Monday, Mar. 14, 1960
Brand Names & Prices
When a doctor writes a prescription, he may use either the general chemical name of the drug or the trademarked brand name of some particular manufacturer. The brand-named items usually cost more. Congressional investigators and drug manufacturers who recently debated the merits of the rival methods reached no conclusion. But Connecticut's state welfare department last week took positive action. It issued a list of the 25 trade-named drugs (see box) most commonly prescribed for welfare recipients, and ordered doctors to prescribe by general name "whenever possible." Said Governor Abraham Ribicoff: "The state is not going to pay through the nose for brand-name drugs."
Savings were expected to average 50%. Sample differences in wholesale prices: Dexedrine, $2.65 per 100 v. dextroamphetamine, 44-c-; Rubramin, $3.33 per 100 v. vitamin B12, $1.85; Pentids, $1.27 for twelve tablets v. buffered penicillin G, $2.75 per 100. Retail prices would be in about the same proportion. All drugs sold by chemical name must meet the same Government standards of purity and potency as brand-named items. Connecticut was banking on an annual saving of at least $250,000, and Dr. Harold Pierce, the welfare department's medical director, thought the savings might run to $500,000. "This," said he, "is the entering wedge. If welfare recipients get drugs for less, why shouldn't the other 98% of the general public?"
CHEMICAL NAME
Piperazine citrate
Bacitracin ointment
Butabarbital sodium
Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate
Methamphetamine hydrochloride
Dextroamphetamine sulfate
Digitoxin
Ferrous sulfate
Erythromycin
Methenamine mandelate
Magnesium-Aluminum hydroxides
Prednisolone
Prednisone
Pentobarbital sodium
Chloral hydrate
Penicillin G
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
Rauwolfia serpentina root
Vitamin B-12
Secobarbital sodium
Reserpine
Vitamin B Complex
Therapeutic multiple vitamins
V Mephenesin
BRAND NAME
Antepar
Baciguent
Butisol sodium
Colace
Desoxyn
Dexedrine sulfate
Digitaline Nativelle
Feosol
Ilotycin
Mandelamine
Maalox
Meticortelone
Meticorten
Nembutal sodium
Noctec
Pentids
Peritrate
Raudixin
Rubramin
Seconal sodium
Serpasil
Sur-Bex
Theragran;
Unicap Therapeutic
Tolserol
USE "
Worm infestation
Skin infection
Sedation
Bowel difficulty
Stimulant
Stimulant
Heart stimulant
Iron deficiency
Antibiotic
Urinary antiseptic
Antacid
Arthritis, etc.
Arthritis, etc.
Sedation
Sedation
Antibiotic
Angina pectoris
High blood pressure
Pernicious anemia
Sedation
High blood pressure
Vitamin deficiency
Vitamin deficiency
Muscle relaxant .
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