What note must appear on prescriptions for brand name products to be dispensed?

The requirement for a note on prescriptions for brand name products is crucial in ensuring that the patient's needs are explicitly met. When a prescriber writes "brand necessary" or "brand medically necessary," it communicates that the specific brand is essential for the patient's treatment. This directive protects the patient from receiving a generic substitute that may not have the same therapeutic effect or may cause adverse reactions if the patient is sensitive to a particular ingredient in the generic formulation.

This notation serves as a legal and clinical safeguard, and it ensures that pharmacists and other healthcare providers are aware of the importance of dispensing the specified brand. If this notation is not present, the pharmacist may consider dispensing a generic equivalent, which could lead to potential issues if the patient requires the brand name for medical reasons.

In contrast, without this specific note, the pharmacist might not have sufficient information to make an informed decision, and merely calling for confirmation does not provide the same level of clarity and authority as the prescriber’s explicit instruction. Therefore, the inclusion of "brand necessary" or "brand medically necessary" is an essential requirement in the context of pharmacy law in Delaware, ensuring prescriptions are filled according to the prescriber's intent.