Análisis comparativo en el uso de medicamentos antihipertensivos genéricos frente a medicamentos de marca en personas adultas una revisión bibliográfica (2020 2025)

Abstract

Abstract: Arterial hypertension requires sustained pharmacological treatment, in which the choice between generic and brand-name medicines affects effectiveness, cost, and treatment compliance. This systematic bibliographic review compared both formulations in adults, addressing three objectives: clinical effectiveness and blood pressure control, pharmacoeconomic differences, and therapeutic adherence. Following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, eight scientific sources were searched between 2020 and 2025, and twenty studies were included and examined through narrative synthesis and GRADE assessment. The findings show that generics achieve systolic blood pressure reductions comparable to brand-name products, with no relevant differences in mortality or cardiovascular events. Economically, generics produced savings between 24% and 87% without a proportional loss of benefit. Adherence did not systematically favor the brand; switching to a generic preserved or modestly improved it, with variations depending on the specific drug. The evidence supports the preferential prescription of generic antihypertensives in Ecuador, provided that strict standards of quality and bioequivalence are guaranteed by the competent regulatory authority.