How to use generic drugs? Part 1

RECOGNIZE A GENERIC DRUG

Where can I find the names and prices of generic drugs corresponding to a brand-name drug?

To find the correspondence between brand-name and generic drugs, you can consult the public drug database (external site).

It groups together all the drugs marketed (original and generic) and allows you to access all the valuable information via two possible entries: by drug name and by the molecule's name (active ingredient).

Why not differentiate generic drugs with an engraved name?

Generic drugs or brand-name drugs sometimes look the same, and it is difficult not to confuse them. However, engraving the name of a drug is difficult to envisage on a scored tablet, for example.

To avoid confusion, here are some simple tips for applying:

• note which medication is replaced by a generic drug and ask your pharmacist to indicate the name of the original medicines on the box of the corresponding generic drug if it has not already done so;
• do not put the usual prescription and the generic medication in the same box;
• leave your treatment in its packaging until use or use a pill organizer;
• If this seems necessary to you, do not hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist about the indications for each product prescribed.
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Why not add the name of the original drug to the name of the generic?

As with any drug, there may be a risk of confusion between several medications. You can ask your pharmacist to indicate the name of the original medicines on the box of your generic medication, as well as on your prescription if he has not already done so.

In addition, the name of the original medicine is a trading name chosen by the laboratory: it can only be used by it. Conversely, the name of the generic drug is often the same as that of the molecule (the active ingredient) it contains, along with the name of the laboratory and the dosage.

The molecule's name is expressed as an international nonproprietary name (DCI ), a language familiar to healthcare professionals worldwide (unlike brand names that may change from one country to another and which are chosen by laboratories). This name, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), contains information on the pharmacological activity of the molecule.

Finally, to alleviate a memory that sometimes plays tricks on us, I advise you to always have with you, in a safe place such as your wallet, for example, a small list of the treatments you are following, so that you can refer to them if necessary.

I take treatment, but on the box does not appear the DCI. Could you let me know if it is generic, what to do?

The mention of the DCI (international nonproprietary name) is mandatory on all drugs. If you can't find it, you can go to your pharmacist and ask them.

To differentiate a brand-name drug from a generic drug, you can look at the boxes of medicines. Indeed, a generic drug can be recognized by its name or by observing the box.

Could you let me know if a specific generic drug has not been removed from the sales list in pharmacies?

To find out if your medicine is still on the market, you can talk to your pharmacist. He can give you this information and order it if possible. Otherwise, he can deliver a drug belonging to the same generic group.

You can also go to the public drug database (external site), which lists all the drugs marketed in France and allows you to access all the valuable information via two possible entries: by drug name and by substance name. 

I want to find generic drugs for my treatment; how do I know if there are any?

To know at what molecule corresponds to your medicine and to find out if it exists in the form of a generic drug, you can consult the public database of medications (external site), which gathers all the marketed medicines and allows you to access all the valuable information via two possible entries: by drug name and by the name of the active substance.

Could you improve the identification of generic drugs?

As you know, a generic drug can be recognized by its name. If this name is that of the active substance expressed in the international nonproprietary name (DCI ) followed by the laboratory's name, this is a generic drug.

As with any drug, there may be a risk of confusion between several medications. Identify which drug is replaced by a generic drug. Ask your pharmacist to indicate this on the box if he has not already done so. It should be noted that in the case of the elderly or people with multiple medications, pharmacists have made a solid commitment to limit the risks of confusion between drugs: dispense the same brand of generic drug all year round to people over 75 years of age, for a minimum of several molecules used in the treatment of common chronic diseases. In 2015, 93% of patients over 75 years of age benefited from this "stability" of the dispensing: each patient received the same brand of generic medicine all year round.

If this seems necessary to you, do not hesitate to ask your doctor about the indications for each product prescribed. Your pharmacist can also provide you with all the details of your treatment.