Generic and Brand Name Drugs: Understanding the Basics
Generic and Brand Name Drugs: Understanding the Basics
Generic and Brand Name Drugs: Understanding the Basics
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Making Smart Choices about MedicationsMany prescription medicines are availableto treat depression <strong>and</strong> bipolardisorder. The pharmacist might ask ifyou want your prescription filled with<strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name medicine or <strong>the</strong> genericmedicine. Each option has pros <strong>and</strong>cons to con sider. This brochure willgive you <strong>the</strong> information you need tohelp you decide what’s right for you inyour treatment <strong>and</strong> recovery plan. You’lllearn that <strong>the</strong> decision to choose abr<strong>and</strong> name or a generic is one thatinvolves you <strong>and</strong> your health care team.“The decision to choose a br<strong>and</strong> name or a genericis one that involves you <strong>and</strong> your health care team.”What are br<strong>and</strong> name <strong>and</strong> generic drugs?A br<strong>and</strong>namedrug is amedicinethat’s discovered,developed<strong>and</strong> marketedby a pharmaceutical company. Oncea new drug is discovered, <strong>the</strong> companyfiles for a patent to protect against o<strong>the</strong>rcompanies making copies <strong>and</strong> selling <strong>the</strong>drug. At this point <strong>the</strong> drug has twonames: a generic name that’s <strong>the</strong> drug’scommon scientific name <strong>and</strong> a br<strong>and</strong>name to make it st<strong>and</strong> out in <strong>the</strong> marketplace.This is true of prescription drugs aswell as over-<strong>the</strong>-counter drugs. An exampleis <strong>the</strong> pain reliever Tylenol ® . The br<strong>and</strong>name is Tylenol ® <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> generic nameis acetaminophen.<strong>Generic</strong> drugs have <strong>the</strong> same activeingredients as br<strong>and</strong> name drugs alreadyapproved by <strong>the</strong> Food <strong>and</strong> DrugAdministration (FDA). <strong>Generic</strong>s onlybecome available after <strong>the</strong> patent expireson a br<strong>and</strong> name drug. Patent periodsmay last up to 20 years on some drugs.The same company that makes <strong>the</strong>br<strong>and</strong> name drug may alsoproduce <strong>the</strong> genericversion. Or, a differentcompany mightproduce it.3
What’s <strong>the</strong> difference between br<strong>and</strong> name<strong>and</strong> generic drugs?It’s important to remember that <strong>the</strong>re arebr<strong>and</strong> name <strong>and</strong> generic versions of medicinesnot only for mood disorders but foro<strong>the</strong>r conditions as well—high bloodpressure, diabetes, etc. Today, about 50percent of all prescriptions are filled withgeneric drugs. The FDA has establishedst<strong>and</strong>ards for generic drugs that mightseem complicated but are really quitesimple.The SimilaritiesAccording to <strong>the</strong> FDA, to substitute ageneric for a br<strong>and</strong> name drug:■ It must contain <strong>the</strong> same activeingredients (<strong>the</strong> chemical substancethat makes <strong>the</strong> drug work).■ It must have <strong>the</strong> same dosage strength(<strong>the</strong> amount of active ingredients, forexample 20 mg or 40 mg).■ It must be <strong>the</strong> same dosage form (thatis, it needs to be available in <strong>the</strong> sameform as <strong>the</strong> original—for example, asa liquid, pill, etc.).■ It must have <strong>the</strong> same route of admin -istration (<strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong> medication isintroduced into <strong>the</strong> body).■ It must deliver similar amounts of<strong>the</strong> drug to <strong>the</strong> bloodstream (thatis, it needs to deliver a comparableamount of <strong>the</strong> drug into <strong>the</strong> bloodstreamwithin a similar time periodas <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name drug).The DifferencesHere’s how generics <strong>and</strong> br<strong>and</strong> namedrugs differ:■ They look different. (Federal lawrequires this.)– They could have different sizes,shapes, colors or markings.– They have different names.■ They might have different inactiveingredients.– <strong>Drugs</strong> are made up of both active<strong>and</strong> inactive ingredients. Some peoplemay be sensitive to inactive ingredients.For example, some peoplehave reactions to certain dyes used insome drugs.■ The generic costs less than <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong>name drug.– The cash price <strong>and</strong> insurance co-payis usually lower. <strong>Generic</strong>s can costbetween 20 <strong>and</strong> 80 percent less, butkeep in mind that cost is only onefactor when considering <strong>the</strong> rightmedication for your condition.■ <strong>Generic</strong>s vary by manufacturer, whichmeans you could receive different versionsbased on where you purchaseyour medications <strong>and</strong> what type ofgeneric <strong>the</strong>y dispense.– Different pharmacies carry differentgenerics.– Even <strong>the</strong> same pharmacy may changegeneric suppliers.4
Insurance PlansFor most consumers, <strong>the</strong>ir insurance plan determineswhat <strong>the</strong>y pay for medication. Both private <strong>and</strong> governmentinsurance companies promote using genericdrugs when possible. They might even require substitutinga generic for a br<strong>and</strong> name drug. As in Joe’s story, <strong>the</strong> co-pay for <strong>the</strong> genericmight be $10. But <strong>the</strong> co-pay for <strong>the</strong> same dosage <strong>and</strong> amount of <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> namemight be $40. Some insurance plans might require you to pay <strong>the</strong> entire cost of<strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name drug if you don’t accept <strong>the</strong> available generic.Why do br<strong>and</strong> name drugs cost more than generics?It takes several years, costly scientificdevelopment <strong>and</strong> many clinical studiesto get a drug approved. Manufacturersof new br<strong>and</strong> name drugs (also called“pioneer drugs”) usually take on <strong>the</strong>research <strong>and</strong> development costs for newmedications. These research <strong>and</strong> developmentcosts, along with marketing costs,account for most of <strong>the</strong> higher prices wepay for most br<strong>and</strong> name drugs.In contrast, generic drugs have lessresearch <strong>and</strong> development costs since <strong>the</strong>original manufacturer has already donemany studies to make sure <strong>the</strong> drug issafe. These savings are passed on to <strong>the</strong>consumer.However, while <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name form isstill protected by its patent, no genericscan be produced. And, if a br<strong>and</strong> namedrug has only just recently lost its patent,<strong>the</strong>re may only be one generic form available.Usually, when <strong>the</strong>re’s only onegeneric option available, it will be moreexpensive.5
Since a drug’s generic <strong>and</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name versionslook different, how can I be sure I’m getting <strong>the</strong> rightmedication at <strong>the</strong> pharmacy?Be sure to check your medication labels<strong>and</strong> confirm <strong>the</strong> name <strong>and</strong> dose of yourprescriptions. <strong>Generic</strong> forms of a br<strong>and</strong>name drug should all have <strong>the</strong> samename, no matter what company producedit. If your original prescription was writtenfor <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> doctorallowed generic substitution, <strong>the</strong> bottlelabel should indicate this. Never assumethat <strong>the</strong> drug is identical if it looks different.Your pharmacist can verify this foryou, <strong>and</strong> your doctor can also confirm thiswhen you bring your medication bottle toyour appointment. If you have a genericprescription, to reduce confusion, askyour pharmacist to refill your generic prescriptionwith <strong>the</strong> same drug, from <strong>the</strong>same manufacturer, each time.Why doesn’t my doctor automatically prescribegeneric drugs?Not all medications havea generic form available.Some doctors might notbe aware of recentlyapproved generics.Doctors also differ in<strong>the</strong>ir beliefs towards, <strong>and</strong>experiences with, differentmedications. Our medical histories,insurance <strong>and</strong> personal preferences mayalso influence our doctor’s decision. It’simportant that we consult our doctorsbefore deciding if ageneric is right for us.If you’re interested intrying a generic drug,first find out if it’s available.Ask your doctor.Also, your pharmacistwill have a list of generic drugs <strong>and</strong> canusually tell you how much <strong>the</strong>y will coston your insurance plan.What if I have a preference?If you <strong>and</strong> your physician determine thatei<strong>the</strong>r a generic or br<strong>and</strong> name drug isbest for you, make sure your pharmacistknows. If your doctor writes your prescriptionspecifically for <strong>the</strong> generic, that’swhat <strong>the</strong> pharmacist will give you. Asnoted earlier, <strong>the</strong>re might be severaldifferent generic drug manufacturers.If you require <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name drug,ask your doctor to indicate that on yourprescription. Different states have differentlaws <strong>and</strong> regulations on genericsubstitutions.6
