Active ingredient-based recipe
Doctors usually write prescriptions based on the active ingredient in the medication. At the pharmacy, you can choose the most affordable option from among medications from different manufacturers; their effects are exactly the same.
What is the active ingredient in a medicine?
Medicines consist of active ingredients and excipients. The active ingredient is what has the desired effect on the body. The other ingredients, or excipients, give the medicine its appropriate form, taste, color, and other properties.
Medicines with the same active ingredient are of equal quality and safety!
What is an active ingredient-based recipe?
On an active ingredient-based prescription, the doctor writes the name of the active ingredient contained in the medicine, not the commercial name of the medicine. This allows you to choose the most affordable medicine with the same active ingredient from among those available at the pharmacy.
All doctors are required to issue prescriptions in this format, unless there is a specific medical reason to prescribe a medicine from a particular manufacturer.
If medicines containing the same active ingredient are available in Estonia from several manufacturers, the pharmacist must also inform you of other suitable medicines and their prices.
Always ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine can be replaced with a cheaper version containing the same active ingredient.
Sometimes, for medical reasons, a doctor may write the commercial name of the medicine on the prescription and mark it "Do not substitute." In this case, the pharmacist is not allowed to substitute the medicine. If the doctor does not allow the medicine to be substituted, they must also explain the reason for this prohibition to you.
On an active ingredient-based prescription, the doctor writes the name of the active ingredient contained in the medicine, not the commercial name of the medicine. This allows you to choose the most affordable medicine with the same active ingredient from among those available at the pharmacy.
All doctors are required to issue prescriptions in this format, unless there is a specific medical reason to prescribe a medicine from a particular manufacturer.
If medicines containing the same active ingredient are available in Estonia from several manufacturers, the pharmacist must also inform you of other suitable medicines and their prices.
Always ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine can be replaced with a cheaper version containing the same active ingredient.
Sometimes, for medical reasons, a doctor may write the commercial name of the medicine on the prescription and mark it "Do not substitute." In this case, the pharmacist is not allowed to substitute the medicine. If the doctor does not allow the medicine to be substituted, they must also explain the reason for this prohibition to you.
On an active ingredient-based prescription, the doctor writes the name of the active ingredient contained in the medicine, not the commercial name of the medicine. This allows you to choose the most affordable medicine with the same active ingredient from among those available at the pharmacy.
All doctors are required to issue prescriptions in this format, unless there is a specific medical reason to prescribe a medicine from a particular manufacturer.
If medicines containing the same active ingredient are available in Estonia from several manufacturers, the pharmacist must also inform you of other suitable medicines and their prices.
Always ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine can be replaced with a cheaper version containing the same active ingredient.
Sometimes, for medical reasons, a doctor may write the commercial name of the medicine on the prescription and mark it "Do not substitute." In this case, the pharmacist is not allowed to substitute the medicine. If the doctor does not allow the medicine to be substituted, they must also explain the reason for this prohibition to you.
On an active ingredient-based prescription, the doctor writes the name of the active ingredient contained in the medicine, not the commercial name of the medicine. This allows you to choose the most affordable medicine with the same active ingredient from among those available at the pharmacy.
All doctors are required to issue prescriptions in this format, unless there is a specific medical reason to prescribe a medicine from a particular manufacturer.
If medicines containing the same active ingredient are available in Estonia from several manufacturers, the pharmacist must also inform you of other suitable medicines and their prices.
Always ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine can be replaced with a cheaper version containing the same active ingredient.
Sometimes, for medical reasons, a doctor may write the commercial name of the medicine on the prescription and mark it "Do not substitute." In this case, the pharmacist is not allowed to substitute the medicine. If the doctor does not allow the medicine to be substituted, they must also explain the reason for this prohibition to you.
Make a smart choice at the pharmacy
Under "Prescriptions and medical devices," you can see how much you could have saved on each medication you purchased. Choosing a less expensive medication with the same active ingredient can help you save money.
Important to know
- You can view your prescriptions under "Prescriptions and medical devices."
- All questions related to subsidized medicines will be answered by the Health Insurance Fund's customer service line at 669 6630 and the family doctor's advice line at 634 6630.
Important to know
- You can view your prescriptions under "Prescriptions and medical devices."
- All questions related to subsidized medicines will be answered by the Health Insurance Fund's customer service line at 669 6630 and the family doctor's advice line at 634 6630.