RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Generically speaking
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 109
OP 109
DO 10.1136/dtb.2009.09.0039
VO 47
IS 10
YR 2009
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/47/10/109.abstract
AB It's best to use the generic name when referring to a medicine. This reduces the likelihood of accidental double prescribing or purchase of a drug, particularly if it has more than one brand name. Prescribing by generic name is also generally cheaper and avoids confusion because the name is internationally recognised. Nevertheless, brand names enjoy undue prominence, even allowing for the clinical situations where it is important to prescribe by brand rather than generic name.