Making an informed choiceIs <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong>name medicineor <strong>the</strong> genericversion <strong>the</strong> bestoption? Theanswer is that itdepends. Thereare several differentthings thatyou <strong>and</strong> your doctor can consider:■ How difficult it is to control yourmedical condition■ How sensitive you are to changesin medication treatment■ How difficult it is to pay for yourprescriptions, including whe<strong>the</strong>ryour insurance covers prescriptionsDrug FormulariesEach insurance plan has a formulary, a list of drugs that it approves <strong>and</strong> prefersfor certain medical conditions. (Public insurances, like Medicaid <strong>and</strong> MedicarePart D, also have formularies.) A formulary lists which drugs <strong>the</strong> plan covers <strong>and</strong>at what level <strong>the</strong>y’re covered. Ideally, insurance companies base this list on <strong>the</strong>best medical information available at <strong>the</strong> time. They negotiate <strong>the</strong> prices of drugson <strong>the</strong>ir formularies with drug manufacturers. And this often means dollar savingsfor <strong>the</strong> consumer.When you enroll in an insurance plan, you should receive its formu lary. A book let<strong>and</strong>/or a website usually containthis information. If you’re consideringchanging insurance plans, compare<strong>the</strong> cost of your medicationson <strong>the</strong> formularies.It’s important that we consult our doctors beforedeciding if a generic is right for us.7
Prescription Checklist for Informed ConsumersUse <strong>the</strong> checklist below for ei<strong>the</strong>r option to help you get <strong>the</strong> most out of your decision.If you <strong>and</strong> your doctor want<strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name drug:■ Have your doctor indicate on <strong>the</strong> prescriptionthat it is for <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> namedrug only.■ Tell <strong>the</strong> pharmacist you want <strong>the</strong>br<strong>and</strong> name version if your prescriptiondoesn’t specify which.■ Check to make sure <strong>the</strong> medicine youget is <strong>the</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name drug.■ To help cover <strong>the</strong> cost:Ask your doctor for samples of anynew drugs that you are trying.Ask your doctor about any couponsor voucher programs.See if you qualify for financialassistance by checking outprograms like <strong>the</strong>se:If you <strong>and</strong> your doctor want<strong>the</strong> generic drug:■ Know <strong>the</strong> drug’s br<strong>and</strong> name as wellas its generic name.■ Know how to identify <strong>the</strong> genericfrom <strong>the</strong> label on your medicinebottle.■ Know what <strong>the</strong> generic looks like(color, size, shape, markings), especiallyif it looks different than it did <strong>the</strong>month before or if you use a daily orweekly pillbox.■ Check with your pharmacist to be surethat you’re getting <strong>the</strong> right drug.■ Tell your doctor about any differencesyou might experience taking <strong>the</strong>generic.Partnership for PrescriptionAssistance (PPA)(888) 477-2669www.pparx.comToge<strong>the</strong>r Rx Access(800) 444-4106www.toge<strong>the</strong>rrxaccess.com8
How do I find out more?Navigating <strong>the</strong> world of prescription drugs doesn’t have to be confusing. Thebest source of information about br<strong>and</strong> name <strong>and</strong> generic drugs is open discussionwith your doctor <strong>and</strong> pharmacist. Individuals vary in <strong>the</strong>ir medical history,response to treatment <strong>and</strong> preferences. Only you <strong>and</strong> your doctor can determine<strong>the</strong> medication that best fits into your treatment <strong>and</strong> recovery plan. And gettingto know your pharmacist can reduce frustration <strong>and</strong> increase your underst<strong>and</strong>ingabout your care.If you wish to learn more, you can find additional information on several websitessuch as <strong>the</strong> following:www.DBSAlliance.org/RxAssistA list of drug assistance programs, provided by <strong>the</strong> Depression <strong>and</strong> BipolarSupport Alliancewww.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/medicate.cfm#ptdep15A list of psychiatric medications by br<strong>and</strong> name, provided by <strong>the</strong> NationalInstitute of Mental Healthwww.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/medicate.cfm#ptdep14A list of psychiatric medications by generic name, provided by <strong>the</strong> NationalInstitute of Mental Healthwww.fda.gov/cder/ogdconsumerinfo/generics/q&a.htmFAQs on generic <strong>and</strong> br<strong>and</strong> name drugs, provided by <strong>the</strong> FDA’s Center for DrugEvaluation <strong>and</strong> Researchwww.nlm.nih/gov/medlineplus/druginformation.htmlConsumer-friendly medication information provided by <strong>the</strong> U.S. National Libraryof Medicine <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> National Institutes of Healthwww.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/medicate.cfmThe National Institute of MentalHealth’s medication resource9
