Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics

Switching branded to generic medications has become a common cost-containment measure. Although this is an important objective for health care systems worldwide, the impact of this practice on patient outcomes needs to be carefully considered. We reviewed the literature summarizing the potential cli...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Straka, Robert J., Keohane, Denis J., Liu, Larry Z.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: American Journal of Therapeutics 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5417581/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26099048
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MJT.0000000000000282
_version_ 1783233910414508032
author Straka, Robert J.
Keohane, Denis J.
Liu, Larry Z.
author_facet Straka, Robert J.
Keohane, Denis J.
Liu, Larry Z.
author_sort Straka, Robert J.
collection PubMed
description Switching branded to generic medications has become a common cost-containment measure. Although this is an important objective for health care systems worldwide, the impact of this practice on patient outcomes needs to be carefully considered. We reviewed the literature summarizing the potential clinical and economic consequences of switching from branded to generic medications on patient outcomes. A literature search of peer-reviewed articles published 2003–2013 using key words of “generic switching” or “substitution” was conducted using PubMed, OvidSP, and ScienceDirect. Of 30 articles identified and reviewed, most were related to the diseases of the central nervous system, especially epilepsy. Based on our review, potential impacts of switching fell into 3 broad categories: patient attitudes and adherence, clinical and safety outcomes, and cost and resource utilization. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative to branded products, this may not always be the case. Specifically, several studies suggested that switching may negatively impact medication adherence, whereas other studies found that generic switching was associated with poorer clinical outcomes and more adverse events. In some instances, switching accomplished cost savings but did so at increased total cost of care because of increased physician visits or hospitalizations. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative, mandatory generic switching may lead to unintended consequences, especially in certain therapeutic areas. Although further study is warranted, based on our review, it may be medically justifiable for physicians and patients to retain the right to request the branded product in certain cases.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-5417581
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2017
publisher American Journal of Therapeutics
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-54175812017-05-10 Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics Straka, Robert J. Keohane, Denis J. Liu, Larry Z. Am J Ther Original Articles Switching branded to generic medications has become a common cost-containment measure. Although this is an important objective for health care systems worldwide, the impact of this practice on patient outcomes needs to be carefully considered. We reviewed the literature summarizing the potential clinical and economic consequences of switching from branded to generic medications on patient outcomes. A literature search of peer-reviewed articles published 2003–2013 using key words of “generic switching” or “substitution” was conducted using PubMed, OvidSP, and ScienceDirect. Of 30 articles identified and reviewed, most were related to the diseases of the central nervous system, especially epilepsy. Based on our review, potential impacts of switching fell into 3 broad categories: patient attitudes and adherence, clinical and safety outcomes, and cost and resource utilization. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative to branded products, this may not always be the case. Specifically, several studies suggested that switching may negatively impact medication adherence, whereas other studies found that generic switching was associated with poorer clinical outcomes and more adverse events. In some instances, switching accomplished cost savings but did so at increased total cost of care because of increased physician visits or hospitalizations. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative, mandatory generic switching may lead to unintended consequences, especially in certain therapeutic areas. Although further study is warranted, based on our review, it may be medically justifiable for physicians and patients to retain the right to request the branded product in certain cases. American Journal of Therapeutics 2017-05 2015-06-05 /pmc/articles/PMC5417581/ /pubmed/26099048 http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MJT.0000000000000282 Text en Copyright © 2015 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.
spellingShingle Original Articles
Straka, Robert J.
Keohane, Denis J.
Liu, Larry Z.
Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics
title Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics
title_full Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics
title_fullStr Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics
title_full_unstemmed Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics
title_short Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics
title_sort potential clinical and economic impact of switching branded medications to generics
topic Original Articles
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5417581/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26099048
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MJT.0000000000000282
work_keys_str_mv AT strakarobertj potentialclinicalandeconomicimpactofswitchingbrandedmedicationstogenerics
AT keohanedenisj potentialclinicalandeconomicimpactofswitchingbrandedmedicationstogenerics
AT liularryz potentialclinicalandeconomicimpactofswitchingbrandedmedicationstogenerics