title: Considerations in pharmaceutical conversion: focus on antihistamines.
abstract: The practice of pharmaceutical conversion, which encompasses three types of drug interchange (generic, brand, and therapeutic substitution), is increasing in managed care settings. Pharmaceutical conversion has numerous implications for managed care organizations, their healthcare providers, and their customers. Although drug cost may be a driving consideration in pharmaceutical conversion, a number of other considerations are of equal or greater importance in the decision-making process may affect the overall cost of patient care. Among these considerations are clinical, psychosocial, and safety issues; patient adherence; patient satisfaction; and legal implications of pharmaceutical conversion. Patient-centered care must always remain central to decisions about pharmaceutical conversion. This article discusses the issues related to, and implications of, pharmaceutical conversion utilizing the antihistamines class of drugs as the case situation.
authors.affiliation: HLS Corp, Little Falls, NJ 07424, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Garbus
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Weinreb
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Orland
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D016527:Drug Costs; D004347:Drug Interactions; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000592:standards*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012894:Sleep Stages; D014481:United States