My Health InformationYou can use this form to record helpful information about your doctors, medicines<strong>and</strong> insurance program.My family doctorNAMEPHONE NUMBERCITY STATE ZIPMy <strong>the</strong>rapistNAMEPHONE NUMBERCITY STATE ZIPMy psychiatristNAMEPHONE NUMBERCITY STATE ZIPMy pharmacist/pharmacyNAMEPHONE NUMBERCITY STATE ZIPMy insurance informationCOMPANY/PROGRAM NAMEPHONE NUMBERMY ID AND POLICY NUMBERMy daily medications, vitamins, supplementsNAME DOSAGE NAME DOSAGENAME DOSAGE NAME DOSAGENotes10
Please help us continue our education efforts.We hope you found <strong>the</strong> information in this brochure useful. To help us continueour education efforts, please fill in <strong>and</strong> mail or fax <strong>the</strong> donation form below, call(800) 826-3632 or visit www.DBSAlliance.org for details.Yes, I want to make a difference. Enclosed is my gift of:■ $100 ■ $50 ■ $20 ■ O<strong>the</strong>r $NAMEADDRESSCITY STATE COUNTRY ZIPDAYTIME PHONE■ Check (payable to DBSA)E-MAIL■ Money order (payable to DBSA)■ VISA ■ MasterCard ■ Discover ■ AmExACCOUNT NUMBEREXPIRATION DATESIGNATURE (REQUIRED)■ I wish my gift to remain anonymous.■ Please send medonation envelopes to share.■ Please send me information on including DBSA in my will.■ I have enclosed my company’s matching gift form.If you would like to make your gift a Memorial or Honorary Tribute, please complete <strong>the</strong> following:■ In memory of/in honor of (circle one)■ Please notify <strong>the</strong> following recipient of my gift:PRINT NAMERECIPIENT’S NAMEADDRESSCITY STATE COUNTRY ZIPPlease send this form with payment to: DBSA, 730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501, Chicago, IL60610-7224 USA Questions? Call (800) 826-3632 or (312) 642-0049.Fax credit card payments (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or AmEx) to (312) 642-7243.Make secure online donations at www.DBSAlliance.org.DBSA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Illinois corporation. All donations are tax deductible based on federal<strong>and</strong> state IRS regulations. Consult your tax advisor for details. All information is held in strict confidence<strong>and</strong> will never be shared with o<strong>the</strong>r organizations. Thank you for your gift!11
We’ve been <strong>the</strong>re. We can help.The Depression <strong>and</strong> Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is <strong>the</strong> leading patient-directednational organization focusing on <strong>the</strong> most prevalent mental illnesses. The organization fostersan environment of underst<strong>and</strong>ing about <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>and</strong> management of <strong>the</strong>se life-threateningillnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools <strong>and</strong> information written in language<strong>the</strong> general public can underst<strong>and</strong>. DBSA supports research to promote more timely diagnosis,develop more effective <strong>and</strong> tolerable treatments <strong>and</strong> discover a cure. The organization works toensure that people living with mood disorders are treated equitably.Assisted by a Scientific Advisory Board comprising <strong>the</strong> leading researchers <strong>and</strong> clinicians in <strong>the</strong>field of mood disorders, DBSA has more than 1,000 peer-run support groups across <strong>the</strong> country.Nearly five million people request <strong>and</strong> receive information <strong>and</strong> assistance each year. DBSA's missionis to improve <strong>the</strong> lives of people living with mood disorders.Depression <strong>and</strong> Bipolar Support Alliance730 N. Franklin St., Ste. 501Chicago, Illinois 60610-7224 USAPhone: (800) 826-3632 or (312) 642-0049Fax: (312) 642-7243Website: www.DBSAlliance.orgVisit our updated, interactive website for important information, breaking news, chapterconnections, advocacy help <strong>and</strong> much more.DBSA does not endorse or recommend <strong>the</strong> use of any specific treatment, medication orresource mentioned in this brochure. For advice about specific treatments or medications,individuals should consult <strong>the</strong>ir physicians <strong>and</strong>/or mental health professionals. This brochureis not intended to take <strong>the</strong> place of a visit to a qualified health care provider.©2007 Depression <strong>and</strong> Bipolar Support Alliance 4/08Models used for illustrative purposes only