Outrageous Prescription Drug Prices

[Guest guest]

I am reposting this from another group I'm on. It's about

prescription drug prices. It's unbelievable!

The following is incredible. Make sure to keep reading to the bottom

where

>it discusses Costco, Sam's Club, etc.

>

>

>

>The women who wrote this email and signed below are Federal Budget

>Analysts in Washington, DC

>

>Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active

>ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must

cost a

>lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We did a

>search of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active

>ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have revealed

in

>past issues of " Life Extension, " a significant percentage of drugs

sold

in

>the United State contain active ingredients made in other countries.

>

>In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies

really

>make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in

some of

>the most popular drugs sold in America.

>

>The chart below speaks for itself.

>

>Celebrex 100 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27

>Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60

>Percent markup: 21,712%

>

>Claritin 10 mg

>Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17

>Cost of general active ingredients: $0.71

>Percent markup: 30,306%

>

>Keflex 250 mg

>Consumer Price (100 tablets): $157.39

>Cost of general active ingredients: $1.88

>Percent markup: 8,372%

>

>Lipitor 20 mg Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37 Cost of general

active

>ingredients: $5.80 Percent markup: 4,696%

>

>Norvasec 10 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $188.29

>Cost of general active ingredients: $0.14

>Percent markup: 134,493%

>

>Paxil 20 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27

>Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60

>Percent markup: 2,898%

>

>Prevacid 30 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77

>Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01

>Percent markup: 34,136%

>

>Prilosec 20 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $360.97

>Cost of general active ingredients $0.52

>Percent markup: 69,417%

>

>Prozac 20 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets) : $247.47

>Cost of general active ingredients: $0.11

>Percent markup: 224,973%

>

>Tenormin 50 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $104.47

>Cost of general active ingredients: $0.13

>Percent markup: 80,362%

>

>Vasotec 10 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $10237

>Cost of general active ingredients: $0.20

>Percent markup: 51,185%

>

>Xanax 1 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79

>Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024

>Percent markup: 569,958%

>

>Zestril 20 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets) $89.89

>Cost of general active ingredients $3.20

>Percent markup: 2,809%

>

>Zithromax 600 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19

>Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78

>Percent markup: 7,892%

>

>Zocor 40 mg

>Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27

>Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63

>Percent markup: 4,059%

>

>Zoloft 50 mg

>Consumer price: $206.87

>Cost of general active ingredients: $1.75

>Percent markup: 11,821%

>

>Since the cost of prescription drugs is so outrageous, I thought

everyone

>I knew should know about this. Please read the following and pass it

on.

>It pays to shop around. This helps to solve the mystery as to why

they

>can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner.

>

>On Monday night, Steve , an investigative reporter for Channel

7

>News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug price gouging by

pharmacies.

>He found in his investigation, that some of these generic drugs were

>marked up as much as 3,000% or more. Yes, that's not a typo .. three

>thousand percent! So often, we blame the drug companies for

>the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in this case,

the

>fault clearly lies with the pharmacies themselves For example, if

you had

>to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you might pay

$100

>for 100 pills. The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the

generic

>equiva-lent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are

> " saving " $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that those

100

>generic pills may have only cost him $10!

>

>At the end of the report, one of the anchors asked Mr.

whether or

>not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this practice,

and

>he said that Costco, Sam's Club and other discount volume stores

>consistently charged little over their cost for the generic drugs. I

went

>to the discount store's website, where you can look up any drug,

>and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are

consistent

>with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you one example

from

>my own experience, I had to use the drug, Comparing, which helps

prevent

>nausea in chemo patients. I used the generic equivalent, which cost

>$54.99 for 60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I

could

>have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I paid

>$72.57. I could have got 150 at another discount store for $28.08. I

>would like to mention, that although these are a " membership " type

store,

>you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions there, as it is

a

>federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door that

you

>wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in.

>

>I am asking each of you to please help me by copying this letter,

and

>passing it into your own email, and send it to everyone you know

with an

>email address.

>

>Sharon L. , Budget Analyst, US Department of Commerce Room 6839

>Office Ph: ; Office Fax: Email Address:

>sdavis@docgov

>

> Palmer, Budget Analyst, Bureau of Economic Analysis Office of

>Budget & Finance; Voice:

[Guest guest]

It's not the ingredients that cost so much, it's the years of research. The

govt allows no competition for so many years so the drug companies can

recoup some of their investment. I'm not saying it's right, just saying

that's why. I just paid, well, insurance did, $3400 for Tobi for my son.

That's for 2 14-day treatments. We use generic whenever possible.

Sue & Jack, worn out parents to the greatests kids on earth, Las Vegas, NV--

(14) & Billy (13)--both with Leigh's Disease (?), MR (mild), g-tube.

Billy--fundo, trach (larynotracheomalacia), vent 24/7, spinal fusion,

baclofen pump. Chris-no left hip socket! Visit us!

http://members.cox.net/jscb

> I am reposting this from another group I'm on. It's about

> prescription drug prices. It's unbelievable!

[Guest guest]

Saying that the ingredients are cheap does nothing to indicate the

real cost of producing drugs (Oil is just sitting in the ground

for free, but costs over $2 a gallon at the pump). There are a lot of

things that happen between the barrels of chemicals coming in to pills

going out the door. As an old ad for a big pharmaceutical company said

" The one you take is never tested. " There are lots of people and

systems in place making sure that any drug you take (even generics)

are correct for safety, integrity, strength, purity, and quality.

If you haven't guessed, I do work in the industry and lots of us truly

believe we are doing important work that makes peoples lives better.

Three of my kids and my father depend on drugs that come right from

the plant I visit every day.

As I recently posted in this forum, you can go to

www.helpingpatients.org and find many programs to help people buy the

medicines that they need. What other segment of healthcare does this?

I'll get off my soapbox now.

Rod

>

> I am reposting this from another group I'm on. It's about

> prescription drug prices. It's unbelievable!

>

>

>

> The following is incredible. Make sure to keep reading to the bottom

> where

> >it discusses Costco, Sam's Club, etc.

> >

> >

> >

> >The women who wrote this email and signed below are Federal Budget

> >Analysts in Washington, DC

> >

> >Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active

> >ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must

> cost a

> >lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We did a

> >search of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active

> >ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have revealed

> in

> >past issues of " Life Extension, " a significant percentage of drugs

> sold

> in

> >the United State contain active ingredients made in other

countries.

> >

> >In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies

> really

> >make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in

> some of

> >the most popular drugs sold in America.

> >

> >The chart below speaks for itself.

> >

> >Celebrex 100 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60

> >Percent markup: 21,712%

> >

> >Claritin 10 mg

> >Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.71

> >Percent markup: 30,306%

> >

> >Keflex 250 mg

> >Consumer Price (100 tablets): $157.39

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.88

> >Percent markup: 8,372%

> >

> >Lipitor 20 mg Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37 Cost of general

> active

> >ingredients: $5.80 Percent markup: 4,696%

> >

> >Norvasec 10 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $188.29

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.14

> >Percent markup: 134,493%

> >

> >Paxil 20 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60

> >Percent markup: 2,898%

> >

> >Prevacid 30 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01

> >Percent markup: 34,136%

> >

> >Prilosec 20 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $360.97

> >Cost of general active ingredients $0.52

> >Percent markup: 69,417%

> >

> >Prozac 20 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets) : $247.47

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.11

> >Percent markup: 224,973%

> >

> >Tenormin 50 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $104.47

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.13

> >Percent markup: 80,362%

> >

> >Vasotec 10 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $10237

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.20

> >Percent markup: 51,185%

> >

> >Xanax 1 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024

> >Percent markup: 569,958%

> >

> >Zestril 20 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets) $89.89

> >Cost of general active ingredients $3.20

> >Percent markup: 2,809%

> >

> >Zithromax 600 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78

> >Percent markup: 7,892%

> >

> >Zocor 40 mg

> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63

> >Percent markup: 4,059%

> >

> >Zoloft 50 mg

> >Consumer price: $206.87

> >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.75

> >Percent markup: 11,821%

> >

> >Since the cost of prescription drugs is so outrageous, I thought

> everyone

> >I knew should know about this. Please read the following and pass

it

> on.

