Today’s piece is written by Elaine Hirsch of MastersDegree.net. She writes today about the benefits of generic drugs for patients. Note: This is in no way an endorsement of, or advertisement for, olanzapine (Zyprexa).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve any medication before it is made available to patients, this includes generic medications. As highlighted in one of Natasha’s earlier articles (Are Brand Name Drugs Better than Generics? – Drugs are not Cornflakes), generic drugs must go through rigorous FDA tests just as their brand-name counterparts do. The approval of generic olanzapine (Zyprexa) for bipolar disorder the FDA has taken a step forward in providing better healthcare to men and women who suffer from mental health issues.

What is olanzapine (Zyprexa)?

The FDA has approved generic olanzapine (Zyprexa), an antipsychotic, for the treatment of bipolar and schizophrenia. This medication is a new and less expensive version of the brand name medications Zyprexa and Zyprexa Zydus. The active ingredient in the medication is the same in the non-brand form.

The purpose of olanzapine is to treat schizophrenia and bipolar symptoms. Such symptoms include disturbed thinking, loss of interest in life, inappropriate emotions and mania.

What are generic drugs?

Generic drugs are the same as brand-name equivalents as far as ingredients, measurements, and effects are concerned. The difference is generic medication is offered as a much lower price than branded medications so patients are more easily able to obtain it.

Benefits of generic drugs

Americans often have a skewed vision when it comes to generic medications. As many as one third of Americans don’t realize generic drugs have the same ingredients as their brand-named counterparts and are just as effective. Fortunately, gradually increasing knowledge about the benefits of generic medications is making the release of generic olanzapine more significant for bipolar patients.

Cost of generic drugs

The main benefit of generic drugs is the lower cost when compared to brand name options. Brand name medications are expensive and insurance companies do not generally cover the full cost of the drug. This means more money is coming out of the pocket of consumers. Generic medications come at steep discounts and many are covered in-full by prescription drug insurance coverage.

Availability of generic drugs

Generic Olanzapine Saves Patients MoneyPerhaps one of the greatest advantages of a generic drug is that it’s more readily available to the public. Families and individuals who otherwise are not able to afford the medication from a name-brand company are able to pay for the generic version and receive the same health benefits. This opens up more doors to improving public health by making drugs more widely available among even the poorest patients.

With the approval of generic olanzapine, the FDA has made mental health treatment available to more men and women throughout the country. This generic medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia is much less expensive than Zyprexa, but has the same effects. Of course, any form of generic medicine entering a market reduces the overall cost of treating ailments, and olanzapine has certainly done so for people suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Elaine Hirsch is kind of a jack-of-all-interests, from education and history to medicine and videogames. This makes it difficult to choose just one life path, so she is currently working as a writer for various education-related sites and writing about all these things instead.