What you should know about mandatory prescription substitutions
However, did you know many states have adopted automatic, mandatory prescription drug substitutions? Many people have never even heard of these laws.
Find out what this means for you, and how it could influence your health.
What is Mandatory Generic Substitution?
States where this is not mandatory often offer you the choice of taking either the name brand or prescription drug.
The theory behind these laws is that pushing the lower cost generic medications will reduce overall healthcare costs.
However, these laws have raised concerns because the sudden change in medication can affect certain paitients, such as those on epilepsy or thyroid medication.
Get Educated About Prescription Drugs
More Information About Generic Substitutions
- Generic Substitution Raises Questions,
- Interesting Feb 2008 article concerning drug substitution. PDF format
- Mandatory generic substitution continues to be questioned
- Article about concerns over drug substitutionm particularly in treating Epilepsy.
- Chart of States and Their Laws regarding Generic Substitutions
- An informative chart about State Laws or Statutes Governing Generic Substitution by Pharmacists.
- Epilepsy Foundation Statement on Substitution of Generic Antiepileptic Drugs
- "The Epilepsy Foundation is seriously concerned about mandatory substitution of generic antiepileptic drugs without prior approval of the patient and treating physician. . . . "
What States Have Mandatory Generic Substitution Laws?
This site lists the following states as having mandatory substitution of generic medications, as of 4/25/07:
1.Florida
2.Hawaii
3.Kentucky
4.Maine
5.Massachusetts
6.Minnesota
7.Nevada
8.New Jersey
9.New York
10.Rhode Island
11.Tennessee
12.Vermont
13.Washington
14.West Virignia
Keep in mind, state laws change often, so if you are curious about your state, ask your docotr or pharmacist, since they must have up to date information.
My Personal Experience
How I became aware of mandatory generic drug substitution
I was a bit dumbfounded as to why they had automatically filled the prescription using the generic drug without telling me. I said, "I have always taken the name brand, so why did you switch it?"
Her response was,"It's cheaper."
So I asked, "You don't have the name brand? That's what I was prescribed."
She replied, "Well I can get you the name brand if you really want it."
I told her I did want the name brand prescription I had always taken and was not going to switch without talking to my doctor. She finally went back and got me the name brand.
Fortunately, I had an appointment with my doctor for a check-up the following week. When I explained to him what had happened, he immediately got concerned and said, "You did not switch your medication did you?" I reassured him I hadn't. He then proceeded to tell me that an approved generic substitute for the thyroid medication I was on had just gotten on the market. In our state, pharmacists, by law, could change prescriptions to generic without notifying either the patient or their doctor. I had never heard of such a law. He said that he had had several patients call complaining of symptoms, and on investigation, they found their thyroid prescription had been changed. The generic drug works differently then the name brand when in the body, and their dosages had to be adjusted. He said I was fortunate that the pharmacist had said anything beacuse by law she didn't have too.
Before I left he gave me a prescription with the proper "no substitution" phrase so that it would not happen again.
News About Prescriptions from Google
- Free E-Samples of Prescription Drugs: At What Cost?
- The United States has permitted the advertising of prescription drugs directly to consumers for only the past 12 years. Except for New Zealand, ...
- AMCP Posts Summary Of Key Provisions In Senate's HR 3590"
- Prescription drugs are included as "essential benefits" but do not require professional services of pharmacists. The exchanges would be operational as of ...
- Lowering prescription drug costs
- Save an average of up to 30 percent or more off the pharmacy's usual and customary retail price of prescription drugs, with the highest savings on generic ...
- Committee Leaders Call for GAO Analysis of Recent Prescription Drug Price ...
- For patients who are able to switch to lower-cost generic drugs, HR 3962 clarifies that Part D plans can offer a free generic prescription fill when a Part ...
The Bottom Line
Be Educated.
Check your medications every time you pick them up. Be aware of what you are taking.
Talk to your docotor about what is best for your treatment. If the name brand is best, Your doctor can give you a prescription with the proper wording so that drug substitution will be prevented.
Prescription Poll . . .
Have a thought? Leave me a comment!
-
Reply
- NIH NIH Apr 12, 2009 @ 3:00 pm | in reply to LindaJM
- Thanks so much for your comment and especially the link! (Great blog by the way!) I was shocked when I found out about these laws, so I am using this lens to try to get the word out - in a small way. Good for your getting off the thyroid medicine! I like herbs too - they helped me lower my cholesterol and avoid having to take the presciption drug that was laden with side effects.
-
Reply
- LindaJM LindaJM Apr 11, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
- Thanks for the information - I never thought about this as an issue. I put a link to this on one of my blogs: No More Meds where I write about the pharmaceutical industry and how to get around using their services at all. I recently got off my hypothyroid meds and feel better than ever... after looking for solutions for years. I found out that most hypothyroid disorder is caused by iodine deficiency. Now I'm using herbs instead of meds... for that. I still haven't gotten off my hypertension meds but I'm working on that!
by NIH
I guess you could say I wear many hats . . .
First, I am a self taught pencil artist I enjoy working exclusively with graphite, creating reali...
(more)




