Safety of generic medications
I wanted to know about the generic medicine brands ( Zeno Health - i know of this one ) available today in the market, that are way more cheaper than the main brands. What do you suggest, are they safe to consume?
The answer, at a high level, is the same whether in India or the US, with some some differences—eg in India generic forms can be quite different from one to the other in efficacy…a little less so in the US. Overall, for most meds I am NOT uncomfortable using generics…particularly in situations where you can easily know whether it is working or not (BP is controlled or Blood sugar is controlled etc). However, I would be more cautious with narrow therapeutic index medicines, where small differences in dose or blood levels can matter more. The FDA here in the US defines narrow therapeutic index drugs as drugs where small differences in dose or blood concentration may lead to serious treatment failure or serious adverse reactions; FDA examples include warfarin and levothyroxine. So for common meds for common conditions I am OK with using generics from reliable local manufacturers. Some important Areas I would NOT want to use generics : thyroid medicine like levothyroxine, warfarin, anti-seizure medicines, transplant medicines such as tacrolimus/cyclosporine, lithium, some sustained-release/modified-release medicines, and complex injectables. This does not mean generics are unsafe; it means consistency and monitoring may matter more. Hope this helps!