Several bottles of different medications.

Generic Drug Guide

Generic alternatives to brand-name medications may help patients save money. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states1 that it ensures the safety and effectiveness of the generic drugs it approves. According to the FDA, a generic drug is identical, or bioequivalent, to a brand-name drug in dosage, form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use.

Generic Drug Options

Please refer to the chart below for a list of common brand drugs and corresponding generic and over-the-counter (OTC) alternatives. You can also download a printable version of the chart.

Therapeutic Class Brand Products Generic and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Alternative(s)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors Aceon, Accupril, Altace, Capoten, Lotensin, Mavik, Monopril, Zestril benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), trandolapril (Mavik), ramipril (Altace), captopril (Capoten)
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) Atacand, Avalide, Avapro, Benicar, Cozaar, Diovan, Hyzaar, Micardis, Teveten losartan (Cozaar), losartan HCTZ (Hyzaar), irbesartan (Avapro)
Antibiotics Levaquin, Cipro levofloxacin (Levaquin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Anticoagulants Arixtra fondaparinux injection (Arixtra)
Antidepressants Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor XR, Lexapro, Paxil, Paxil CR, Prozac, Sarafem, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin XL citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), bupropion (Wellbutrin), bupropion XL (Wellbutrin XL), sertraline (Zoloft), venlafaxine (Effexor), venlafaxine XR (Effexor XR), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine CR (Paxil CR), escitalopram (Lexapro)
Antiemetic agents Anzemet, Kytril, Zofran dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran)
Antiepileptic drugs Depakote, Depakote ER, Felbatol, Keppra, Keppra XR, Lamictal, Lyrica, Neurontin, Topamax, Trileptal divalproex (Depakote), divalproex extended release (Depakote ER), felbamate (Felbatol), levetiracetam (Keppra), levetiracetam extended-release (Keppra XR), lamotrigine (Lamictal), gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
Antifungals Lamisil, VFend terbinafine (Lamisil), voriconazole (VFend)
Antiglaucoma agents Lumigan, Travatan, Travatan Z, Xalatan, Zioptan latanoprost (Xalatan)
Antihistamines Clarinex, Clarinex-D, Xyzal desloratadine, fexofenadine OTC (Allegra OTC), fexofenadine/ pseudoephedrine (Allegra-D), loratadine OTC (Claritin OTC), loratadine /pseudoephedrine OTC (Claritin-D OTC), cetirizine OTC (Zyrtec OTC), cetirizine/pseudoephedrine OTC (Zyrtec-D OTC)
Antimigraine agents Amerge, Axert, Frova, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, Treximet, Zomig naratriptan (Amerge), sumatriptan (Imitrex)
Antiplatelet Plavix clopidrogel (Plavix)
Antiparkinsonian agents Mirapex, Requip, Requip XL pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), ropinirole extended release (Requip XL)
Antiretrovirals Combivir, Viramune lamivudine/zidovudine (Combivir), nevirapine(Viramune)
Antispasmodics Detrol LA, Ditropan, Ditropan XL, Enablex, Sanctura, Toviaz, Vesicare oxybutynin* (Ditropan), oxybutynin ER (Ditropan XL), trospium (Sanctura)
Antivirals Valtrex valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) agents Avodart, Cardura*, Cardura XL*, Flomax, Hytrin*, Jalyn, Rapaflo, Uroxatral alfuzosin SR (Uroxatral), doxazosin* (Cardura), finasteride (Proscar), tamsulosin (Flomax), terazosin* (Hytrin)
Beta blockers Bystolic, Coreg, Coreg CR, Inderal LA, Lopressor, Toprol-XL, Zebeta atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor), metoprolol XL (Toprol-XL), propranolol LA (InderalLA)
Bisphosphonates Actonel, Boniva, Fosamax alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva)
Calcium channel blockers DynaCirc CR, Lotrel, Norvasc, Sular, Plendil amlodipine (Norvasc), amlodipine/benazepril (Lotrel), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nisoldipine (Sular)
Cholinesterase/N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) inhibitors Aricept, Exelon, Namenda, Razadyne, Razadyne ER donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Razadyne), galantamine ER (Razadyne ER), rivastigmine (Exelon)
Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors Celebrex meloxicam (Mobic)
Nasal corticosteroids Beconase AQ, Flonase, Nasarel, Nasonex, Nasacort AQ, QNASL, Rhinocort Aqua, Veramyst fluticasone (Flonase), flunisolide (Nasarel), triamcinolone acetonide (Nasacort AQ)
Opioids Opana ER fentanyl transdermal patch (Duragesic), morphine sulfate ER (MS Contin/Oramorph SR), oxymorphone SR (Opana ER)
Ophthalmic agents: antihistamine Elestat epinastine ophthalmic solution (Elestat)
Ophthalmic agents: NSAID Xibrom bromfenac ophthalmic solution (Xibrom)
Proton pump inhibitors AcipHex, Dexilant, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, Zegerid omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC), omeprazole/ sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid OTC), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix)
Sedative-hypnotics† Ambien, Ambien CR, Intermezzo, Lunesta, Sonata zaleplon (Sonata), zolpidem (Ambien), zolpidem CR (Ambien CR)
Statins Crestor, Lescol, Lescol XL, Lipitor, Livalo, Mevacor, Vytorin, Zocor atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol, Lescol XL), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor)
Stimulants Adderall, Adderall XR, Concerta, Focalin XR, Provigil, Vyvanse amphetamine/dextroamphetamine and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine extended-release (Adderall & Adderall XR), methylphenidate (Concerta), modafinil (Provigil)

*May not be appropriate for persons ages 65 years and older; † indicated for short-term use only.

Please note: The information provided here does not include an exhaustive list of drug contraindications or recommended restrictions and precautions for all patients.

Related Links

References:

1."Your generic drug is safe and effective. And we've got the results to prove it." (2012) Retrieved July 5, 2012, from http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingGenericDrugs/ucm173738.htm.

*Websites accessible from Humana.com may provide information about current medical procedures, services, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other treatment and therapies that may not be covered under your health plan. The information on these sites does not necessarily represent the views of Humana, nor should the information be construed as an endorsement by Humana. The information on these Web sites is not a substitute for professional health care. For personal medical guidance, please consult your physician. If you have questions about your Humana health plan benefits, please call Humana Customer Service at the number found on your member ID card.