When a drug company develops a new medication they apply for a patent. This patent protects the drug from being copied by other drug companies for a certain period of time. These drugs are brand name drugs. Once the patent period expires, other manufacturers can produce the same drug as long as they follow strict guidelines established by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidelines. These same drugs are generic drugs. Generic drugs are less expensive versions of those brand name drugs whose patents have expired. They are made with the same active ingredients of the brand name drug, but they may have a different color, shape or filler material. The cost of a generic drug is typically less than a brand name drug. All generic medications are approved by the FDA before they are released on the market. Some examples of generic drugs and their brand name equivalent include furosemide and Lasix®, ranitidine and Zantac®, and cephalexin and Keflex®.