title: Switching from one generic alendronate to another--a common procedure in Poland in the years 2001-2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In clinical ambulatory practice, patients often, rather than discontinuing treatment, change to another one. This study aims to assess the reasons why patients with osteoporosis switch from one alendronate to another with a different brand name.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 747 bisphosphonate-treated patients was performed (651 female, average age 67.3 ± 8.9 years, BMI 26.5 ± 4.0 kg/m(2)). The frequency and reasons for drug switching during the 19.4 ± 13.4 months of observation were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 387 (51.8%) patients, treatment was not changed during the observation period, whereas in 360 (48.2%) patients, at least one drug switch occurred. Almost 40% of patients from that group (138 patients) switched from one alendronate to another alendronate with a different brand name. The most frequent reasons were: adverse event (36.9%), high price of the drug (23.2%) and request of patient (16.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of persistent bisphosphonate-treated patients switch treatment from one alendronate to another. The most frequent reasons for that kind of switching are the occurrence of an adverse event and the high cost of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Disease, Endocrinology and Diabetology, csk MSWiA, WarszawaWarsaw, Poland. edward.frannek@cskmswia.pl
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franek
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tałałaj
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wichrowska
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Czerwieńska
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Filip
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Safranow
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcinowska-Suchowierska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Więcek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019386:Alendronate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057915:Drug Substitution; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011044:Poland; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate