When retailers began offering low cost generic drugs, some saw it as a victory for the consumer. Others asked questions about the difference between the generics and the brand-name drugs.
- Are generic drugs safe?
- What is the difference in costs?
- Can I ask my doctor for a generic?
E-prescribing : the electronic transformation of medicine
Jack E. Fincham.
Boston, Mass. : Jones and Bartlett Publishers, c2009.
As part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, electronic prescribing has been proposed as a solution to the growing problem of medical errors due to similar drug names. Fincham (pharmacy practice and administration, U. of Missouri-Kansas City) presents a balanced analysis of the benefits of e-prescribing and concerns over security and costs. The reference includes the latest system options; a summary of the 2003 law; timeline of related initiatives; federal privacy laws for protecting personal health information; proposed e-prescribing standards; and a glossary. Annotation #169;2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The guide to off-label prescription drugs : new uses for FDA-approved prescription drugs
Kevin Loughlin, medical editor-in-chief ; Joyce Generali, pharmaceutical editor-in-chief ; Amjad Almajameed ... [et al.].
New York : Free Press, 2006.
The first consumer guide of its kind, this drug reference gives patients urgently needed information about drugs prescribed for uses that are different from their labels' recommendations. of full-color photos.
Powerful medicines : the benefits, risks, and costs of prescription drugs
Jerry Avorn.
New York : Alfred A. Knopf : Distributed by Random House, 2004.
Praised by Senator Edward Kennedy and others (including Nobel Peace Prize winner Bernard Lown), this book uses numerous case studies to demonstrate how pharmaceutical companies' marketing and research practices distort the process of balancing drug benefits, hazards, and cost which is meant to ensure that patients receive quality, affordable care. His recommendations for treatment include better use of technology, better patient education, and thorough comparisons of the effectiveness and safety of similar drugs. Annotation #169;2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Pharmaceutical companies spend large amounts of money to develop and test drugs for specific medical conditions. The patent for a drug insures that the company recoups its costs. In the United States, after 20 years the drug patent expires and other companies are allowed to manufacture and sell the same drug under a generic name. Trademark laws require that there be differences between the generics and name-brands.
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Prescriptions for drugs are filled in various ways: independent pharmacies, drug store chains, discount retailers.
Some insurance companies require their members to obtain their drugs by mail through a prescription benefits management company (PBM). |
The equivalent generic drug is the same dosage, safety, strength, quality, and intended use as the original name-brand. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) put the generics through rigorous testing to insure that the generics have the same ingredients, performance, purity, and strength, as the original drug. The flavor and certain inactive ingredients may be different.
A recent FDA program aims at increasing the number and variety of generic drugs available. It is called the Generic Initiative for Value and Efficiency (GIVE). It seeks to streamline the generic drug approval process and increase savings for consumers.
When receiving a prescription from your doctor, inquire as to whether it is for a name-brand or a generic and discuss why this is the best choice for you. Always check with your doctor before making any changes.
Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff
