Generic drugs

Extracted from Consumer Magazine

The discover of a new drug is given a patent for 20 years. After expiry, other manufacturers can make the same drug under a different brand name. If you know the generic name of the drug, you can buy the generic brand (instead of the original brand) at a lower cost.

Generic name        Proprietary name    General use
Paracetamol         Panadol             pain and fever
Diclofenac sodium   Voltaren            pain and swelling
Mefenamic acid      Ponstan             "
Chlorphenamine      Piriton             runny nose, rashes, itch, allergy
Loratadine          Clarityne           "
Cetirizine          Zyrtec              "
Cimetidine          Tagamet             gastric, heartburn, stomach ulcer
Omeprazole          Losec               "
Glocosamine         Viartril-S          joint supplement
Amoxicillin         Augmentin           antibiotic
Isotretinoin        Roaccutane          acne
Atenolol            Tenormin            high blood pressure
Prazosin            Minipress           "
Nifedipine          Adalat LA           high blood pressure, angina
Frusemide           Lasix               diuretic
Simvastatin         Zocor               cholesterol