In case you've hesitated when your pharmacist offers you the option to switch to a generic version of your prescription, consider this: Generic drugs and brand-name medicines are pretty much the same. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requires that a generic drug deliver the same amount of active ingredients into the bloodstream at the same rate as its brand-name equivalent.They're very strict about this requirement.

The only differences between a brand name and generic drug are the inactive ingredients (preservatives, food coloring, and compounds that hold the medicine together) and price. When a generic drug enters the market, it's usually about 30 percent cheaper than the brand name. If other competing generic drugs are on the market, you may find a generic as much as 75 percent cheaper than the brand name.

If you go with a generic, be alert for reactions or side effects, on the extraordinarily rare chance that you're having an allergic reaction to one of the inactive ingredients or a change in the way your body is absorbing the medication.