FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does boycotting Teva mean that I need to stop taking my medication?
No, it is NOT necessary to stop taking your medication in order to boycott Teva. Boycotting means requesting an alternative manufacturer for your generic medication, if an equivalent alternative is available. The actual medication should be the same, but just manufactured by a different company.
You have the legal right to request different generic medicines where available. In most cases, these generics are equally effective, and have no difference in cost.
What is the difference between generic drugs, brand name drugs, and drug manufacturers, and where does Teva fit into that?
Brand Drugs: medications with a ‘brand name’ sold by a drug company under a patent (i.e. “Synthroid”). Because of their ‘brand’ name, these drugs are very expensive.
Generic Drugs: medications created to be exactly the same as an existing brand-name drug in terms of all scientific metrics, but that costs significantly less. You can take a generic drug as an equal substitute for a brand-name drug. TEVA manufactures almost 500 generic medications.
Drug Manufacturer: this is the company that actually makes the drug, whether it is generic or a brand-name drug. TEVA is a drug manufacturer, that makes mostly generic drugs (but also some brand name drugs).
Generic drugs may have multiple manufacturers, while name-brand drugs only have one manufacturer. This means that if TEVA manufactures your generic drug, there will likely be alternative manufacturers who also manufacture the same drug.
What are some generic drugs that TEVA manufactures?
See Teva’s U.S. Generics Catalogue for a complete list. Teva manufactures over 400 generic drugs. The following are some common ones:
Blood pressure meds like losartan, hydrochlorothiazide, carvedilol, amlodipine, metaprolol succinate
Diabetes meds like glipizide
Mental health meds like fluoxetine, duloxetine, venlafaxine, buproprion, methylphenidate
Antibiotics like amaxicillin, augmentin, cephalexin, doxycycline, metronidazole
Levothyroxine (generic for synthroid)
Birth control pills like Sprintec and Junel
Hormone replacement therapy including estradiol and testosterone
Are all generics the same?
Sometimes generics from different manufacturers can feel different. Always make sure to ask your pharmacist if there are any changes to be aware of before switching generic manufacturers.
Will it cost more to request an alternate manufacturer from Teva?
The cost for one generic should be identical to the cost for another, as insurance companies don’t typically limit which generic manufacturer they’ll pay for. (If you are getting quoted a higher cost when you request to switch, it could mean they are offering you the brand name drug, as they have no other generics in stock).
What if my pharmacist refuses to add “No Teva brand medications” to my chart when I call?
When some pharmacists have refused to honor requests to mark “No Teva” in a medical chart, we have had success by calling back at a different time and speaking with a different pharmacist.
I don’t feel comfortable mentioning the boycott to my pharmacist. Can I still make the call?
If you are not comfortable mentioning the boycott or genocide to your pharmacist, it still ok to call and simply ask your pharmacist to mark “No Teva” in your chart because that is your strong preference. You may say that you have a bad reaction to Teva medications (because you know that it supports genocide).
My medication is only available with Teva. Should I still boycott?
We urge you NOT to boycott if Teva is the only manufacturer available for your medication! We believe your medication is more important than boycotting, and there are other ways to support the campaign, such as spreading the word or collaborating with us.
While most drugs manufactured by Teva have equivalents made by other companies, there are some that cannot be replaced by non-Teva manufacturers, such as some inhalers.
Before making any changes to your medication, please discuss with your prescribing physician.
I don’t take prescription medications, or I don’t currently have any active prescriptions. Should I still make the call to my pharmacy?
Yes! You can still make your voice heard. The act of telling your pharmacist to add “No Teva brand medications” to your medical chart still makes an impact and makes it less convenient for the pharmacy to purchase Teva drugs.
Is it antisemitic to boycott Teva Pharmaceuticals?
No. The BDS call for boycott urges action to pressure Israel to comply with international law, and does not have to do with religion at all. Israel has denied Palestinians their fundamental rights and has refused to comply with international law since 1948.
Because Israel’s regime of settler colonialism, apartheid, and occupation of the Palestinian people is only possible due to the support of governments, corporations, and institutions worldwide, Palestinians have called for a global citizens’ response of solidarity with their struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.
Is Teva Pharmaceuticals the same as Teva Sandals?
No. There are three companies named Teva: Teva Pharmaceuticals, Teva Sandals, and Teva Naot (aka Naot Footwear). Only Teva Pharmaceuticals and Teva Naot are based in Israel, and this campaign primarily targets only Teva Pharmaceuticals. Teva Sandals is currently based in the United States and, to our knowledge, has no connection to Israel.