> >It pays to shop around. This helps to solve the mystery as to why

> they

> >can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner.

> >

> >On Monday night, Steve , an investigative reporter for

Channel

> 7

> >News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug price gouging by

> pharmacies.

> >He found in his investigation, that some of these generic drugs

were

> >marked up as much as 3,000% or more. Yes, that's not a typo ..

three

> >thousand percent! So often, we blame the drug companies for

> >the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in this

case,

> the

> >fault clearly lies with the pharmacies themselves For example, if

> you had

> >to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you might

pay

> $100

> >for 100 pills. The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the

> generic

> >equiva-lent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are

> > " saving " $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that those

> 100

> >generic pills may have only cost him $10!

> >

> >At the end of the report, one of the anchors asked Mr.

> whether or

> >not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this practice,

> and

> >he said that Costco, Sam's Club and other discount volume stores

> >consistently charged little over their cost for the generic drugs.

I

> went

> >to the discount store's website, where you can look up any drug,

> >and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are

> consistent

> >with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you one

example

> from

> >my own experience, I had to use the drug, Comparing, which helps

> prevent

> >nausea in chemo patients. I used the generic equivalent, which cost

> >$54.99 for 60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I

> could

> >have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I paid

> >$72.57. I could have got 150 at another discount store for $28.08.

I

> >would like to mention, that although these are a " membership " type

> store,

> >you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions there, as it

is

> a

> >federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door that

> you

> >wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in.

> >

> >I am asking each of you to please help me by copying this letter,

> and

> >passing it into your own email, and send it to everyone you know

> with an

> >email address.

> >

> >Sharon L. , Budget Analyst, US Department of Commerce Room

6839

> >Office Ph: ; Office Fax: Email Address:

> >sdavis@docgov

> >

> > Palmer, Budget Analyst, Bureau of Economic Analysis Office of

> >Budget & Finance; Voice:

[Guest guest]

> It's not the ingredients that cost so much, it's the years of research. The

> govt allows no competition for so many years so the drug companies can

> recoup some of their investment. I'm not saying it's right, just saying

> that's why.

I guess I don't even have a problem with the drug companies making huge amounts

of profit. If enormous profits were not available, then investors would not pour

huge

amounts of money into research. More drugs go bust than make money. New drugs

are more common in countries where large profits are available. People who

invest

money into drug companies are taking huge risks. Let them have their money so

we

can find new drugs to help us.

There are also a lot of people who complain that drugs are more expensive when

you're hospitalized. That's true. It has a lot to do with needing to keep many

more

meds available than a pharmacy would have (and many will spoil before use but

must

be paid for). Also, drugs must be individually packaged and dispensed. The

checks

and balances are enormous but are necessary for patient safety. It is usually

NOT the

ingredients that cost so much---it is the human expense that is so great.

[Guest guest]

Please do.

I would add that the drug companies give breaks to other countries

while we (American's) are left with huge bills. The government (OUR

tax dollars) subsidizes many of the studies necessary for these drugs

to be discovered and tested. All one has to do is turn on the TV to

see that it is the designer drugs that are what many drug companies

advertise, and research. The profits are huge, and should be because

these drugs are not really necessary. However, the drugs that are

used to sustain life or treat horrible diseases should not bankrupt

those who need it when the same drug is provided in another country

for substantially less.

As to the comment about " what other segment of healthcare does this "

all I can say is that where I live there are free clinics for the

indigent. Many doctors and nurses volunteer their time. There are

also many agencies where people work for less money than they would

in a hospital setting so that they can help those that need it most.

> >

> > I am reposting this from another group I'm on. It's about

> > prescription drug prices. It's unbelievable!

> >

> >

> >

> > The following is incredible. Make sure to keep reading to the

bottom

> > where

> > >it discusses Costco, Sam's Club, etc.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >The women who wrote this email and signed below are Federal

Budget

> > >Analysts in Washington, DC

> > >

> > >Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the

active

> > >ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must

> > cost a

> > >lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We

did a

> > >search of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active

> > >ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have

revealed

> > in

> > >past issues of " Life Extension, " a significant percentage of

drugs

> > sold

> > in

> > >the United State contain active ingredients made in other

> countries.

