Brand-Name Drugs Continue Price Surge

[OhioChick]

Sleep Aid Ambien Makes Largest Increase
POSTED: 8:33 pm EST March 4, 2008
UPDATED: 9:10 pm EST March 4, 2008

WASHINGTON -- An advocacy group has found that prices of common brand-name drugs rose an average 7.4 percent last year.

The AARP said the increase was about 2.5 times overall inflation. It affects medicines most commonly prescribed to the elderly.

All but four of the 220 brand-name prescriptions in the study had price increases during last year. Among the top 25 drug products, the sleep aid Ambien had the largest price increase, 27.7 percent.

AARP has tracked drug prices going back to 2002. Specifically, it looks at prices charged to wholesalers. It notes that price increases have been slightly greater since the Medicare drug benefit started in January 2006.

AARP officials said that since the drug benefit began, public outcry over pricing has diminished, thanks to the federal government picking up much of the tab for covered medicine. They said that's given manufacturers the "green light" to hike prices.

http://www.newsnet5.com/health/15493509/detail.html

Nice to hear that big pharma will continue to line their pockets. :sarcasm:

[Echo In Light]

1. Profits over people! The American Way!

[DainBramaged]

2. Target, generics are $4-$12 for 30 day supply, no higher

They have nearly 500 now. They have made my life easier.

[notadmblnd]

3. I find myself wondering just what percentage of these brand name drugs

actually do people any good? I often listen to commercials for many of them, and the side effects seem worse than the diseases they are supposed to treat.

[Echo In Light]

4. Common quinolone/fluoroquinolone antibiotics are prescribed like candy

And using them, such as Cipro and Levaquin, can result in crippling, painful tendinitis/tendon rupture.

[spinbaby]

6. I always figure...

...that the more it's advertised, the more likely it is to kill you.

[PA Democrat]

5. Those endless, nauseating TV ads are EXPENSIVE!

Come on, show a little sympathy for those big pharma CEOs. They gotta make a living too, you know! :sarcasm: