Choosing a drug from within a class.

BACKGROUND Having decided on a drug class, an individual drug needs to be chosen. OBJECTIVE This article discusses the same four factors used in deciding the generic drug within a class as well as between different drug classes: efficacy, safety, suitability, and cost. DISCUSSION The example of hypertension will be used to illustrate the choice of individual drugs within beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Although a large number of options exist within each class, by considering the above factors, the choice is narrowed to only 1-2 preferred options. These drugs should then be added to the P- or Personal-drug list. By only prescribing agents on the P-drug list, the prescriber will become more familiar with their closing, adverse effects, and interactions, resulting in improved patient outcomes. Also when a new drug becomes available, it clearly needs to be better for the patient in terms of these factors, before it is added to the P-drug list.