The FDA says they are.  Lots of patients say otherwise.  Here's a Wall Street Journal article about a generic that releases 34% of the drug in the first two hours compared to 8% for the brand name drug.  Four times the impact is apparently too much for some patients and there have been lots of complaints.  Bottomline:  people shouldn't be forced to choose one over the other.  But patients should pay the full costs and reap the full financial benefits of the choices they make.