Doctors buy cheaper brand for self but prescribe expensive brands for others, Why?

Answer 1

Doctors have to worry about being sued and how their actions will be portrayed in court by plaintiff's attornies. How would it sound in court if the doctor had prescribed an older, less effective antibiotic to save $50 and the patient had something very bad happen? Even if the older antibiotic wasn't the cause, the doctor still risks being found liable.

Answer 2

Not much information in this question. There is no reason to believe doctors would prescribe differently for themselves than anyone else. Why do you believe that this is true? What have you observed? If you believe there is a less expensive alternative for you, why not ask you doctor? Doctors change prescriptions all of the time if it is appropriate. Most doctors only have a vague notion of the cost of medications. What patient pay can vary greatly depending on insurance and pharmacy the medication is purchased from.

What Troy said about doctors getting preferential treatment from pharmaceutical companies is untrue. It would be illegal if doctor accepted that kind of inducement to prescribe specific medications.

Answer 3

For a number of reasons. One being that some doctors have agreements with drug companies for discounts on drugs if they prescribe certain medications.
Another reason though is that the general public will believe whatever they see on TV, so they see an ad and want that drug,even though it is more expensive than an older medication that is just as effective. This is just like when people as for an antibiotic for a viral infection, even though it will do nothing.

Answer 4

Bhasripo,

It is always your right to ask your doctor to, if possible, perscribe a generic instead of a brand name.

There is a very large waiting period between when a medication comes out as a new brand name, and when it can be manufactured as a generic, so sometimes it may only be possible to perscribe the more expensive brand name medication.

Best Wishes

Answer 5

I tend to prescribe cheap in either case, but there's also this example: One of the more popular antibiotics for treatment of pneumonia is azithromycin. It has a broader spectrum and therefore a slightly higher cure rate than the old-fashioned erythromycin, and causes fewer side-effects. I'm willing to take the additional risks with myself but not with my patients, especially since it's going to have occasional failures that I couldn't justify after the fact.

Answer 6

It's all about money, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.