Yes, some medicines may be substituted by your pharmacist. Generic medicines are safe copies of well-known medicines that contain the same active ingredient as the product they are based on, and they are considered just as effective and as safe as the original or brand medicines. Since 2013, the
law in Ireland allows pharmacists to make a substitution in many cases. This is part of getting best value for patients, government and the taxpayer for the price of medicines. Generic medicines usually cost less than the original branded product.
The different version of a medicine is only offered to you if it does the same job as the one on your prescription, if it has been included on an Interchangeable List published by the
Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), and provided that your doctor has not written “Do Not Substitute” on the prescription.
It may not always be possible to switch to a generic medicine. For a small number of products, and for some people, it is not advisable to take different versions of a medicine. Your doctor and pharmacist will tell you if you should not change to a generic version of a medicine you are taking.
Your pharmacist should explain, and you are entitled to ask, about a substitution of medicines compared to what is written on your prescription and about any related pricing of the medicine.
The
HSE website and this
HPRA leaflet both have more useful information about generic medicines.