Cost of drugs...

[Qikdraw]

While I was away on vacation in Canada to visit my mother I ran out of Gabapentin, but I went and saw a doc and found that my medical card still worked. (I was prepared to pay) So I saw a doc and he filled out a new perscription for it. When I paid for it I was shocked. It was only $75 (for 100 tablets), which in US dollars is about $63. Since I lost my insurance I've been paying $129 US for 90 tablets.

Why is it so much more expensive here in the US than in Canada for the same pills? This really irks me.

[LindaRacine]

This is something that's been in the news on and off for several years. Here's an AARP issue brief that answers your question (and them some!):

http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/ib62_can_rx.pdf

[Qikdraw]

Thanks Linda! This does have some good info, although I'm thinking it may be a little dated. Has anything changed with the perscription drug plans here in the US? This study seems to be before that went into effect, which would change some of the data around.

I did find it worrying on one issue it talked about in that the US is the country that uses the most perscription drugs in the world. We have 305 million people in a world populated by 6.7 billion and we use the most drugs. This isn't good.

[green m&m]

qikdraw,

have you tried using costco/sams club/BJ's pharmacies?

You don't have to be a member at any of those to get meds there and the costs even w/o insurance are much cheaper. Costo gives you a discount in addition to the already low cost if you are a member. A precription I filled there b/c my insurance only allows 12 pills vs the 60 I was prescribed was 60 something before I became a member and when I purchased a membership it was 50 something. I think retail price of that drug odasetron ODT (generic zofran) is nearly 10 times that w/o insurance.

Though the US is 'over-precribed' I wondere if some of that number should be compared directly to other countries since we have tougher drug regulations than most. Lots of drugs that are over the counter/behind the counter in other countries are prescription here so if those are included, the number might be significantly skewed. Tylenol 1 are behind the counter in canada,... anything w/ even a smidgin of narcotic are schedule II in the US...

[loves to skate]

BJ's in the North East no longer has pharmacies. I get all my generics at Hannaford's (grocery chain out of Maine) at $10.99 for a three month supply. My problem is getting my spine Dr. to write a three months prescription for gabapentin. Anyway, there are plenty of places to get inexpensive prescriptions in the USA. I know Wallmart sells a lot of prescriptions at a reduced rate. Hope this helps. Sally

[Qikdraw]

Coscto is a good idea, I'll have to check them out and see how much cheaper it will be.