All specific questions about medications should be directed to a physician or pharmacist. Availability Patients need a physician s prescription to purchase most medications used to treat cardiac conditions. Prior to a long weekend or vacation, patients should make sure that they have enough medication with them. Some patients carry an extra written prescription for emergencies so they can have the medication refilled if they run out while away from home. When traveling abroad, it is a good idea to bring a letter written and signed by one s physician on his or her letterhead identifying the drug, who it is for and what condition it is treating.
Some countries take a very hard look at prescription pills and drugs coming across their borders.
A generic drug is one that is identified by its chemical name rather than its brand name. Most drugs have a generic equivalent drug that contains the same ingredients as the brand-name drug but often costs much less. The process is shorter because the brand-name drug manufacturers already proved to the Food and Drug Administration that the active ingredients are safe and effective. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients and come in the same strength and dosage as their brand-name counterparts. The inactive ingredients such as fillers, binders, coloring, flavoring and pill size are usually different.