Are generic drugs the same as name brand?

The FDA has announced they may tighten the standards for generic drugs. "Patients and employees of generic-drug makers have told the FDA that some of the medicines don't work as well as the originals," Woodcock said in an interview after speaking to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association in Bethesda, Maryland. She indicated the FDA is discussing tightening the limits "so there is less variability." 

I personally thought that there wasn't a difference between generic and name brand. I was always told by the pharmacists that generic are just as effective as the name brand, they just don't cost the insurance companies as much money. 

Do you purchase the name brand or generic?

Have you noticed a difference in the effectiveness of name brand medications versus generic?

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