Final answer:
The Approved Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, known as the Orange Book, provides generic substitution equivalence ratings for Lasix (furosemide). It ensures that the generic drug is interchangeable with its brand-name counterpart and meets FDA's standards for safety and efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drug information source that provides generic substitution equivalence ratings for Lasix, which is the generic name for furosemide, is The Approved Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. This publication is maintained by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and offers a list of approved drug products along with their therapeutic equivalency evaluations, which confirms that a generic drug is interchangeable with its brand-name counterpart.
Lasix is a medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure and is classified as a diuretic. Specifically, it works on the loop of Henle in the kidneys, inhibiting the reabsorption of Na* (sodium) and Cl- (chloride), leading to a diuretic effect that can help reduce blood pressure. When seeking a generic version of Lasix, referencing the Orange Book can provide assurance that the selected generic has met the FDA's rigorous standards for therapeutic equivalence.
After the generic drug scandal in the 1980s and 1990s, the FDA enhanced its scrutiny and processes to ensure the safety and efficacy of generic drugs, which now represents a significant proportion of the medications prescribed in the United States.