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Generic medicines home

Enquiries about
generic medicines

For more information
about generic medicines
email us an enquiry.

Ask our pharmacists

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Medicines Line
1300 888 763
Mon – Fri 9am – 6pm AEST

Generic medicines: Information for seniors Generic medicines: Information for seniors

Image of a woman called Valerie saying 'I like the ability to choose.' Also has the message that ‘Generic medicines are an equal choice. They contain the same active ingredient.’


There are many generic medicines available — so you may often be asked to make a choice.

What is a generic medicine?

Your doctor can prescribe a generic or original brand medicine. Generic medicines contain the same active ingredient as the original brand of medicine.

Generic medicines may be different to original brand medicines in some ways. They may have different inactive ingredients, such as fillers. They are likely to have different packaging and may be a different colour. They may be a different shape or may be capsules instead of tablets. However, because they have the same active ingredient as the original medicine, they are expected to work in the body in the same way.

Why choose a generic medicine?

In Australia, generic medicines have to meet the same high manufacturing quality and safety standards as the original brand.

They may cost you less, which provides better value for money. Some generic medicines may not cost you less at the pharmacy, but they still provide value for money for the health system because of the way medicines are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Are there any reasons you shouldn’t switch to a generic medicine?

Before deciding to switch to a generic medicine, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

There are a limited number of medicines that cannot be substituted for the original brand medicine. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if any of your medicines fall into this category.

People who are highly allergic to an inactive substance in a generic medicine should avoid that medicine. Adverse reactions are extremely rare. However, people with severe allergies need to check all medicines carefully before starting them by reading a Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet or talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Some people may not want to change brands to avoid confusion. If changing to a generic medicine will negatively affect how you manage your medicines, it’s okay to ask for your usual brand — medicines management safety is important.

Attend an information session

Attend a free medicines information session. The sessions are run nationally by National Prescribing Service and the Council on the Ageing (COTA) focusing on the over 50s age group. Participants at the session are informed about:
  • what a generic medicine is
  • how generic medicines are approved
  • benefits and possible risks of generic medicines
  • why it is important to speak to your doctor or pharmacist about switching to a generic medicine.

To find out more about these sessions, please contact your COTA state or territory office and book a session.

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