What Is the Difference Between Branded and Generic Medicines in the UK?

There are some differences between branded and generic medicines in the UK, but it is not what most people think. This article has been written to help clarify the differences between the two forms of medicine available and what it means for the customer.

Branded medicines and generic medicines contain the same active ingredients, and they are used to treat the same medical conditions. The main differences relate to their names, inactive ingredients (Flavourings and colourings) as well as costs.

Branded medicines are often developed by a specific company after extensive research and clinical safety trials. They are sold under that company’s brand with a specific look, taste and marketing style. Once the patent for that drug or other exclusive protections expire, other companies can begin producing the same drug, just with different flavourings or colours.

For any drug to be released onto the market, it must meet the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) standards for safety and effectiveness in the UK. This means that branded and generic medicines have the same effectiveness and safety profile for the medical condition they are meant to treat.

The inactive ingredients (flavourings or colourings) between the two medicines may be different, which can be significant for people with allergies or intolerances to those ingredients. Hence, it is always important to check the full list of ingredients between branded and generic medications despite the active drug being the same. 

At Meds For Less, you can explore our full catalogue of Branded and Generic medicines on our website; this includes Men’s health Medicine, Female health products and general health medicines.

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What Are Branded and Generic Medicines?

Branded and generic medicines may contain the same active ingredient and are used to treat the same conditions, but they differ in their names, appearance, inactive (supporting ingredients, and price.

• Branded medicines are often developed in a specific way by a specific manufacturer and marketed specifically to promote that manufacturer. They are more expensive than generic medicines, especially when a patent or exclusivity protections may still apply.
• Generic medicines are equivalent medications to branded medications but they only become available after a patent or exclusivity protections expire. They have the same drug (active ingredient), and they must meet the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency standards for safety and effectiveness

For example, Nurofen is a branded version of Ibuprofen. Generic Ibuprofen can be sold as just that without the brand. While both tend to have the same dose availability and the same therapeutic effect at those doses, the generic medicine tends to be cheaper.

Generic medicines contain the same active ingredients as branded medicines but they contain different inactive ingredients such as colourings or flavours. This matters to people with certain allergies or intolerances. Furthermore, sometimes medicines sold in bottles like Gaviscon (Active ingredient: sodium alginate) may have packaging differences. Generic sodium alginate bottles tend to break more easily, whereas the Gaviscon bottles tend to be a bit more reinforced. 

In the UK, it may be okay for a pharmacist to dispense a different brand or a generic form of a branded medicine where appropriate. Please let your pharmacist know if you need a specific brand for purpose of allergies or intolerances to the inactive ingredients. 

Branded vs Generic Medicines: Key Differences Explained

Branded and generic medicines can provide the same clinical benefit when they contain the same active ingredients, strengths and dose formulations. However, several practical differences between them inform usage. The table below explains the key differences between branded and generic medicines:

Are Generic Medicines as Effective and Safe as Branded Medicines?

Approved generic medicines (Figure 1) are generally considered as safe and effective as branded equivalents when the same doses and active ingredients are used. In the UK, generic medicines have to meet strict regulatory requirements set by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before they are authorised for use.

A generic medicine does not normally need to undergo full regulatory assessment as a branded medication/ any medication would if being developed from scratch. Instead, manufacturers must demonstrate that generic medicines are equivalent to branded medication and exhibit good generic medicine safety. 

There can be differences in the inactive ingredients such as colouring, preservatives and flavourings between branded and generic medicines. In these cases, there may be concerns about lack of safety, especially if someone is allergic to an inactive ingredient founded in either a branded or generic medicine that is not there in the other.

Some medications like inhalers, insulin or certain anti-epileptics have to be prescribed by brand because the small differences between formulations is clinically important.

Overall, there should be no difference to generic and branded medicine in terms of safety and effectiveness for a normal individual. 

Figure 1: Approved generic medicines UK like sildenafil, can be sold as equivalents to the branded alternatives (Viagra). 

Why Are Generic Medicines Usually Cheaper?

Generic medications tend to be cheaper than branded medications because manufacturers generally do not have to repeat all the research and development required to bring the original branded medicine to the market.

