Author Topic: The Price of Meds . . . (Read 4246 times)

HankB · « **on:** January 26, 2009, 09:04:18 AM »

At my annual eye exam last week, I mentioned to my eye doctor that my allergies were acting up and my eyes were irritated. (A common ailment in Central Texas is "Cedar Fever," caused by the pollen of the mountain cedar tree, which pollinates heavily at this time of year.)

So she prescribed some antihistamine eyedrops.

Great Jumping Jehosephat, are they expensive!!!

A 2.5ml bottle cost $101 (insurance paid 80%), so the price works out to about $40,400 a liter.

BUT . . . it's only a 0.2% solution, so the price of the medication itself is on the order of $20,200,000 a liter!

Yeah, I know there's insurance, R&D and FDA approval costs to amortize, etc., but I still get the feeling that I'm in the wrong business . . .

slugcatcher · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2009, 09:53:31 AM »

You're definitely in the right business. You're just getting the wrong end of it.

AJ Dual · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2009, 10:11:18 AM »

- Ask for generics.
- Ask for alternatives.

Many meds only show a 1-5% increase in effectiveness in the double-blind studies over the existing drug, that's often about to, or did, go generic as the basic patent rights run out on it.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2009, 10:34:20 AM »

I'm taking cholesterol meds right now that cost me $10 a bottle, but I remember taking some non-generic a couple years ago that was something like $90 a bottle. I agree on asking for generics or alternatives.

280plus · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2009, 12:28:50 PM »

Just paid $49 copay on 30 tabs of aciphex.

Marnoot · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2009, 12:30:45 PM »

Quote from: 280plus on January 26, 2009, 12:28:50 PM

Just paid $49 copay on 30 tabs of aciphex.

I'm sure it's a great medicine, but their marketing department really dropped the ball on that one. The only thing better would have been Acirupt.

K Frame · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2009, 12:37:06 PM »

See if she'll describe you straight Patanol. It should be significantly cheaper as I believe it is in generic status now.

AJ Dual · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2009, 01:16:38 PM »

What happens when the drug-companies run out of made-up names?

Especially with the snake-oil "suppliment" industry, "Enzyte" etc. sucking up those word combinations too?

By the time big-pharma comes up with some true miracle pill, say that ends cancer, or heart disease once and for all... they'll have to call it, Barphamax or something...

Don't care · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:00:33 PM »

K Frame · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:03:27 PM »

The drug companies rarely, if ever, come up with the names for new drugs.

The companies they hire to handle their marketing do it.

Don't care · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:27:24 PM »

BridgeRunner · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:35:22 PM »

Quote from: 280plus on January 26, 2009, 12:28:50 PM

Just paid $49 copay on 30 tabs of aciphex.

My gp kept me in samples of that for about eight months for nothing--at least that I paid.

Of course, she also refused to follow the insurer's step protocol, when I wanted to. The whole field is weird and messed up.

K Frame · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2009, 02:39:33 PM »

I realize that.

AJ was talking specifically about the public-facing name.

Atorvastatin calcium doesn't roll off the tongue.

Lipitor does.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2009, 03:25:22 PM »

Quote from: Mike Irwin on January 26, 2009, 12:37:06 PM

See if she'll describe you straight Patanol. It should be significantly cheaper as I believe it is in generic status now.

What good does a description do for him!? He needs the medicine dang it!

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2009, 03:30:35 PM »

Doc changed me from Atenolol to Diovan HCT for BP. $90 a refill with a $70 copay. Yikes! Called and asked very nicely if there was an alternative (giving suggestions voiced by the helpful souls of APS). She changed it to Lisinopril HCTZ. $20 a refill with a $9 copay. Much better.

Brad

K Frame · « **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2009, 03:45:13 PM »

Quote from: MechAg94 on January 26, 2009, 03:25:22 PM

What good does a description do for him!? He needs the medicine dang it!

Uh.... Placebo effect?

Yeah, that's it, placebo effect...

280plus · « **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2009, 05:02:54 PM »

"OK, I'm going to describe a really good but inexpensive medicine to you. Tell me how it makes you feel."

Patanol eh? I'll see about that next time I'm in her clutches.

Scout26 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2009, 05:41:13 PM »

Keep in mind that a little over 50 years ago, there were no drugs for HBP and many other maladies that are routinely treated these days.

Also there are meds that cure what would have then required surgery or were otherwise fatal.

Modern prescription drugs are very inexpensive considering the alternatives.

crt360 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 26, 2009, 07:20:42 PM »

Holy crap, Hank. What did she prescribe for you? Being in Central Texas, I also suffer through the cedar season (and most of the others). I picked up a two-pack of Naphcon-A at H.E.B. the other day for about $5. It does a reasonable job of relieving itchy & irritated eyes. For an extra $95 bucks, whatever you got ought to shrink hemorrhoids, regrow hair, and please the wife in bed.

thebaldguy · « **Reply #19 on:** January 26, 2009, 08:42:36 PM »

My prostate meds are over $300.00 for a three month supply. With insurance, I only pay $75.00. I may be laid off in the future, so I may go online with the 'scrip and pick them up cheaper when my health insurance ends.

K Frame · « **Reply #20 on:** January 26, 2009, 10:01:55 PM »

OK, the owner of the trademark on Patanol has sued the company that put in an application to make the generic, so apparently it's still not on the market.

But, it's very likely still going to be cheaper.

And, if worse comes to worst, in the past I've had a lot of success with Bausch & Lomb allergy drops.

Ryan in Maine · « **Reply #21 on:** January 26, 2009, 11:46:19 PM »

Without prescription programs I'd be dropping $800-900 a month on prescriptions. Closer to $800, I think.

$800 * 12 months = $9600 yearly

Thor · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:16:22 AM »

I'm pretty glad I stayed in until retirement and got my medical when I retired. A $1000/ bottle of medications cost me $21. However, this may not last very long with the new CinC....

Bogie · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:36:05 AM »

Celebrex = celecoxib...

I used to work for Pfizer.

How much do you spend on maintenance/upkeep on your car. A hundred a month on average, assuming it's paid for? Or less?

Do you spend the same on your own maintenance/upkeep?

Uncle Bubba · « **Reply #24 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:42:31 AM »

Quote from: scout26 on January 26, 2009, 05:41:13 PM

Keep in mind that a little over 50 years ago, there were no drugs for HBP and many other maladies that are routinely treated these days.

Also there are meds that cure what would have then required surgery or were otherwise fatal.

Modern prescription drugs are very inexpensive considering the alternatives.

Well put. Said drugs would cost even less if we could get people to stop operating on the OPM Principle.

News:

Author Topic: The Price of Meds . . . (Read 4246 times)