A generic drug meets the same stringent performance and bioequivalence standards set by the U.S. government as the brand name drug. Each generic drug is laboratory-tested to ensure that the same amount of drug will be absorbed into the bloodstream as with the brand-name drug. Since 1984 no generic drug has been approved in the U.S. unless it has been shown to have the same rate and amount of active drug absorbed as the brand-name drug.