PlainMeds guide, sources read October 8, 2026
Generic vs brand drugs
A generic medicine has the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and route as the brand, and must meet the same quality standards. 1,078 of the 2,117 medicines on PlainMeds are listed from at least one generic labeler, and for the 367 strengths NADAC prices both ways, pharmacies paid a median 20.0x more for the brand (October 7, 2026).
What does the FDA require of a generic?
FDA, Generic Drugs: Questions & AnswersGeneric drugs are FDA-approved copies of brand drugs. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients and must work the same way in the body as the brand drug, and have the same strength, dosage form (tablet, liquid, etc.), and route of administration (taken by mouth, injectable, etc.) as the brand drug, along with the same label information and instructions (with certain exceptions). Generic drugs must meet the same scientific standards for quality as the brand drugs.
Source: FDA, Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers (content current as of September 18, 2026)
How do you know a generic is rated equivalent?
The FDA's Orange Book gives each generic product a therapeutic equivalence code; an “AB” code means the FDA considers it therapeutically equivalent to the reference product. The Orange Book data on PlainMeds holds 16,051 AB-rated products. Each medicine page shows the first generic approval, the generic applications still marketed and the labelers the NDC Directory lists.
Source: FDA Orange Book via openFDA
How much less do pharmacies pay for generics?
| Medicine | Brand | Generic | Brand per unit | Generic per unit | Brand / generic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisinopril | Zestril 10 mg tablet | Lisinopril 10 mg tablet | $12.52 | $0.0181 | 690.1x |
| Atorvastatin | Lipitor 20 mg tablet | Atorvastatin 20 mg tablet | $19.07 | $0.0279 | 683.1x |
| Sildenafil | Viagra 100 mg tablet | Sildenafil 100 mg tablet | $83.72 | $0.132 | 634.6x |
| Atorvastatin | Lipitor 10 mg tablet | Atorvastatin 10 mg tablet | $13.41 | $0.0228 | 587.3x |
| Zolpidem | Ambien 10 mg tablet | Zolpidem tartrate 10 mg tablet | $22.61 | $0.0396 | 571.3x |
| Atenolol | Tenormin 50 mg tablet | Atenolol 50 mg tablet | $12.78 | $0.0236 | 541.6x |
| Sertraline | Zoloft 25 mg tablet | Sertraline HCl 25 mg tablet | $15.17 | $0.0288 | 526.0x |
| Atorvastatin | Lipitor 40 mg tablet | Atorvastatin 40 mg tablet | $19.11 | $0.0374 | 510.7x |
These are the widest gaps; the analysis lists every strength priced both ways.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price