April 15, 2005
What if your medication looks different or has a different name?
The doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and the pharmacists at YKHC and throughout the tribal facilities in Alaska have decided to adopt a statewide formulary. That formulary is a common drug list of medications that all the facilities will carry.
Certain medications are selected from each drug class to be part of that formulary after careful and thorough review. By following this formulary it will make it easier for patients to transfer between tribal health care sites, reduce health care costs and provide adequate medication choices.
Following this new formulary requires us to switch some patients' current medications to another medication in the drug class. These medications are very similar and you should not feel any difference between the new medication and the old medication. The medications will have different names, but the pharmacy will note on the label that the new drug is a replacement for your old medication and you will also receive a notification by letter of the change.
If there is a question of whether you have received the correct medication, please call and talk to a pharmacist in either Bethel or Aniak.
You may also notice some medications that look different inside your bottle, but have the same name on the outside of the bottle. This may be due to a change in the manufacturer of your medication. In this case, the pharmacy will notify you by use of a label on the bottle saying that the medication is the same medication that you have been getting, but color, size, or shape may appear different.
If your medication looks different than in the past and there is no label indicating that it is the same medication, please call your pharmacist in Bethel or Aniak and confirm that it is the correct medication before throwing it away or taking anymore of that medication.
If you have further questions about any of your medications, please ask your doctor or pharmacist. It is our privilege to serve you and help you gain the best health possible.
For questions, please call the Pharmacy at 907-543-6382 or 1-800-478-3321 ext. 6382.