What does DAW 3 signify in terms of medication dispensing?

DAW 3 indicates that substitution is allowed, but a brand-name medication is filled instead of its generic counterpart. This situation typically arises when a prescriber indicates a preference for the brand name on the prescription, but the pharmacy has the discretion to fill the prescription with the brand product despite the availability of a generic version.

Understanding this concept is essential for pharmacy technicians as it aligns with how prescriptions are managed in practice. If the brand product is dispensed, it reflects a situation where the pharmacy respects the prescriber's intent or the patient’s specific needs, while also adhering to the rules regarding substitution. This choice emphasizes the flexibility pharmacies often have in dispensing medications, allowing them to cater to individual patient preferences or potential therapeutic advantages of the brand name over generic equivalents.