Avian Flu - How bad could it get?

[DisneyPhD]

I am sorry you are leaving the thread, because you are obviously passionate about the issue.I hope you come back to the thread. I really would like to know (outside of generics) what reasonable help there is out there for folks unable to afford their prescriptions. The one answer that pops into my head would be for the name brand companies to DRASTICALLY reduce their prices for their tried and true off patent medications. The certainly drop them, just not enough. When you are talking a $50 price difference between a brand and a generic for a drug that has been around 10 years or more, the answer for most Americans is a no brainer.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong (or if my info is old) but I belive the patent on drugs is 15 years. So all gerneric drugs would have to be 15 years old, (or more.) That actually is a long time for a medication, especailly because they are contstanly researching and trying to make for effective and less side effects and coming out with new ones. Many medications are really just varations of the old ones. This is a good thing, building on what is working, but making it better.

 

[yeartolate]

15 years sounds about right. I agree, building on what already works is a good thing. R and D is definitly a great thing.

But there should be no need for a senior on a fixed income and a drug regime that works physiologically and financially for them to go into bankruptcy and on welfare in order to by brand name.

I am still looking for a happy medium.

The other side is also if you only want brand name and want an insurance policy to cover it - watch everybody's premiums go through the roof!!!

 

[Papa Deuce]

You know what IS innovative? When a loved one is ill with cancer or other disease. Disease doesn't care if you're a scientist, physicaian, business exec. ditch digger.

Many of you are missing the point.

The point is this: ***Drug Companies CREATE - Generic Houses COPY***

When you are newly diagnosed, or your new baby or future grandchild, what will you do? You will ask: WHAT CAN I DO OR TAKE TO MAKE ME BETTER?

At that point i guarantee you'll be DAMN GLAD there are drug companies out there MAKING A PROFIT so that YOUR loved one has a chance to live! You won't say, "Oh, i can't get that RX filled because its not in Generic and drugs are too expensive."

Like others have said, finding a drug to cure my loved one, or even extend their life, is priceless. I don't give a darn how much a company would profit if it saved my loved one!

You keep saying that. I think people get it, and like me, they just don't care. Generics serve a purpose.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong (or if my info is old) but I belive the patent on drugs is 15 years. So all gerneric drugs would have to be 15 years old, (or more.) That actually is a long time for a medication, especailly because they are contstanly researching and trying to make for effective and less side effects and coming out with new ones. Many medications are really just varations of the old ones. This is a good thing, building on what is working, but making it better.

I believe it's 17 years, but it doesn't start when the drug is approved and in the market, but much earlier in the development process when the patent is first applied for.

 

[rockin_rep]

You keep saying that. I think people get it, and like me, they just don't care.

Thats ok, you don't have to care now.... but you will eventually!!

In the meantime, thanks so much for topping this thread everytime you tell us!

The drug companies are making huge profits on some medications and losing their shirts on others. Then consider the R & D that goes into bringing a drug to market and then it fails in the last of the clinical trials. DH has been involved in conducting clinical trials and sometimes the most promising of drugs end up with no promise at all. I have yet to see a drug company that didn't have 'compassionate' assistance. When I was working as an Occ Health Nurse, one of my employees could not afford the $3000 per month for the Kytril for his 12 year old son undergoing chemotherapy. I contacted a drug rep that we knew and after figuring out a way to circumvent the "HIPAA"" regs, we were able to get him a 3 month supply. Because of privacy issues, a drug rep cannot leave a specific medication with the patients' doctor and say; "this is for Billy". The laws that are in place to "help" often end up being a hindrance.

Yes, there are resources in which to get needed drugs. No one has ever said they think anyone should go without.

But generics are not the way, unless we want to ruin yet another american industry.

Check out my post yesterday about Partnership for Prescription Assistance, yet another way people can get the drugs they need:

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible. Through this site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. To access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by phone, you can call toll-free, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

Hope this helps.

 

[KarenC]

The analogy between generic drugs and the ill health of the American automobile industry is a weak one. There are still plenty of auto manufacturers who make cars that people want to buy--right now the SVU dependent American car makers aren't making what people want to buy. However, people who need to buy personal transportation still have plenty of options. The availability of generic equivalents makes drug manufacturers have to work harder but they won't kill the drug industry.

 

[mafibisha]

By the way, every ER MD (with any skill and insight) can tell you scores of stories where patients died or were needlessly admitted to the hospital becuase they couldn't afford their $6/pill prescription.

Somehow I missed this comment.

You can ask ANY physician and hear stories of people who are NOT helped by their genercis because NOT ALL generics are the same. They are allowed a wider bioavailabity (20% more OR 20% less of the ACTIVE ingredient in the brand name) than the brand names drugs.

So it's possible to get 20% MORE or 20% LESS of the drug that was prescribed. Just think what that can mean. Too little and it won't work as well. Too much and you can have major side affects. In both cases, it can be life threatening.

Not to even mention generics that don't dissolve, or those that dump. Sometimes you can tell by just looking at them in your hand. The coatings, binders, fillers are so chalky and flakey they dissolve almost before you can take them. Not what I want for my health or for those I love.

There are ways to get RX drugs. As others have posted, ask your doctor first for help through the companies via their samples or the companies RX help plans.

What price do you put on YOUR healthcare?????