which do you prefer generic or branded medicines? why?

The pharmaceutical industry is worth multi billions of dollars. Even the unbranded medication is made by the same company that have an identical branded product. I don't understand why they bother to do this. What I do know is that the agents/salesmen and women for the pharmaceutical companies will take the doctors for lavish lunches or dinners or provide gifts in an effort to push their particular product onto the doctor so that he prescribes that brand over another. I always opt for the generic brand when it's available. The ingredients are the same. The tablet or medicine may be a different shape or colour and the packaging less fancy but I don't care about these things. I need to save money wherever I can.

Whilst living in a small town I saw the visiting doctor who only came to town once a fortnight. He perscribed me some medication (Tramadol), it turned out I was highly allergic to it. A week later I found out another 12 of his patients had also had a similar reaction to the same medication after he'd also perscribed it to them on the same day I'd been given mine. Amazingly the medication was given out for an assortment of reasons, not all to do with pain. Obviously this doctor does tie his deals in with a company. I now stick with what I know, but I do accept generic brands when I know they have the same ingredient listing as their more expensive counterpart. There are alot of companies whom make the same product, just use cheaper packaging and the medication is exactly the same.

I think generic brands are acceptable, I trusr my doctor and she said it is ok and I have been using them for some time now so I guess I can't say anything against them, to be honest I don't really understand it all, why or why not or what it is all about so I guess I put all my faith in my doctor and pharmacist...

I think they are the same, they have to be by law. I appriciate them a lot, they cost so much less than the name brands. I do know that a lot of people say they can tell the difference but I really think they can't.