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Article: CONSULTATION; When It Comes to Drugs, What's in a (Brand) Name?
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- April 4, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Q. Do doctors get some kind of incentive for prescribing brand
name drugs? It seems that prescriptions are almost always for brand
names and not generics. Pharmacists do us a favor by informing us of
the less expensive generic drugs.
Are there generics for every brand name drug? My doctor told me
there's no generic for the cholesterol drug I'm taking. Is it safe to
ask for a generic version of a medication if my doctor prescribes a
brand name? Are there any problems with taking generic medicines?
A. Although there's some controversy about substituting generic
drugs for brand name versions, in the vast majority of cases generics
are as safe and effective as the brand names. If you have any ...