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Generic Substitution and Therapeutic Equivalence of Antiepileptic Drugs: Clinical and Pharmacoeconomic Issues in Epilepsy Management
 

Release Date: December 1, 2006
Expiration Date: December 31, 2008

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

(Neurologists, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants and Nurses)

  • Describe evidence that generic and proprietary antiepileptic drugs may differ in therapeutic effectiveness

(Neurologists, Physician Assistants and Nurses)

  • Evaluate factors, including overall cost burden, that influence treatment choices in managing patients with epilepsy
  • Identify patients with epilepsy who may not be appropriate candidates for treatment with generic antiepileptic drugs

(Pharmacists)

  • Identify potential additional medical costs associated with generic antiepileptic drugs
  • Compare potential cost savings of generic antiepileptic drugs to potential additional medical costs

Program Description

The issue of generic drug substitution is complex and often poorly understood by physicians and pharmacists. Although the FDA requires that two drugs are similar as demonstrated by bioequivalence data, therapeutic equivalence (or therapeutic effectiveness) and bioequivalence are not necessarily the same. In the case of antiepileptic drugs (AED’s), the therapeutic range over which they are effective may be narrow and, although generic substitution of AED’s may be appropriate for some patients with epilepsy, it may represent suboptimal care for others. There may be seizure recurrence or an increase in side effects with the use of generic drugs. In these patients, potential cost savings of generic AED’s must be weighed carefully against potential additional medical costs, such as extra office visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. This program will give an overview of these and other important issues associated with generic substitution of AED’s.

Target Audience

This Program is designed specifically for Pharmacists, Physicians, Physician Assistants,
Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Nurses who treat patients with epilepsy.

Accreditation

ArcMesa Educators is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ArcMesa designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ArcMesa Educators is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education. (UPN 200-000-06-029-H01). Pharmacists will receive 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) for successful completion of this activity.

ArcMesa Educators is an approved provider of continuing education in nursing by the ASNA, an accredited approver by the ANCC Commission on Accreditation. Nurses will receive 1 contact hour for successful completion of this activity.

Learn More

http://www.cmediscovery.com/epilmgnt/index.html