Confused about generic drugs? You're not alone
With the recent announcement that Lipitor, the blockbuster cholesterol reducing pill, lost its patent, millions of people will gain access to the generic version of the medication - at a significantly reduced cost. Its recent availability as a generic drug, however, is the cause for confusion among patients, according to a new study by Treato, a social media search company that analyzes health-related discussions across the Internet.
The study, which analyzed thousands of patient discussions on health forums and blogs, found that many patients believed that they were already taking generic Lipitor, despite the fact that the drug was only available in the branded form until recently. The danger in this is that the other drugs that aren't generic forms of Lipitor contain different active ingredients, and therefore may not be as effective for patients, potentially even creating undesirable side effects. "Our analysis on Lipitor and generic medications demonstrates the power of Treato's engine to help patients make more informed health care decisions and guide manufacturers on the issues most relevant to a particular patient population," says Gideon Mantel, CEO, First Life Research, the company that developed Treato. The Treato analysis also identified a common theme emerging in online discussions between patients - a search for less expensive alternatives, in an attempt to cut costs. In all of the posts on Lipitor, almost 14 percent discussed costs of Lipitor and its alternatives. In fact, it was the third most discussed issue in online discussions on Lipitor, after side effects and dosage issues. In many of these discussions, patients shared their personal experiences in which they asked their physician for a generic cholesterol-reducing drug as a substitute for Lipitor. In return, patients describe getting a prescription for a medication that is said to be "very similar" to Lipitor - when in fact they are getting generic versions of other cholesterol medications. In order to ensure that you are getting the right medication for you, here are the facts about generic drugs: * Generic drugs are less expensive than the brand versions. Why? Because the generic manufacturers do not have the same development costs, therefore they can sell the medication at a significant discount. * Generic drugs do not look like their branded counterparts. According to the FDA, generic drugs look different because certain inactive ingredients, such as colors and flavorings, may be different. * Not all generic drugs are created equal. It is extremely difficult to predict how effective any particular drug will be and know about all of its side effects, and so it is strongly recommended to find out what other patients, who are already taking this drug, are saying about it. To help determine which medications, like Lipitor, are right for you, consult your physician and learn from other patients' experiences online at www.treato.com. |
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