engleski

SWITCHING THE ORIGINAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC WITH GENERIC ONE - DO WE THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES TO THE PATIENTS?

Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center, Rijeka, Croatia The universal pressure on national health insurance companies to contain pharmaceutical expenses have led to increased prescribing of generic drugs, in addition to lowering their prices. Moreover, in Croatia, it is legal for general practitioners (GP) and pharmacists to switch the original drug with the generic one with the aim to cut the expenses. Drug costs can be reduced once multiple sources are available. Numerous studies were undertaken to determine the comparability of generic products with originals in all the aspects, the results being mostly favourable for generic drugs. However, there are many clinical observations pointing to the fact that in some cases the replacement of original drug with the generic one resulted in relapses in schizophrenic/psychotic patient. This paper presents a case report of a schizophrenic patient who suffered a relapse of the disease after 7 years of stable remission following the switch of original atypical antipsychotic drug (olanzapine) to a generic one. The switch had been initiated by his GP. The consequences of the switch upon patient’s mental status as well as possible contributing factors are discussed in this case report.

antypsychotic ; original ; generic

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