Medicine: Brand Names & Prices

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When a doctor writes a prescription, he may use either the general chemical name of the drug or the trademarked brand name of some particular manufacturer. The brand-named items usually cost more. Congressional investigators and drug manufacturers who recently debated the merits of the rival methods reached no conclusion. But Connecticut's state welfare department last week took positive action. It issued a list of the 25 trade-named drugs (see box) most commonly prescribed for welfare recipients, and ordered doctors to prescribe by general name "whenever possible." Said Governor Abraham Ribicoff: "The state is not going to pay through the nose for brand-name drugs."

Savings were expected to average 50%. Sample differences in wholesale prices: Dexedrine, $2.65 per 100 v. dextroamphetamine, 44¢; Rubramin, $3.33 per 100 v. vitamin B12, $1.85; Pentids, $1.27 for twelve tablets v. buffered penicillin G, $2.75 per 100. Retail prices would be in about the same proportion. All drugs sold by chemical name must meet the same Government standards of purity and potency as brand-named items. Connecticut was banking on an annual saving of at least $250,000, and Dr. Harold Pierce, the welfare department's medical director, thought the savings might run to $500,000. "This," said he, "is the entering wedge. If welfare recipients get drugs for less, why shouldn't the other 98% of the general public?"

CHEMICAL NAME

Piperazine citrate

Bacitracin ointment

Butabarbital sodium

Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate

Methamphetamine hydrochloride

Dextroamphetamine sulfate

Digitoxin

Ferrous sulfate

Erythromycin

Methenamine mandelate

Magnesium-Aluminum hydroxides

Prednisolone

Prednisone

Pentobarbital sodium

Chloral hydrate

Penicillin G

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate

Rauwolfia serpentina root

Vitamin B-12

Secobarbital sodium

Reserpine

Vitamin B Complex

Therapeutic multiple vitamins

V Mephenesin

BRAND NAME

Antepar

Baciguent

Butisol sodium

Colace

Desoxyn

Dexedrine sulfate

Digitaline Nativelle

Feosol

Ilotycin

Mandelamine

Maalox

Meticortelone

Meticorten

Nembutal sodium

Noctec

Pentids

Peritrate

Raudixin

Rubramin

Seconal sodium

Serpasil

Sur-Bex

Theragran;

Unicap Therapeutic

Tolserol

USE "

Worm infestation

Skin infection

Sedation

Bowel difficulty

Stimulant

Stimulant

Heart stimulant

Iron deficiency

Antibiotic

Urinary antiseptic

Antacid

Arthritis, etc.

Arthritis, etc.

Sedation

Sedation

Antibiotic

Angina pectoris

High blood pressure

Pernicious anemia

Sedation

High blood pressure

Vitamin deficiency

Vitamin deficiency

Muscle relaxant .