Sentara to stop pharmaceutical samples

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Many patients are used to trying a drug sample before filling a prescription, but for many Sentara patients that's about to change.

Starting April 1, Sentara physician offices will no longer hand out drug samples, along with a prescription.

Donna Hudgins relies on pharmaceutical samples to help her figure out what works.

"I have had to go through four different medications before I found the right one," Hudgins said. "I think that if I'd just been able to just try the samples, like I did then, I'd know."

Sentara Medical Group Senior Medical Director Dr. Shane Peng said Sentara is encouraging doctors to write generic prescriptions to save time and administrative costs.

"...the burden on the clinics to dispense medications has become so bothersome and so difficult and time consuming that many of our providers are finding it difficult to do," Peng said.

Many of the most popular drug have gone or will soon be generics. Lipitor, the world's most prescribed drug, is now a generic.

Tim Jennings, Sentara vice president of pharmacy services, explained that with so many effective generics, patients simply don't need branded drugs as often as before.

The difference in price between generic and name brand can be hundreds of dollars.

Sentara Medical Group does give its doctors incentives to prescribe generics over branded medications.

Despite the financial savings, Hudgins says losing samples will cause her to lose the ability to make choices about her healthcare. 

"No, I don't think it'll be good for anybody," Hudgins exclaimed.

But, Sentara says it isn't saying their physicians can no longer write brand name drug prescriptions if that's what the patient really wants and wants to purchase.