TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Find low-cost drug options

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: November 8, 2009

WASHINGTON - Last year, pharmaceutical companies spent more than $4 billion urging patients like you to "ask your doctor" about their drugs. But if you want a prescription that won't empty your wallet, while still keeping you well, you might start asking your doctor about drugs you don't see on TV.

For example, AstraZeneca's acid-reflux drug Nexium - the "purple pill" - was the second best-selling drug in the United States last year, with a hefty price tag of about $215 per month. But a drug from the same family, that works the same way, is available over-the-counter for about $20 a month as Prilosec.

Here are some important points to consider when looking to cut your prescription bill.

Why would a cheap drug work as well as a more expensive one?

Because in most cases, drugs that are cheap today were once expensive. Patents on new drugs protect the product for about 20 years, allowing companies to charge the highest price the market will bear. But after the patent expires, generic drugmakers launch cheaper versions.

If older drugs are so great, how come I've never heard of them?

In many cases you probably have, but don't realize it. When branded drugs go generic they lose their proprietary name and go by their scientific name.

But doesn't the Food and Drug Administration make sure new drugs work better than older ones?

No. The FDA does not judge drugs based on how they stack up against older medications. Rather, the agency weighs each drug's benefits against its risks. If the drug appears more beneficial than harmful, the agency is obligated to approve it.

But aren't newer medications safer than older ones?

In some cases, yes. But generally speaking, new medications are more likely to have unexpected side effects.

Shouldn't I just let my doctor make these decisions?

Only a licensed health care professional can prescribe a drug, and you'll want to defer to their judgment. But it's important to understand that physicians may not be completely objective.

The pharmaceutical industry spends about 90 percent of its $20 billion annual marketing budget pitching drugs to doctors, according to one estimate in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

You might want to seek out independent reviews. Earlier this year Consumer Reports - the publishing division of Consumers Union - published its first issue of Best Drugs for Less. The magazine analyzes dozens of studies to make recommendations on the most affordable and effective medications.

Head-to-head comparisons of drugs are rare because of the time and money needed to conduct long-term trials.

"The information is out there, but it's not as much as we need," said Consumers Union analyst Steven Findlay.

That could change under an initiative kicked off earlier this year. The federal government has set aside $1.1 billion to study various medical treatments and see which ones work best, in an effort to cut out costly, ineffective treatments.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT