Generic substitution.

Clarification regarding generic substitution for psychotropic drugs.

Antiepileptic drugs: the drawbacks of generic substitution.

The need to curb the rising costs of health care has led policy-makers in many countries to consider widespread generic substitution of brand-name drugs as an eff ective means to cut costs. For example, on January 5, 2010, the NHS in England began a 3-month consultation to seek views on plans to automatically substitute branded drugs with generic versions in primary care. However, doctors, pati...

Generic substitution: issues for problematic drugs.

The methodology and criteria for bioequivalence testing have been firmly established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For certain drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., digoxin, levothyroxine, warfarin), generic substitution may not be advisable or even allowable, depending on the substitution laws of individual states. Digoxin and levothyroxine tablets are examples of drugs for...

Generic substitution in the treatment of epilepsy

Results: Fifty patients, well-controlled on a brand AED, subsequently experienced a breakthrough seizure or increased seizure frequency after switching to a generic without other provoking factors. AEDs included phenytoin (15 cases), valproic acid (14), carbamazepine (7), gabapentin (8), and zonisamide (8). Two patients were on a combination of two AEDs, both of which were switched to generics....

Determinants of generic drug substitution in Switzerland

BACKGROUND Since generic drugs have the same therapeutic effect as the original formulation but at generally lower costs, their use should be more heavily promoted. However, a considerable number of barriers to their wider use have been observed in many countries. The present study examines the influence of patients, physicians and certain characteristics of the generics' market on generic subs...