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Deana Bartuccio expressed the opinion of pharmacists she worked with that there is practically no difference between generic and brand name drugs. Altough there is no chemical difference between the active substance in the generic and the brand name drug, there are often differences in the excipients like starch, talc, flavors, etc. that alter the physical properties of tablets or other dosage forms. The important characteristic of generic drugs is that it be equivalent to the model brand name, the first of that drug to be approved by the FDA. Equivalency then depends upon the bioavailibity of the drug, but because the bioavailability of a drug can be difficult and costly to measure, it is correlated first with assay results and with dissolution rates. If those measures are favorable, then the drugs may be termed equivalent. I'd glad to clarify any other points on this subject if it is confusing. Michel