Generic vs brand medicines in Pakistan: same salt, lower price?

Walk into any medical store in Pakistan and you will find the same medicine sold under many names. Ciprofloxacin, for example, has hundreds of brands. Their prices can differ a lot. Can you save money by choosing a cheaper brand? Often yes, but not always.

What is a "salt"?

The salt (or generic name, or formula) is the active ingredient that does the work, for example paracetamol, amoxicillin or metformin. The brand is the name a company gives its product, such as Panadol or Calpol for paracetamol.

On XpertMedico every medicine page shows its salt, and each salt has a page listing every brand with its strength, maker and retail price. Examples:

• Paracetamol brands and prices
• Amoxicillin brands and prices
• Metformin brands and prices
• Azithromycin brands and prices
• All generic medicines A to Z

Why prices are different

In Pakistan, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) registers medicines and fixes a maximum retail price (MRP) for each registered product. That price is printed on the pack, and a store should not charge more than it. But different brands of the same salt can have different approved prices, because of:

• Whether it is an original (innovator) brand or a later one.
• The company's costs, quality systems and imported raw materials.
• Pack size and form (tablet, capsule, syrup, injection).

A higher price does not always mean better quality, and a lower price does not always mean lower quality.

When switching brands is usually fine

For many common medicines, a brand with the same salt, the same strength and the same form works the same way. Examples include many painkillers, antacids, antibiotics for a short course and common vitamins. Ask your pharmacist; they can suggest an equivalent.

When to ask your doctor first

Some medicines need very steady blood levels, and even small differences between brands can matter. Do not switch these without your doctor:

• Thyroid medicine such as levothyroxine.
• Blood thinners such as warfarin.
• Epilepsy medicines such as carbamazepine or sodium valproate.
• Insulin and some heart and transplant medicines.

Also check the form: "SR", "XR", "CR" or "MR" tablets release the medicine slowly and are not the same as normal tablets of the same salt.

How to compare on XpertMedico

1. Search the medicine you were prescribed on XpertMedico.
2. On its page, see the salt, the retail price and medicines with the same salt.
3. Open the salt page to compare every brand and strength side by side.
4. See which pharmacies near you list it, and call to confirm stock and price.