When the patients resumed taking the brand-name medicine, their symptoms disappeared.

But it passed a bill intended to give all Americans greater access to low-cost generic versions of brand-name medicines.

So you always should use the same generic or brand-name medicine.

Generic drugs are cheaper copies of brand-name medicines whose patents have expired.

The largest cost to poor countries is not money but health, as many people simply will not be able to find or afford brand-name medicine.

Unfortunately, generic equivalents are not available for every brand-name medicine.

They are often less expensive than brand-name medicines.

Generic drugs are copies of brand-name medicine that generally sell for 20 percent to 60 percent less.

A Senate committee last week approved a bill to expand access to low-cost generic copies of brand-name medicines.

Another option, House Republicans said, is to require patients to pay the difference between brand-name medicines and the generic versions, which usually cost much less.