%0 Journal Article
%T Substituting Generic Lamivudine for Emtricitabine in Virologically Suppressed HIV
%A Amy Jo Harzke
%A Angela Koranek
%A Emily Tong
%A Gwen Baillargeon
%A Maria Diaz
%A Robert Sandmann
%A Stephanie Zepeda
%J Journal of Correctional Health Care
%@ 1940-5200
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1078345818792843
%X This study evaluated the effectiveness of formulary substitution from products or regimens containing name brand emtricitabine to alternative regimens containing generic lamivudine among virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients in a correctional managed health care system. Results of this retrospective cohort study showed that 94.9% of patients switched from emtricitabine to lamivudine (n = 447) and 93.0% of emtricitabine control patients (n = 449) had an undetectable viral load at last available test over a 2-year period. The two groups also showed similar values for CD4 counts, compliance, discontinuation, and M184V mutation; however, a slightly greater proportion of lamivudine patients experienced respiratory symptoms. Nonetheless, this study demonstrates that switching virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients from name brand emtricitabine-containing regimens to generic lamivudine-based regimens may reduce costs without compromising safety or effectiveness in correctional managed health care systems with directly observed therapy
%K emtricitabine
%K lamivudine
%K anti-HIV agents/economics
%K generic/economics
%K generic/therapeutic use
%K drugs
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1078345818792843