What does therapeutically equivalent mean?
For a drug to be therapeutically equivalent, it must be chemically the same and also must have the same medical effect. Are There Generic Equivalents For All Drugs? No. Some drugs are protected by patents and are supplied by only one pharmaceutical company. After the original patent expires, other manufacturers may be permitted to produce a generic equivalent, often sold at a lower cost. Presently, about half the drugs on the market are available generically, offering you the possibility of savings. Will I Get The Medicine My Doctor Prescribed If The Pharmacist Selects A Generic Equivalent? Your pharmacist is required by law to give you the medicine prescribed by your doctor. However, he or she may select a generic equivalent unless your doctor has asked for a specific brand-name drug as medically necessary. How Can I Use The Drug Product Selection Law? You can ask your doctor to write a prescription permitting substitution of a generic drug product, whenever appropriate. You can ask y
