is called a generic or alternative medication.
Generic versions may include inactive ingredients, also known as excipients, that are different from the original.
“Sometimes the shape, the colour, and even the taste might be quite different,” McLachlan said.
Some Aussies experience adverse reactions to inactive ingredients in generic or brand-name medications. Louie Douvis
“The active ingredient is exactly the same, and has been tested to make sure that it delivers exactly the same amount of medicine, and therefore has the same effects.”
Generic drugs also tend to cost less than the original, because the companies that produce them don’t have to invest in developing the drug in the first place.
They still have to pass rigorous safety, quality of manufacturing and testing, and efficacy tests before they can be approved for use.
But generic drugs don’t work for everyone; nor do brand-name versions.
Which is better? It’s not that simple
Many Aussies believe the brand-name version of a drug is automatically ‘better’ or more effective. The truth is a little more nuanced.
Brand-name medicines hit the market long before their generic counterparts, which can come with benefits.
De Somer called innovative medicines the "generics of the future". Medicines Australia
“The original, innovative medicine may be the only treatment available for a period of time,” de Somer said.
“It has usually been provided to patients in clinical trials so that some patients and doctors have had earlier access and experience with the medicine.”
Whether the brand-name drug is actually ‘better’ then a generic version largely comes down to individual patients.
Generally speaking, Aussies should be able to switch between original and alternative brands without concern.
But some medications, original or generic, contain inactive ingredients that an individual is allergic to or can’t tolerate, such as lactose or gluten.
In that case, the best option is whichever medication does not contain those ingredients.
Some doctors will recommend a specific brand based on a patient’s allergies, tolerances and history with other medications.
Aussies should always speak with a GP or pharmacist before switching medications or taking something new.
“When people switch between brands, the name can look quite different,” McLachlan said.
“And one of the risks we’re always worried about is people being confused and taking a double dose of a medicine.
“I recommend everyone have an up-to-date list of their medicine, which includes the active ingredient and some indication of what it’s for.”
New concerns over imported medications
Generic medications are an important part of Australia’s health system and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) maintains strict regulations to ensure they and the original drugs they’re based on are safe, high-quality and effective.
The same can’t always be said for medications produced overseas and imported to Australia.
Ordering drugs online has become commonplace in 2026, especially with the rise of medical weight loss telehealth companies and the unregulated peptide trend taking over social media.
But McLachlan warned Aussies against deals on drugs from overseas providers.
“Australians can have confidence that nothing gets approved [...] by the TGA without very careful scrutiny,” he said.
“But this idea that if it’s inexpensive, it may be not as good certainly is a risk you take if you’re purchasing medicines on the internet and having them imported.”
