How the search for possible medicine equivalents works
Medicine names and products can differ between countries. Pillintrip helps you look for possible matches using the medicine and countries you select. The results are a starting point for checking information, not a recommendation to use, buy or switch a medicine.
Updated: · Pillintrip editorial team
What you select
Choose a medicine, the country associated with that medicine and the country in which you want to look for a possible match. The selected source country describes the medicine record used in the search; it is not a determination of your physical location. The destination country limits the records considered for that search. The result depends on the information available for those selections.
How possible matches are found
The search compares recorded active ingredients, pharmacological groups and treatment classifications. Some candidates match only by group or treatment classification and can have different active ingredients. It may display full and partial matches. A partial match means that the recorded correspondence is incomplete; a full match describes correspondence in the available records. Neither label by itself establishes clinical equivalence, bioequivalence or interchangeability.
Percentages shown with results describe correspondence in the available database information. They do not establish full product identity and are not a measure of treatment success, safety, product quality or the probability that a medicine is right for you. The first result is not a medical recommendation. Matching depends on the completeness and accuracy of the underlying records. Similar names or a shared ingredient alone do not answer every question needed for a safe substitution.
What needs a separate check
A doctor or pharmacist should compare the exact products before any change. Important details can include active ingredients and their amounts, strength, dosage form, route of administration, release mechanism, salts, other ingredients, indications, contraindications, interactions and local approval. The search does not guarantee that all of these details have been normalised or matched. Even products with the same active ingredient may differ in ways that matter for an individual.
Do not stop or change prescribed treatment on the basis of a search result alone. Bring the medicine name, packaging or leaflet and the possible result to a qualified professional, who can assess your circumstances and current local product information.
Coverage, availability and missing results
Our records do not cover every product, country or change. A result does not confirm that a product is currently stocked, sold, affordable or available to you, and the search does not establish a current price. Check the current product information and availability with a local pharmacy or an appropriate official source.
No result is not proof that no suitable medicine exists. It may reflect a gap, a different name or incomplete information in our records. Conversely, a listed result can need correction or may no longer represent a current local product. We update records as information becomes available, but update times and coverage vary.
Use the same source country and spelling that identify the original record, then check the destination selection. Names can change between markets and records can be incomplete; a search may therefore return a candidate that needs further investigation or no candidate at all.
Compare the actual package and current leaflet, not only the display name. A combination product requires every active ingredient and amount to be checked; modified-release formulations and routes of administration are especially important to distinguish. A healthcare professional can check whether a change is appropriate for the person and local rules.
Corrections and more information
If a record appears incorrect, please tell us the medicine, country and the information that should be checked, with a source if available. Use Contact us or email mod@pillintrip.com. Avoid sending unnecessary personal health information. See our sources, disclaimer and privacy policy for further information.