sticker shock

[cellio]

Good heavens. I had not realized that list price for my allergy medicine is almost $3/day. (My co-pay, fortunately, is 50 cents/day.) C'mon, guys; develop generics! Besides, it would lower my co-pay a bit. :-)

Fortunately, I do not take allergy drugs year-round -- just for about 6 weeks in the summer, starting soon. I have mild allergy symptoms for longer, but I tend to develop immunities to allergy drugs after a while, and I'd rather not do that again.

Comments

[kellev.livejournal.com]

After how long do start to develop an immunity?

[rectangularcat]

You know, last time I tried to quit claritin, I started having a sun allergy. Argh. Well now in the winter, I taper the dosage off to one every two or three days but I don't want to have that red rash again!

It's amazing how expensive that stuff is in the States. I buy Zyctec for my mom (really for my step-dad and siblings) here (it's over the counter) and mail it to them (I physically cross the border and mail it from Blaine, WA). It's 50% of the price her insurance would reimburse her for (25$ CDN for 48 pills of 10mg).

I know Claritin is over the counter now for you, but still it is outrageously priced compared to how much I can get it here for! Weird eh?

I'm sorry, but you are wrong.

[sethcohen.livejournal.com]

It is not up to the generic company as to when a generic hits the market in the United States. It is a matter of FDA approval and patent law.

In the US, drug companies have 20 years on their patents from the date of first discovery. That is, when they declare that they are researching a novel molecular compound, that's when the clock starts ticking. Depending on the drug and how long it takes to make it through the clinical testing and clinical review process, a drug company may only have a few years to market and sell their product before their patent runs out. This is important, as the cost of developing a new drug product in the US is above one hundred million dollars. Yes, I typed that correctly. $100,000,000.00 and up.

The drug molecule is readily available. The drug (as opposed to the delivery system - you know, the thing you swallow) is not usually manufactured by the company whose name is stamped on the tablet. When the patent runs out, all the generic manufacturer has to do is to acquire some of the drug, and put it into a compatible delivery system that matches the dissolution, absorption, and elimination of the brand product. Until that patent runs out, it is illegal to market a generic equivalent for a brand product. Usually, the generic company has already tested their product and has it ready to ship the instant the patent has expired...but they can't ship it before then. It's against the law.

That's how it works. Any questions?

Alergy prescriptions

[alfiechat.livejournal.com]

I used to take claritin d. I was aware that the drug went over the counter, but it slipped my mind the last time i ordered it. When i got to the pharmacy, imagine my surprise when the pharmacist said, that will be 100 some dollars please. I am surprised that i did not fall over right in front of him. Fortunately my doctor prescribed Zyrtec D and it works fine. The only thing i do not liek about it is that i have to take it 2x/day instead of once with the claritin.
However, my prescriptions have co pays of 10 or 15 dollars each time i get them filled. sigh. thank god for tax deductions.