Generic Drugs: A Welcome Savings ... But Are They Right for All?
Generic Versions of Medications Can Save People Money
Generic drugs are currently estimated to save consumers at least $8 to 10 billion a year at retail pharmacies because they cost less than the brand name versions of the same product. Congress and many federal agencies actively support the increased use of generic medications as a way to save money in healthcare. Because medications are a major cost of epilepsy, the availability of less expensive versions of brand name medicine can be very good news for people with epilepsy.
Are Generic Drugs For Epilepsy Right For Everyone?
Although research is still limited, it appears that generic versions of medications can be used safely and effectively for most people with epilepsy. The results of taking generic drugs should be the same as when using the brand name drug.However, while generics must be the same medicine, the FDA allows for a certain range of variability. One of the issues that needs to be examined is whether that range should be narrower for anti-convulsant medications.
Some individuals report problems, however. Physicians who treat people with epilepsy have also reported that some people have “breakthrough” seizures when switching from brand to generic versions of a drug – or among generics made by different manufacturers. A “breakthrough” seizure is one that occurs unexpectedly in someone who has had good seizure control. This has historically been a problem with some of the older drugs used to treat seizures.
Because seizures are serious events that can have considerable cost to one’s health, well-being, and pocketbook – and can even be life threatening, either as a direct result of the seizure, or because the seizures occur unexpectedly while someone is driving or in another dangerous situation -- experts in epilepsy and its treatment have routinely advised against switching among different versions of the same drug without physician guidance, monitoring and oversight. As epilepsy advocates suspect and some new research is confirming, the cost savings in the less expensive medications may be lost when overall health costs and societal consequences are taken into account for those patients who experience breakthrough seizures or troublesome side effects when switched from their usual seizure medicine.
