Sometimes we do get questions about a generic drug's country of origin. Once there is a news story about the FDA investigating deviations from good manufacturing practices, the questions from patients start up again. Patients will ask if their generic drug was made in that plant that they heard about in a news story. At times, it can get specific whereby some patients will tell us that they do not want the generic if it was made in China or India. We will even get requests for a generic drug made in a plant located in the United States.

Overall, you do not have to do a lot of selling about a generic drug. Most are very well received by our patients. These are difficult economic times and most patients are simply in search of a lower price. At times, you will still get the same inquiry from a patient if the generic is the same as the brand name, but not nearly as much as just a few years ago.

In a related area, you often have to do some selling with a senior who has a Medicare Part D plan. Some will request the brand name with the response that they have coverage and that is what they want. Once you explain that the coverage only goes up to a certain point and with better management, you can make the coverage last longer and potentially avoid the coverage gap if a generic drug is used. Once a senior has a better understanding of the different levels of their coverage, it makes the use of a generic much easier. This is one aspect that we teach seniors everyday.

I rarely get questions about generics, most customers accept that third parties are only going to pay for generics now. But when it does come about it is almost invariabley " are you sure this is the samething". The reply is "according to the government it is the same and I personally would like a little more assurance of that". Many times the generic is manufactured by the brand name company, then I show them the package manufacturing info on both bottles. I have a field day when the drugs like Lotrel went generic came out by Sandoz and they didn't even have the courtesy to make new capsule they filled the bottle with capsules that said Lotrel on them.
The people keep asking if importing drugs would save them money as this big push for reform continues. Friday, I save every bottle dispensed made in a different country for show and tell. There was Canada,Isreal, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Slovania, Croatia, India, United kingdom, England, Switerland, Puerto Rico, China, Japan, Singapore, I think Brazil was in there too. This is just from a small rural independent pharmacy. Obviously, we are already doing this and all we get for the last 3 years is politcal hyperbole.
Sam

I dont get too many questions about generics. People who dont know a lot about them only want to make sure it is the same thing as a brand. They might request a brand just because they dont believe me, but then when they see the brand copay suddenly they become believers. The most violent reactions I have to "generics" is when I switch to a different manufacturer, which my supplier is constantly trying to do. People HATE taking a small round blue tablet for three years and then getting a square yellow one in the bottle. Most of my customers are okay with it as long I strenuously explain that it is the same medication just a different manufacturer. Many of them still walk away with a doubt in the back of thier mind, I can see it. A couple of older ladies accused me of trying to kill them. One said she didnt care if it was the same she wanted the blue pill and she wanted it now or she wasnt going to take anything and die and it would be my fault.

I really have to watch what my supplier substitutes automatically because sometimes I need to just stick with one manufacturer even if it is 3 cents more expensive.

Generics are widely used at our facility but we do have several patients that have to have specifically name brand drug. IE: topamax patients that have seizures have to have name brand, but topamax patients that have mood instability get generic. It's something to do with prescriptive management authority if you get my meaning. We also always put a sticker on (it's mostly me because I do a majority of the filling of prescriptions) that says it's same brand but may be of different size, color, shape, and etc. I do agree that some patients do question the different color, size, or shape. We always tell them it's just a different manufacturer. Our boss is constantly changing the brands such as different generic brands.

Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. In other words, their pharmacological effects are exactly the same as those of their brand-name counterparts.

An example of a generic drug, one used for diabetes, is metformin. A brand name for metformin is Glucophage. (Brand names are usually capitalized while generic names are not.) A generic drug, one used for hypertension, is metoprolol, whereas a brand name for the same drug is Lopressor.

Many people become concerned because generic drugs are often substantially cheaper than the brand-name versions. They wonder if the quality and effectiveness have been compromised to make the less expensive products. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) requires that generic drugs be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs.

Actually, generic drugs are only cheaper because the manufacturers have not had the expenses of developing and marketing a new drug. When a company brings a new drug onto the market, the firm has already spent substantial money on research, development, marketing and promotion of the drug. A patent is granted that gives the company that developed the drug an exclusive right to sell the drug as long as the patent is in effect.