The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 45 percent of people in the United States used at least one prescription drug in the previous month. Prescription drugs are a significant expense in health care. Using generic drugs can help reduce this expense, and offer a safe and effective treatment for many common medical conditions.
Facts about generic drugs
- Generic drugs are available for the treatment of most health conditions; they typically cost less.
- Generic drugs are safe and effective when used as directed.
- Generic drugs are equivalent to their brand-name counterparts in safety, dosage, strength and effectiveness.
- Generic drugs meet the same standards set by of the Food and Drug Administration for brand-name medications.
Switching to generic drugs can help reduce your costs while providing the same safety and effectiveness as brand-name drugs. We encourage you to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about generic medications and whether they’re right for you. Please refer to your Providence formulary
for a complete list of covered medications.
Food & Drug Administration (FDA) resources