Comments on: The Pharmaceutical Scam That Could Cost Your Family Thousands

By: NickDupree

NickDupree — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:38:00 +0000

Common sense and an aversion to Big pharma gaming the system is all that is necessary to end Nexium-type fiascos…

By: Heathermmize1

Heathermmize1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:49:00 +0000

agreed……the issue is that people don’t even try generics.

By: Heathermmize1

Heathermmize1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:47:00 +0000

they did it because they can only hold a patent for so long. so they do this knowing that when the patent runs out, they’ll develop a new product. Prilosec OTC can cost on average $20. Nexium, if covered at all under insurance (many carriers have dropped it because of high cost and over utilization) is a brand drug and wil cost the highest copay. If you’re on a CDHP- consumer driven health plan then you’re paying the full cost. $280 on average per prescription. That’s true dollars! That’s after discounts, etc. So, it costs either you, or your health plan $3,360 per year. You could be spending $240 on Prilosec and would not need to go and get a prescription costing more due to doctor visit costs. THis is a HUGE problem that can be solved!!!!

By: dansadler

dansadler — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:20:03 +0000

If you all are interested in how the scams work, just buy or check out from the library like I did;
Overdo$ed America
The broken promise of American medicine by John Abramson, M.D.
ISBN 0-06-056852-6
Dewey Decimal # 310.973 Published 2004
It is a great read, especially for anybody interested it how the pharmacutical industry works.
I highly recommend this book!

By: dansadler

dansadler — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:20:03 +0000

By: icedlatte

icedlatte — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:52:19 +0000

I LOVE it! Celexa PLUS. I'm actually cracking up at the thought of a marketing meeting at a drug company about that.

Pharmacists usually know all this too, and can be terrific sources of information regarding identical, or therapeutically similar substitutions.

By: NickDupree

NickDupree — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:42:10 +0000

I hear what you're saying, and agree that not everything will work for everyone. But I still believe it's a blatant scam, and that the FDA should not allow companies to market the active ingredient only, and claim it is a new product. That is a very deceptive practice. They should only be able to market Lexapro as Celexa Plus, for example, and that will give patients and doctors an opportunity to HONESTLY evaluate if trying this new version of Celexa would be of clinical benefit.

By: IcedLatte

IcedLatte — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:02:10 +0000

Just because I went to med school and tend to write with a free drug company pen (those fat padded ones are so gentle on my knobbly fingers) doesn't mean that I automatically give evil big Pharma advice. I do feel compelled to spout a few party line caveats.

In general, the generic substitution works, but not always. Some people do react to the inactive isomer in a rather unpleasant way. In other words, some people do every well on Lexapro but react in a very poopy fashion to citalopram/Celexa. I'm a big fan of boring old methylphenidate ER (generic, extended release Ritalin), but those stimulant salts can be weird, especially in kids, who react to them in different ways, with some unpredictable side effects. The branded medication isn't ALWAYS necessarily bad, although in my experience, 98 times out of 100 generics are just fine. And cheap.

Just sayin', talk to your physician about it. I'm always willing to give a generic a whirl, recognizing that cheap doesn't ALWAYS mean better when it comes to medication. Although I recognize that cheap can often be the difference between taking a medication and not taking a medication.

By: Michael Lee Foley

Michael Lee Foley — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:10:17 +0000

I take Lexapro. I think that will change.

Also, talked to Aloha about all of the problems you're dealing with. I noted that firearms always work in solving problems quickly, so I will be getting on a bus soon to solve it all!

By: NickDupree

NickDupree — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:49:54 +0000

The Prilosec / Nexium scam really is incredible. How'd they ever get away with it? If they wanted to market the active ingredient only, why wait until Nexium? They could've formulated Prilosec that way from the beginning! But no, they wanted to wait and use that as an evergreening ploy.

By: Alison Hymes

Alison Hymes — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:44:38 +0000

One of my transplant drugs is about to go generic and the maker has a huge campaign to convince patients that the brand name is better or even essential, I made the mistake of signing up on their site because they promised non-existent gifts and have been inundated ever since with propaganda. My part B. pays for all my transplant drugs so it doesn't cost me but I will request the generic as soon as it is out because my transplant center probably won't, UVA prescribes the most expensive drugs as a rule unless you tell them money matters. How I paid over 700 dollars for Prilosec in a prescription last year……..now I buy OTC generic and save money even though I pay for it myself without coverage….