title: Generic substitution of antiepileptic drugs--a survey of patients' perspectives in Germany and other German-speaking countries.
abstract: In this study, we sought to determine the patients' attitudes towards generic substitution of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and their experiences with the usage of generic antiepileptic drugs in Germany and other German-speaking countries. A questionnaire was designed for a cross-sectional study. Two thousand copies of the questionnaire were delivered with a magazine edited by a patients' organization. Additionally, the questionnaire was placed on the internet platform of another patients' organization. Thirty-two percent of the patients who already experienced a switch to generic AEDs complained of problems with the switch. Patients who answered the magazine survey worried significantly more about generic substitution of AEDs than patients who answered the internet version. Patients who had never switched were more concerned about generic substitution than those who had already switched. Moreover, patients' beliefs differed between the use of generic drugs in acute medical conditions such as pain and infections and the use of generic AEDs in epilepsy.
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Germany.
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Hensler
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Uhlmann
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Porschen
authors: Reiner
authors: R
authors: Benecke
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Rösche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001290:Attitude; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057915:Drug Substitution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D016568:Drugs, Generic