Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON EFFICACY, SAFETY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF GENERIC AND BRAND MEDICATION USED IN DIABETIC PATIENTS

T. Sreenivasulu*, D. P. Naga Manikanth, C. Bhargav Reddy, A. Venu Gopal Gupta, R. E. Ugandar, and C. Madhusudhana Chetty

ABSTRACT

Background: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) defines Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic disorder characterized by inappropriate hyperglycemia resulting from defects in Insulin secretion, insulin action or both. Generic medicines are those which contain the same active ingredient in the same quantity as brand name medicine. Brand medicine is the original product that has been developed by a pharmaceutical company. Objectives: To study the efficacy of Brand and generic medications, assess the safety of the Brand and Generic medications, compare the cost effectiveness of Brand and Generic medication use. Methods: A Prospective comparative study was conducted in Santhiram medical college and general hospital, Nandyal from June 2019 to November 2019. First three months we prescribed the Brand diabetic medication (glimipiride+metformin). We observed the FBS, PPBS, HbA1c values and ADR’s. Another three months prescribed the generic diabetic medication (glimiipride+metformin) and observed the FBS, PPBS, HbA1c values and ADR’s. Results: A total of 60 patients completed the study. The results show that efficacy of the both medications was calculated by using chi-square test, the chi-square test shows that p-value of brand and generic medications were significant. The safety of the both medication was same. The price variation among those brand and generic medication as follows; 1mg+500mg -133%, 2mg+500mg - 100%,1mg+1000mg - 110%. Conclusion: The safety of the Generic and Brand medications were same, the efficacy of the Generics and Brand medications were same and Generic medications had a lower price when compared with Brand medications. These results could help in promoting educational interventions aimed at increasing patient and provider confidence in the ability of generic medicines to manage the chronic diseases for better patient outcomes with lesser cost.

Keywords: Diabetes, Generic medication, Brand medication, Safety, Efficacy, Cost effectiveness.