Controversies In Drug Substitution

Skyrocketing healthcare costs have become a national issue, and drug expenditures account for 11% of those costs in the United States.[1] Generic drugs have been identified as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive branded medications. In fact, according to some estimates, $8.8 billion could be saved each year in the United States alone if generic medications were prescribed and used in an optimal manner.[2]
However, some physicians continue to prescribe branded medications when generics are available, believing that the branded formulations are superior. In addition, some patients are uncomfortable with the idea of taking a "substitute" for a medication that their doctor prescribed.

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