Generic Prenate Elite: An Overview
Prenate Elite® is a
prenatal vitamin (a vitamin/mineral supplement designed for pregnant women). These particular prenatal vitamins are only available with a prescription.
Prenate Elite is made by Sciele Pharma, Inc. Technically, there is no
generic prenatal vitamin that is equivalent to Prenate Elite.
The Trouble With Generic Prenatal Vitamins
Generic prenatal vitamins present an interesting technical problem. Because prenatal vitamins do not need FDA approval, the FDA does not give them "equivalence ratings." These ratings are used by pharmacists to determine which generic products are considered equivalent to brand-name products. In many states, a pharmacist may not dispense a generic in place of a brand-name medication unless the FDA has rated the products to be equivalent. Because prenatal vitamins do not have equivalence ratings, technically, no generic prenatal vitamin is equivalent to any brand-name prenatal vitamin (including
Prenate Elite prenatal vitamins).
However, depending on state laws (and how your healthcare provider writes your prescription), your pharmacist may substitute a generic prenatal vitamin that has the exact same ingredients (in the same amounts) as the brand-name product.
What If My Pharmacy Doesn't Stock Prenate Elite?
There are many different prenatal vitamins available, and a pharmacy cannot possibly stock every single brand.
If your pharmacy does not carry Prenate Elite prenatal vitamins, you have a few different options. You can take your prescription (or have it transferred) to a different pharmacy that carries Prenate Elite; you can have your healthcare provider give you a prescription for a different prenatal vitamin; or you can ask your pharmacy to stock Prenate Elite for you.
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