Bon Ton Medicate

30/09/2024

20/02/2023

A generic drug is the non-branded medicine which is cheaper compared to the original Branded drug. It has the same active pharmaceutical ingredient(API) but it costs 30–80% less compared to the original product.
When a new company files for a patent(NDA-New Drug Application) to for example USFDA, the company gets an exclusivity to sell the drug in the market and no one can copy that medicine, hence the company gets a trademark done for that product, the exclusivity remains for around say 20 years. When the exclusivity period nears an end,another company can file to FDA to get a right to manufacture a duplicate copy of that drug.The drug should be chemically and bio equivalent to the original branded drug and undergoes all the required tests mentioned in the country’s Pharmacopoeia, once the patent expires, the drug is open in the market.Generic drug manufacturer do not have to invest huge amount of money in the initial research process , clinical trials, pharmacovigilance processes which the initial company who made the branded drug did, hence their only expense is in marketing the drug, this makes the price of the drug cheaper.
Generic drugs may vary in shape, size and colour compared to the branded drugs, this is because though the API is same, due to trademark of the branded drug, they cannot copy the exact details. Hence they can vary a bit on colouring agent used, the fillers, diluents or the preservating agents used.
There is a conception that the branded drugs is more efficacious compared to the generic drug since the initial testing conditions and exact compositions tested suits the branded drug the more, however on paper generic drugs are similar to the branded drugs.For countries like India and China, almost 70% of the sale is of generic drugs whereas in US it is exactly the opposite.
You can watch the documentary “Fire in the blood” regarding how Big Pharma Giants blocked the supply of generics and focussed more on Branded drugs in African countries affected with HIV Aids, you will get a consumer perspective of Generic drugs.

So buy your medicines from 1mg and save 30 to 80 percent money

25/11/2022

Prof Dr Nazir Wani.
Senior surgical Gastroenterologist

07/10/2022

Dear Friends
Endorsing the current trend regarding serving APPLES in all functions

Top Health Benifits of APPLES

Apples are loaded with vitamins , anti oxidants and regular consumption of apples can be protective against many diseases including obesity , heart disease and cancer .
One medium apple provides the following nutrients (1)

Calories: 95
Carbs: 25 grams
Fiber: 4.5 grams
Vitamin C: 9% of the Daily Value (DV)
Copper: 5% of the DV
Potassium: 4% of the DV
Vitamin K: 3% of the DV
In particular, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to neutralize harmful compounds known as free radicals and protects against so many diseases.

Apples are rich in fiber content and water that makes apples excellent in weight loss management .

Flavonoids and high fiber content found in apples is known to lower blood pressure and serum cholesterol . (2)Thus regular intake of apples can lead to lower rates of atherosclerosis(hardening of blood vessels ) hence regular apple intake can help in reducing heart attacks and stroke .

Apples contain pectin which can act as prebiotic This is taken by good bacteria in our gut .Gut microbiota has been linked to a number of metabolic disorders (3). Thus regular apple intake can go a long way to promote gut health and prevent so many metabolic disorders.

To conclude it is rightly said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away .

Notes and Queries magazine was the first to publish the original quote:

“Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

References :

1.Food data central

2.Majewska-Wierzbicka M, Czeczot H. Flawonoidy w prewencji i leczeniu chorób układu sercowo-naczyniowego [Flavonoids in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases]. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2012 Jan;32(187):50-4. Polish. PMID: 22400181.

3.Koutsos A, Tuohy KM, Lovegrove JA. Apples and cardiovascular health–is the gut microbiota a core consideration? Nutrients. 2015 May 26;7(6):3959-98. doi: 10.3390/nu7063959. PMID: 26016654; PMCID: PMC4488768.