title: Pharmacy and generic substitution of antiepileptic drugs: missing in action?
abstract: Generic substitution of antiepileptic drugs is an issue that is gathering a lot of attention in the neurology community but is not receiving much attention within pharmacy. Several proposals have been drafted that restrict a pharmacist's decision-making in generic substitution. These proposals highlight concerns about the pharmacy community related to generic substitution. Careful consideration needs to be given to these issues by pharmacists and pharmacy professional organizations. Unless pharmacy as a profession takes strong positions in support of a pharmacist's ability to make decisions about pharmacotherapy and addresses many of the pharmacy-related problems of generic substitution, policies that negatively impact pharmacy will be established.
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Welty
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011640:Public Policy; D012957:Societies, Pharmaceutical / Q000592:standards; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants