HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 50 MG TABLET IS MOST PRESCRIBED GENERIC DOSAGE FORM IN 1984

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 50 MG TABLET IS MOST PRESCRIBED GENERIC DOSAGE FORM IN 1984 according to Pharmaceutical Data Services' (PDS) just-released Alpha-Gram for May. Following generic hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg in descending order of total Rxs in 1984, PDS noted, were codeine phosphate/acetaminophen (30 mg tabs), penicillin V potassium (250 mg tabs), tetracycline HCl (250 mg caps), furosemide (40 mg tabs), prednisone (5 mg tabs), and erythromycin stearate (250 mg tabs). Also in the top ten most-prescribed generic dosage forms were penicillin V potassium 500 mg tabs and hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tabs at eighth and ninth on the PDS list, followed by dypyridamole 25 mg tabs at tenth. "The Top 10 Generics by dosage form were compiled after reviewing over 15 mil. raw Rxs," PDS reported. "This listing was tabulated by similar dosage forms and chemical entity only -- different salts of similar products were calculated independently, as were calculations for tablets, capsules and suspensions which were not combined." PDS also announced that it has put together a marketing research panel of "over 5,000 pharmacies," which is now producing reports that can project new Rx activity to the sales district level. "In addition to one major subscriber," PDS said, "several other pharmaceutical mfrs. are exploring the possibility of using this unique system for district and regional sales analyses, market testing, sales performance evaluation and sales force deployment." The PDS reports measure "the actual dispensing of Rx drugs to consumers," PDS noted, and, consequently, include data on "companies who do not participate in the warehouse withdrawal system."