Brand Name Drugs - Drugs that are researched, invented, developed, patented, manufactured and distributed by a pharmaceutical drug manufacturer.

Generic Drugs - Drugs labeled by their official (chemical) name and manufactured by a drug firm after the original patent expires.

Drug Switching - The practice of switching from a brand name drug to a generic alternative.

Generic Alternative - A generic alternative works like a brand name drug and is often used to treat the same conditions. But, the chemical make-up of the generic drug often differs from the brand name drug. Over all results are often different.

Generic Equivalent - A generic equivalent uses the same active ingredient and dosage as the brand name drug. Generally, the same results can be expected.

Therapeutic Substitution - Interchange of one pharmaceutical product with another that differs in composition, but is considered to have similar results.