 By the time the patent for a medicine expires and it is available to be reproduced generically, it has already undergone extensive clinical review and regulatory assessment. This allows generic manufacturers to produce equivalent medicines at much cheaper costs while meeting regulatory standards. 

Not having to prescribe to one brand’s advertising, branding and marketing campaigns can also lower costs for a company producing a generic medicine. 

Once the patent expires, many manufacturers can produce the same medicine and this competition can also reduce costs for generic medicines. 

Why Does the NHS Prefer Generic Prescribing?

The NHS generally prefers the prescribing of medicines by their generic names because it reduces costs, allows maintenance of treatment standards and also allows for the continuous supply of medicine to the patient if one brand is not available.

The following are some of the reasons why there may be NHS  generic prescribing over NHS brand prescribing:

• Cost savings: Generic medicines are usually cheaper than branded equivalents; this helps reduce NHS expenditure
• Greater supply – by focusing on buying the generic medicine, pharmacists can source suitable products from different manufacturers 
• Consistent prescribing: Generic names can be useful in identifying active ingredients easily and make it easier to choose which drug to supply. This allows healthcare professionals to communicate clearly and reduce confusion cost between brand names. 

The NHS does use brand-based prescribing in certain cases, such as specific anti-epileptics, insulins, and combination inhalers. This is because the evidence shows that it is easier for users to continue with these medicines when they are prescribed based on brands. 

What Are Branded Generic Medicines?

Branded generic medicines are medicines that contain an established ingredient but are marketed under a specific brand rather than simply using the generic name of the ingredient. They are often introduced after the original brand’s patent for market exclusivity have expired.

Like generic medicines, branded generics must meet the applicable regulatory requirements for quality, safety and effectiveness. 

An example of this is ibuprofen, which is available as a generic medicine based on the active drug or under the name of the Brand (Nurofen). 

Characteristics of branded generic medicines include:

• Branded identity: Branded generics contain different packaging from competing products from different companies
• Established active ingredients: Branded generics contain well-known active ingredients that are used in clinical practice.
• Competitive pricing: Branded generics can be cheaper than the original branded medication, although their price can vary depending on the manufacturer and the market. 
• Differences in formulations and inactive ingredients: Inactive ingredients in 

Generic Medicine Examples in the UK

In the UK, many commonly used medicines are available both as brands and as generic medicines; the generic medicine often refers to the name of active ingredient, whereas the brand name refers to the name given by the manufacturer. The following table provides a list of common UK medications, their popular brands and generic equivalents.

When choosing a brand, check the product name, active ingredient and dose before picking a medication. Do not rely on the brand alone. A pharmacist or doctor can advise whether it is advisable to switch between brands and what a suitable generic alternative may be. 

Choosing Between Branded and Generic Medicines

Choosing between a branded medicine or a generic medicine (Figure 2)  depends on the medicine you need, the individual formulations available, individual circumstances and the advice of a healthcare professional.

 For most commonly prescribed medicines, you can use generic alternatives for a lower cost.

When choosing generic vs brand name drugs, you may wish to consider the following factors:

• Effectiveness and safety of branded alternative: Check that the generic drug contains the same active ingredient, strength and available formulation as the branded medicine. In the UK, authorised generic medicines compared to brands must meet the appropriate regulatory standards.

• Cost and affordability: Because the generic medicines do not have to maintain the same marketing and branding costs, they can usually be bought at a lower cost than branded equivalents.

• Formulation and doses: Tablets, capsules, liquids, standard release and modified release formulations can differ between generic medicines and branded doses. Please check that the generic medicine offers the formulation/ doses that the branded one does.

• Allergies and intolerance: Generic and branded medicines may contain different flavourings, inactive ingredients and preservatives. Check ingredients in any branded or generic medicine if you have allergies or intolerances. 

• Existing treatment: If you take a medicine or brand regularly, speak to your pharmacist or prescriber before switching, especially when consistency of brand or formulation is clinically important. 

Figure 2: Branded vs Generic Drugs have the same biological efficacy in the UK, the only difference is the inactive ingredients.

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