Generic medications are identical to their brand-name counterparts in dosage, strength, safety, administration route, quality, and intended use. The main differences lie in their price and appearance. Generic drugs are typically less expensive because they do not require the same research and development costs as brand-name drugs. The FDA requires generic medications to be bioequivalent to brand-name drugs, meaning they must have the same active ingredients, strength, and dosage form. However, they may contain different inactive ingredients, which can affect factors such as color and taste. Brand-name drugs are often more recognizable to consumers due to the extensive marketing and advertising efforts of pharmaceutical companies. They are typically more expensive due to the costs associated with research, development, and marketing. In conclusion, while there may be slight variations between generic and brand-name medications, they are essentially the same in terms of safety and effectiveness. Patients can often save money by opting for generic versions of their prescriptions without sacrificing quality.