What is DAW1 in prescription terminology?

In prescription terminology, DAW1 indicates that the prescriber has specified that only the brand-name drug is to be dispensed, and no substitution with a generic equivalent is permitted. This designation is significant because it reflects the prescriber’s intent to ensure that the patient receives the specific brand due to considerations such as efficacy, patient tolerance, or individual circumstances that might make the generic formulation unsuitable.

This choice directly communicates the prescriber’s restriction on substitutions, which is essential for pharmacists to abide by when filling a prescription. The use of DAW codes helps to clarify the intentions of healthcare providers and avoids any confusion that might arise regarding whether a pharmacist could provide a generic instead of the branded product. With DAW1, the pharmacist must dispense the prescribed brand-name medication exactly as written, ensuring adherence to the prescriber’s specific guidance.

Other choices stem from different DAW categories or concepts surrounding substitutions and prescriptions. For instance, the concept of mandatory generic alternatives involves different regulatory stipulations often indicated by a separate DAW code (typically DAW0), which encourages the use of generics. Similarly, the emergency prescription discussion does not align with the primary function of DAW categorization, which focuses specifically on substitution preferences.