BECAUSE THE SAME
MEDICINE MAY
HAVE DIFFERENT
BRAND NAMES
Many medicines with the same active ingredient
are manufactured and sold under different
brand names. They may look different, have
different packaging or pricing, but they work
in the same way.
Where can I get more information?
Talk to your health professional
— they’re there to help you
Call NPS Medicines Line on
1300 633 424 (1300 MEDICINE)
Search our Medicine Finder at
www.nps.org.au/medicines
Learn more about your medicine brand
choices at www.nps.org.au/brandchoices
If you are given a different brand, the main
things to know are:
Different brands of the same medicine will
always have the same active ingredient as
the one on your prescription or the one
you usually take.
They will be bioequivalent — meaning that
the medicine has been tested and accepted
to have the same effect in the body as
other brands.
Hospitals and community pharmacies may
stock different brands of the same medicines.
All medicines sold in Australia must meet
the same strict standards of quality, safety
and effectiveness.
For most people, using a different
brand is okay.
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E. info@nps.org.au
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Independent, not-for-profit and evidence based, NPS enables better decisions
about medicines and medical tests. We are funded by the Australian
Government Department of Health and Ageing.
© 2011 National Prescribing Service Limited. ABN 61 082 034 393.
This information is not intended to take the place of medical advice and you
should seek advice from a qualified health professional. Reasonable care is
taken to ensure that this information is accurate at the date of creation. Where
permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any
loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information.
NPSB1220GMHPa
WHY DO
MEDICINES COME
IN DIFFERENT
SHAPES, COLOURS
AND SIZES?
Will different brands of the same
medicine work just as well?
Check the active ingredient to
avoid double dosing
Why do medicines look different
if they work the same?
Yes they will. If a medicine has the same active
ingredient as another brand and is bioequivalent,
then it will have the same potential health benefits
and potential side effects.
You should check the active ingredient every
time you get a medicine. To avoid double dosing,
check that you are not taking another medicine
containing the same active ingredient. The active
ingredient name is shown on the medicine’s
package or pharmacist’s label.
Due to trademark regulations, different medicine
brands may look different from each other.
Sometimes your regular doctor may advise that
you stick to your usual brand. When in hospital,
always tell the hospital doctor, nurse or pharmacist
if this is the case. If you are offered another brand
or are unsure, just ask.
Why is the active ingredient in
your medicine so important?
Most medicines have two names — the active
ingredient name and a brand name. The active
ingredient is the chemical in the medicine that
makes it work. The brand
name is the name
given to the
medicine by its
manufacturer.
Brand name
They may have a different shape, size, colour,
or taste. This is because different ‘inactive’
ingredients — such as lactose, gluten, sugar,
preservatives and dyes — have been used in
the manufacturing process.
For most people, these differences don’t matter.
Active
ingredient
‘Superstat’ is a fictitious medicine shown here for educational purposes only.
Ask a pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure of the
active ingredient or can’t find it on your medicine pack.
Keep track of your medicines
with a Medicines List
It is important for you and the people looking
after you to know which medicines you are taking.
The NPS Medicines List is a useful way to keep
track of all your medicines. Remember to include
prescription medicines, over-the-counter
medicines, and herbal or natural remedies.
Be sure to keep your Medicines List with you,
especially on visits to your doctor, pharmacist
or the hospital. Keep it up to date whenever
your medicines change. This will help avoid
medicines mishaps.
Get your own print copy or the iPhone app
of the NPS Medicines List from
www.nps.org.au/medicineslist
However, if you have particular allergies
or intolerances (or choose to avoid certain
substances for cultural or medical reasons), you
should ask a health professional which inactive
ingredients are included in the brand.
You can find a list of inactive ingredients in
the consumer medicine
information (CMI) leaflet
for each prescription
and pharmacist-only
medicine. You can get
a CMI from a doctor
or pharmacist or
download one from
the NPS website.