Generic and Brand Names
The generic name is the drug itself; the brand name is one manufacturer's version of it.
What it means
Every medicine has a generic name, which is the drug itself, and may have brand names, which are particular manufacturers' versions of it.
Paracetamol is the generic name; Panadol is a brand. Sildenafil is generic; Viagra is a brand. The active ingredient is identical.
Generics are approved only after demonstrating bioequivalence to the original, and cost a fraction as much. Prescribing generically is standard NHS practice and is not a lesser option.
In practice
The main practical hazard is duplication: taking a branded cold remedy containing paracetamol alongside paracetamol tablets is a common and genuinely dangerous overdose route.
Generic versions may differ in tablet colour, shape and inactive ingredients — which matters for someone with a specific excipient allergy, and can be unsettling when a repeat prescription looks different.
Why it matters
A small number of medicines should be prescribed by brand rather than generically, because switching between manufacturers can alter blood levels: certain epilepsy drugs, lithium, ciclosporin and some modified-release preparations.
Always check the active ingredients of any over-the-counter remedy against what you already take. This is the most useful habit on this page.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Mohammad Zubair Khan, GMC 7563469
Last reviewed
August 30, 2026