Question 1

What is TEVA?

Accepted Answer

TEVA is an Israeli medical company that operates in the colonial state of Israel and supports its military. TEVA benefits from Israeli apartheid and the occupation of Palestine. As such, TEVA is listed as a pressure target by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS).

Question 2

What has TEVA done?

Accepted Answer

TEVA does business in both Israel and America, committing various war crimes in support of Israel's genocide, and continuously breaking American laws.

Teva monopolizes the pharmaceutical supply chain in the Middle East. Palestinians-owned pharmacies can’t order drugs independently and instead have to make their purchases, often at high prices, from TEVA. During times of increased Israeli aggression, TEVA has withheld life-saving medication from Gaza and the West Bank.

Question 3

What can we do?

Accepted Answer

We have the legal right to request different generic medicines where available. In most cases, these generics are equally effective, and have no difference in cost.

Question 4

What will boycotting TEVA show?

Accepted Answer

Similar to how the boycotts of South African companies led to the end of apartheid, the goal of boycott movements will show that Americans do not want to support genocide. This will, in turn, cause larger pharmacy chains not to renew their contracts with TEVA, and instead source their medicine from different producers. Combined with other boycotts of Israel, this will achieve the goal of forcing Israel to change, or risk collapse due to no economic support.

Question 5

What is a generic drug?

Accepted Answer

"Brand-name" drugs are the expensive versions of medicine. After 20 years, companies are allowed to make "generic" versions, which meet the FDA's guidelines.

A "generic" drug is a medication created to be the same as an already marketed brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration (how you take it), quality, performance characteristics, and intended use. These similarities help to demonstrate bio-equivalence, which means that a generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as the brand-name medicine. In other words, you can take a generic medicine as an equal substitute for its brand-name counterpart.

Question 6

Do generic versions all work the same?

Accepted Answer

By law, generic equivalents for medication must obtain equal bio-availability. This means that the generic company must demonstrate in a laboratory setting that their product generates the same drug concentrations in the body as the brand-name counterparts.

Because of this, all generic alternatives work the exact same in theory, but will have differences in flavoring, color, shape, or size. Large pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens often change the generic medication used based on what they have in stock, without you even knowing!

Question 7

When are generics NOT equivalent to each other?

Accepted Answer

Generics must meet the same FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) standards for safety, quality, strength, purity and efficacy as brand-name drugs. Theoretically, they should be identical.

Sometimes, however, it’s not safe to switch from one generic to another, or from a name brand to a generic. Certain medications have a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) or “safe range” between the benefits and harmful effects of a drug. ALWAYS make sure that you ask your pharmacist what changes to be aware of before switching to a different generic, and if the switch is safe to do.

Question 8

Will the cost change if I switch from TEVA?

Accepted Answer

Most insurances do NOT limit the options for which generic medication a plan will pay for. It is the dispenser, such as Costco, Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart, who is incentivized to purchase the cheapest option. They do this to maximize profit, based on a fixed-rate reimbursement from the insurance.

As such, cost for one generic compared to another should be identical. This is why when you search GoodRX for coupons, you only use the drug name and never have to select a manufacturer.

Question 9

How can I ensure no costs when switching?

Accepted Answer

You have the right to ask a pharmacist for the price of any changed manufacturer of a prescription, and no obligation to pick it up if the price changes. If you cannot afford to obtain a non-TEVA version of a medication, do not put your health in jeopardy.

Question 10

How can I ensure no health risks when switching?

Accepted Answer

You are entitled to a consultation with an on-duty pharmacist at any time during business hours. This means you can either call your pharmacy directly, or stop in their store and ask questions about switching. While most cases of changing generic producers will have no difference, it is important to ask any questions about potential changes that could come from switching the first time you pick up non-TEVA generic.

@GWGVT

Most generic drugs have non-Teva versions that are equally effective and priced.

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