Definition:
Bioequivalence is a term used when comparing brand name and generic drugs. Before a generic drug can be sold, the manufacturer must prove that it has the same strength as the brand name medication, and affects people the same way within the same time frame. If a generic passes these tests, it is said to be bioequivalent to the original drug.
Bioequivalence is a term used when comparing brand name and generic drugs. Before a generic drug can be sold, the manufacturer must prove that it has the same strength as the brand name medication, and affects people the same way within the same time frame. If a generic passes these tests, it is said to be bioequivalent to the original drug.
Pronunciation: BYE-oh-ee-KWIV-uh-lent
Examples: A 50-milligram tablet of the generic medication Trazodone is bioequivalent to a 50-milligram tablet of the brand name Desyrel. (See Desyrel and Trazodone Tablets and click on "more images" for pictures of these drugs.)
