Why one generic has hundreds of brands in Bangladesh

One ingredient, many products

A generic name is the name of the active ingredient, such as paracetamol. A brand name is the name a company gives to its own product. When several companies each register their own product containing the same ingredient, each product gets its own brand name and its own registration. That is why a single generic can sit behind a very long list of brands.

In the DGDA registry snapshot used on this site, Paracetamol alone has 436 products. Each of those is a separate registry entry with its own brand name, manufacturer and DAR number.

See all Paracetamol products in the registry snapshot

Why the list gets so long

A few ordinary reasons add up quickly:

• Many companies: different pharmaceutical companies can each register their own brand of the same ingredient.
• Different strengths: one company may register the same ingredient in more than one strength, for example 500 mg and 665 mg, often as separate entries.
• Different dosage forms: the same ingredient can come as a tablet, a syrup, a suspension or a suppository, and each form is registered separately.
• Combinations: some products combine the ingredient with another one. These are usually listed under a combined generic name, such as Caffeine + Paracetamol, rather than under the single ingredient.

So when you see a large number next to a generic, it counts registered products, not companies. One company can account for several of them.

What the number does not tell you

A long list of brands is a description of the registry, nothing more. It does not mean one brand is better or worse than another, and it does not tell you which product is available at a particular pharmacy today. This site shows registry facts only. It shows no prices, because none have been verified, and no rankings.

How to read a long brand list

When you open a generic page, these details help you find the exact product you are looking for:

1. Check the strength printed on your pack, for example 500 mg, and look for the same strength in the list.
2. Check the dosage form: tablet, capsule, syrup and so on.
3. Check the manufacturer named on the pack.
4. If the pack shows a DAR number, use it to find the exact registry entry.

Browse all generics in the registry snapshot

How to compare brands of the same generic

Products with the same generic name are not automatically interchangeable for you. Before changing from one brand to another, ask a registered doctor or pharmacist.