Capitol Monitor ....
Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Fourth District of Virginia 

August 4, 2006

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::Bottom Line::  

“Dad, you just don’t understand,” she said pleadingly while placing her hands on her hips.

No, I don’t, the dad thought, taking another look at the seemingly identical tee-shirts. 

“Dad, this one is DKNY,” she said holding up the $50 tee-shirt. “That one is I-don’t-even-know-what,” she said referring to the almost identical shirt already tossed back on the rack.

The teenage daughter had wanted to go to the mall – a job usually left in the very capable hands of the man’s wife – and the article of clothing in her hands was priced $40 more because of an acronym that apparently provided some irresistible appeal. It was a shopping stalemate of the worst kind. 

“I don’t even know what DKNY stands for,” the father said, “and I can’t imagine anyone could tell the difference between the shirts anyway.” Ten minutes later the man and his daughter were headed to the car, the daughter with a smile, and the man with less pad in his pocket and an even slighter understanding of the complicated social protocols of high-school girls. 

For many people, the lure of name-brands is reason enough to pay more for items ranging from clothes to cars to items at the grocery store. But few of us consider using generic brands outside of these products. In fact, one place to consider using generic brands is in prescription medicine.

Prescription drugs can be a costly medical expense, especially for older people and those who are chronically ill. However, each state has a law that lets pharmacists substitute less expensive generic drugs for many brand-name products. Depending on your prescription needs, your savings could be significant. Before you talk with your doctor or pharmacist about switching, there are things you need to know about generic drugs and the law. The Federal Trade Commission offers the following answers to commonly-asked questions on generic drugs and their safety and efficacy: 

What’s the difference between a generic and brand-name drug?
Not much, except for name and price. A generic drug is called by its chemical name; a manufacturer assigns a brand name. The products have the same ingredients.

Standard practice and most state laws require that a generic drug be generically equivalent to its brand-name counterpart. That is, it must have the same active ingredients, strength, and dosage form—pill, liquid, or injection. The generic drug also must be therapeutically equivalent—it must be the same chemically and have the same medical effect. 

Do all drugs have generic equivalents?
No. Some drugs are protected by patents and are supplied by only one company. However, when the patent expires, other manufacturers can produce its generic version. Currently, about half the drugs on the market are available in generic form. 

How can I get generic drugs?
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Explain that you want the most effective drug at the best price. Ask your doctor to write prescriptions for generic drugs when possible.

Are there exceptions to the law?
Yes. If your doctor writes on the prescription form that a specific brand-name drug is required, your pharmacist must fill the prescription as written. That is, a generic drug cannot be substituted.

However, your pharmacist can talk with your doctor about the prescription. Perhaps there’s an acceptable generic drug that your doctor is not aware of. Your pharmacist can compare and evaluate generic and brand-name drugs and may be able to consult with your doctor to provide the right medication at the best possible price.

Will my doctor automatically prescribe generic drugs?
It depends on the physician. You can ask your doctor to write a prescription permitting substitution of a generic drug product when appropriate. You also can ask whether a generic product will be as effective and less costly. Or, you can request that only brand-name products be used to fill your prescriptions.

Can I save money filling my prescriptions via mail-order services?
Check with your insurance provider to determine if they offer mail-order prescription services. By ordering your prescriptions through the mail you can receive quality care with the convenience of having your medications delivered directly to your home. You may receive free shipping and a larger days supply at a fraction of the cost. 

Where can I get more information?
The Food and Drug Administration has a toll-free hotline to answer questions about drug safety and efficacy. Call 1-800-532-4440. You also can visit the FDA at www.fda.gov 
—click on Human Drugs.

So the next time you head to the doctor, consider asking for a prescription for a generic drug rather than the name-brand version. While we might not be able to pronounce the name of the generic prescription drug, it may just be able to save us a lot on our bottom line!


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