Trade-Name or Generic Drug?
Theoretically, a generic drug that is bioequivalent to its trade-name counterpart may be interchanged for it in any prescription. At the pharmacy, a consumer can usually choose between a trade-name drug and a bioequivalent generic version unless the doctor has written on the prescription that no substitution can be made. However, a consumer may have to take whichever generic version the pharmacist has decided to stock. If a doctor specifies a trade-name drug on the prescription and the consumer wants an equivalent generic version, the consumer or pharmacist can discuss the matter with the doctor, who may then authorize the dispensing of a generic product.
The consumer's choice may be limited by an insurance plan or a managed care organization, which may require that generic drugs be prescribed and dispensed whenever possible to save money. Most plans allow a consumer to select a more expensive trade-name product, but the consumer must pay the difference in cost.
State law may also limit the consumer's choice. In some states, the consumer has no say; if the doctor prescribes a generic drug, the pharmacist must dispense a generic drug. In other states, the consumer may insist on a trade-name drug even if the doctor and pharmacist recommend a generic drug.
The substitution of a generic drug can sometimes cause other problems for the consumer. A doctor may write a prescription for a trade-name product and discuss the trade-name product with the consumer. If a pharmacist dispenses an equivalent generic product and its label does not also list the trade-name product, the consumer may not know how the generic product relates to what the doctor prescribed. To prevent this confusion, many pharmacists also include the trade name on the label when a generic product is substituted.
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