How to Ask for Generic Prescription Drugs

As prices for brand name drugs continue to rise, generic drugs have become a relatively inexpensive alternative. In some cases, a generic drug can cost half the price of its brand name equivalent. However, it may provide the same results as its more expensive counterpart. Read on to learn how to ask for generic prescription drugs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic drugs whenever they are available. Some doctors will not write a prescription for a generic drug without your specific request. A good way to bring up the subject is to ask whether a generic drug would be just as effective.

2. Ask your pharmacist for information about generic medication alternatives. Pharmacists may be aware of new generic drugs about which your doctor has yet to learn.

3. Search for generic equivalents to your prescription on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. See the Resources section below for a link. There can be a delay between approval for a new generic drug and its listing, but the FDA also posts a monthly list of approvals.

4. Shop around to see whether there are multiple generic versions available for a particular brand name prescription drug. Your pharmacist may be able to make suggestions or you can check online pharmacies for the best prices.

5. Keep informed about your long-term prescriptions. If the patent on a medication expires, manufacturers can produce it as a generic drug. You can also track a petition to manufacture a new generic drug on the FDA website.

6. Learn about FDA guidelines for generic drugs. Generic drugs are referred to by chemical names, rather than brands. The FDA requires that generic versions are chemically identical and tests them to ensure quality.

7. Check your insurance company's prescription policy. Some insurance providers will only cover generic drugs. In these cases, it is important to double-check that your doctor has prescribed a generic drug or noted that the pharmacist can substitute a generic drug for the brand name listed.

Tips & Warnings

• Every state has a law that allows pharmacists to substitute generic prescription drugs for brand names, as long as the prescribing doctor approves the switch. If your doctor prescribes a specific brand name drug, without noting that generics are acceptable, your pharmacist is required to fill your prescription with the brand name medication. Ask your doctor for his approval before you head to the pharmacy.
• In some cases, a generic version of your medication may be available, but not in the dosage your doctor has prescribed. To avoid potentially harmful effects, make sure you only take the dosage approved by your doctor.

Resources

• Generic Drugs at FDA.gov

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