Brand name drugs not better for heart.

Although many health experts believe brand-name drugs are better than generics when it comes to treating cardiovascular disease, a recent review of pharmaceutical studies found no evidence the often pricier brand-name drugs perform differently than generics.

Published in the Dec. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study was based on an analysis of peer-reviewed publications from 1984-2008. Of the 38 articles on randomized controlled trials, clinical equivalence of brand-name drugs and generics was noted in all seven articles applying to beta blockers, 10 of 11 on diuretics, five of seven on calcium channel blockers, both articles on statins, all five articles on wafarin and individual articles for several other drugs. Yet among 43 editorials in the review, more than half expressed a negative view of substituting generic drugs for brandname medications.

"One explanation for this discordance between the data and editorial opinion is that commentaries may be more likely to highlight physicians' concerns based on anecdotal evidence or other nonclinical trial settings," the study's authors wrote.