Final answer:
The abbreviation DAW stands for 'Dispense as Written' and is used to indicate that a brand name drug must be dispensed instead of a generic equivalent. This is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abbreviation DAW stands for 'Dispense as Written.' It is used to indicate that a brand name drug must be dispensed instead of a generic equivalent. The use of DAW is important because generic drugs may not have therapeutic equivalence to their brand-name counterparts.
This is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In some cases, a healthcare professional may specify that a brand name drug must be dispensed instead of a generic one due to patient-specific reasons or concerns about the generic's efficacy.