Choosing a drug from within a class.
BACKGROUND
Having decided on a drug class, an individual drug needs to be chosen.


OBJECTIVE
This article discusses the same four factors used in deciding the generic drug within a class as well as between different drug classes: efficacy, safety, suitability, and cost.


CONCLUSIONS
The example of hypertension will be used to illustrate the choice of individual drugs within beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Although a large number of options exist within each class, by considering the above factors, the choice is narrowed to only 1-2 preferred options. These drugs should then be added to the P- or Personal-drug list. By only prescribing agents on the P-drug list, the prescriber will become more familiar with their closing, adverse effects, and interactions, resulting in improved patient outcomes. Also when a new drug becomes available, it clearly needs to be better for the patient in terms of these factors, before it is added to the P-drug list.
Shakib
Sepehr
S
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, South Australia. sshakib@mail.rah.sa.gov.au
George
Alison
A
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D001315:Australia; D003657:Decision Making; D016527:Drug Costs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D007211:Indoles; C052035:trandolapril; D019821:Simvastatin; D001241:Aspirin