Generic drugs are a cheaper alternative to brand name drugs. But are they as effective? Once the patent on a branded drug expires, other companies are free to apply for approval of a generic version – a drug that acts in the body largely the same as the branded one. Dr. Rajesh Pahwa of the University of Kansas, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, describes how generics compare to brand name products and what to look for, and look out for, when getting a generic or making the switch.