paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

As I stated before I am a retired pharmacist and when I started in pharmacy you could purchase 100 colchicine for $5 and now it is $1000 for the same 100 pills. The pills of yesteryear were made by Lilly and these are a generic drug. Well someone bought the drug rights from them and raised the price to $1000. So I checked around and from Canada they are $35 DOLLAR plus $15 for shipping and insurance so I got an Rx from the doctor and sent to Canada for it. Be careful though and only deal with a pharmacy that sells drugs that are made in Canada. BTW this drug is not covered under medicare in the US so you will have to pay cash.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Hello again Trix. First of all, I stated and still believe doctors twenty years ago did push Lipitor more than encouraging healthier eating and regular exercise programs. Twenty years ago it was common to see pharmaceutical representatives in the doctors waiting room on a regular basis encouraging doctors prescribe their products. Twenty years ago pharmaceutical representatives did distribute promotional items to doctors who prescribed their products. Pharmaceutical companies did hold expense paid conferences in exotic vacation locations for doctors, (they may still for all I know). As you suggested I checked my records for 1-2?-2018 for cholesterol and found my total count is 154. All other counts are well within the good ranges. That's hopefully from not smoking, drinking, or using drugs. Unfortunately because damage to my nerves that control my legs caused from Lipitor, my exercise level is not what I would want it to be. I also understand that the makers and distributors of Lipitor are now facing a class action law suit as a result of the drugs alleged side affects. Shortly I will hobble off to my garage to work on my John Deere until I can't stand any longer, which won't be long. If you think I have a disregard for Lipitor, your right. I don't have a disregard for you or other doctors who are trying their best to provide health care to me and others. In life I managed trucking companies. If I wanted to buy 10-15 power units for our use, the providers would offer me incentives to purchase their product on a regular basis. Some of their incentives were paid trips for my wife and I. So I know it happens.

pendennis

U.S. corporations, especially in the pharmaceutical business have many more costs to consider, than the average consumer products makers.

As mentioned, the research and development costs, including testing, are really expensive. The development of new drugs is measured in years, and not months. The FDA is slow, almost to a fault in many instances, when it comes to approvals. The more time from development to sale, the more expensive the manufacturers' costs. The time value of money comes into play here, and no company likes to sit on sunk costs.

If a drug is patented (and they usually are), the company has a certain amount of years to recoup their costs. The longer the development time, the shorter the recovery period.

After the patent expires, and the "generic" companies get into the manufacture, there come the slight changes by each maker, because they may believe that theirs is the "right answer" to the original product. That's why generics don't always have the same side effects, etc.

The above works fine within the U.S. However, when the original maker, under their patent, attempts to export the drug to other countries, their governments do not necessarily recognize the R&D and testing costs by the original maker. The exporter is forced to sell at manufacturing costs plus mark-up.

Now, guess who eats those costs when a foreign country denies the exporter its due? For instance, Canada refuses to recognize those sunk costs by American companies. And they're just one of the foreign countries who engage in these practices. That's why it can be cheaper to get a drug from a Canadian pharmacy, compared to a U.S. pharmacy.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

It now takes many years less to get a new drug approved than it did in the 60's or 70's They have reduced the years of research required to get a new drug to market. The problems we now more drugs on the market that more harmful to the public than those of yesteryear. It was not such a hurried up process to get the drugs to market and the consumer was actually better protected.
To be considered a generic drug the active ingredient has to be identical to the original drug in chemical structure. ASA has to be ASA but they do not have to have the same fillers in the drugs and sometimes those different fillers can make a difference in the actions of the drugs. There are other factors other than chemical structure that determine the actions of the drug. Even the coatings on the pills can make a difference. How the coating is dissolved in the digestive system may make a difference.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

This is Los Angeles, and it's bass ackwards. Most Walgreens are trying to be competitive, and will help advise and assist you. CVS is BadBoss 101. Managers compete to lower costs, which means less workers with less hours, and higher prices. The pharmacies close early. 90 degrees outside means about 100 inside- they turned the AC off. After 8pm there's usually 2 people left- the one at the register and the one in the office.
The 24hour ones are better, the others suck. We go to Costco or Walmart.

daddybear Loc: Brunswick, NY

A lot of transplant recipients and those with chronic illiness use a pharmacy in India. It is called All Day Chemist. Excellent reputation, very good customer service and many payment options..

DJ Mills Loc: Idaho

Ditto

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Especially U.S. corporations. Why does it cost $20 at Walmart, and $120 at CVS? Walmart isn't hosting a loss leader! Some of the major costs here include supporting millionaire directors, lawyers, office staff and rent, and stockholders- GeorgeW estimated it came out to @ 65%. I can go to Mexico from here, and I'm supporting Jose and his wife at their owned store, buying the same products from USA I'd get here. Or I go online, and I'm supporting some office folk and a website for drop shippers.
BTW EpiPens went up again. This kind of market and stock manipulation, and monopolistic practices, used to be considered illegal, immoral, unethical, and shameful. The last couple years, it's just considered good business.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Many of the pharmacies in Canada use drugs that are brought in from all around the world. The plus is they screen the drugs effectiveness for you. They might not be the cheapest though. TBS. Sometimes when all we think about is price we might do us better to purchase where they will benefit us in the long run. I do not recall anywhere those people in India have increased our medical benefits by developing a new drug but they do want to capitalize on our money. But if that is all you can afford please do. But if you are a millionaire and just want to save a buck--shame on you. There are many companies that want to benefit but not contribute. The pharmacy that I use in Canada sells only drugs that are made in Canada and they might not be the cheapest but I would rather give them the $10 extra for that assurance.