US Pharm. 2009;34(6)(Generic Drug Review suppl.):4.
A report from Wolters Kluwer Health revealed that generic prescriptions continue to make significant gains over their branded counterparts and accounted for more than 60% of all U.S. prescriptions filled in 2008. According to Wolters Kluwer Health's analysis, known as Pharma Insight, there were 2.4 billion prescriptions filled for generic drugs and only 1.4 billion for brand-name medications. According to Wolters Kluwer Health's President and CEO, Mark Spiers, "We're close to a point where two out of every three prescriptions filled will be a generic." Spiers believes that patient education, awareness, and changing attitudes account for the increased use of generics. The data also suggest that higher copays for branded drugs are influencing a patient's choice of taking a generic over a brand-name drug. The study also uncovered the fact that there are a number of filled prescriptions not being picked up at the pharmacy. An analysis of 2008 U.S. commercial plan claims shows the number of prescriptions not being picked up increased by 34% nationally compared to 2 years ago. Rx's left behind rose in line with the increase in copays.