> > >

> > >In our independent investigation of how much profit drug

companies

> > really

> > >make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in

> > some of

> > >the most popular drugs sold in America.

> > >

> > >The chart below speaks for itself.

> > >

> > >Celebrex 100 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60

> > >Percent markup: 21,712%

> > >

> > >Claritin 10 mg

> > >Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.71

> > >Percent markup: 30,306%

> > >

> > >Keflex 250 mg

> > >Consumer Price (100 tablets): $157.39

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.88

> > >Percent markup: 8,372%

> > >

> > >Lipitor 20 mg Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37 Cost of

general

> > active

> > >ingredients: $5.80 Percent markup: 4,696%

> > >

> > >Norvasec 10 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $188.29

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.14

> > >Percent markup: 134,493%

> > >

> > >Paxil 20 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60

> > >Percent markup: 2,898%

> > >

> > >Prevacid 30 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01

> > >Percent markup: 34,136%

> > >

> > >Prilosec 20 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $360.97

> > >Cost of general active ingredients $0.52

> > >Percent markup: 69,417%

> > >

> > >Prozac 20 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets) : $247.47

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.11

> > >Percent markup: 224,973%

> > >

> > >Tenormin 50 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $104.47

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.13

> > >Percent markup: 80,362%

> > >

> > >Vasotec 10 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $10237

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.20

> > >Percent markup: 51,185%

> > >

> > >Xanax 1 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024

> > >Percent markup: 569,958%

> > >

> > >Zestril 20 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets) $89.89

> > >Cost of general active ingredients $3.20

> > >Percent markup: 2,809%

> > >

> > >Zithromax 600 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78

> > >Percent markup: 7,892%

> > >

> > >Zocor 40 mg

> > >Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63

> > >Percent markup: 4,059%

> > >

> > >Zoloft 50 mg

> > >Consumer price: $206.87

> > >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.75

> > >Percent markup: 11,821%

> > >

> > >Since the cost of prescription drugs is so outrageous, I thought

> > everyone

> > >I knew should know about this. Please read the following and pass

> it

> > on.

> > >It pays to shop around. This helps to solve the mystery as to why

> > they

> > >can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner.

> > >

> > >On Monday night, Steve , an investigative reporter for

> Channel

> > 7

> > >News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug price gouging by

> > pharmacies.

> > >He found in his investigation, that some of these generic drugs

> were

> > >marked up as much as 3,000% or more. Yes, that's not a typo ..

> three

> > >thousand percent! So often, we blame the drug companies for

> > >the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in this

> case,

> > the

> > >fault clearly lies with the pharmacies themselves For example, if

> > you had

> > >to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you might

> pay

> > $100

> > >for 100 pills. The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the

> > generic

> > >equiva-lent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are

> > > " saving " $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that

those

> > 100

> > >generic pills may have only cost him $10!

> > >

> > >At the end of the report, one of the anchors asked Mr.

> > whether or

> > >not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this

practice,

> > and

> > >he said that Costco, Sam's Club and other discount volume stores

> > >consistently charged little over their cost for the generic

drugs.

> I

> > went

> > >to the discount store's website, where you can look up any drug,

> > >and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are

> > consistent

> > >with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you one

> example

> > from

> > >my own experience, I had to use the drug, Comparing, which helps

> > prevent

> > >nausea in chemo patients. I used the generic equivalent, which

cost

> > >$54.99 for 60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I

> > could

> > >have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I

paid

> > >$72.57. I could have got 150 at another discount store for

$28.08.

> I

> > >would like to mention, that although these are a " membership "

type

> > store,

> > >you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions there, as it

> is

> > a

> > >federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door

that

> > you

> > >wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in.

> > >

> > >I am asking each of you to please help me by copying this

letter,

> > and

> > >passing it into your own email, and send it to everyone you know

> > with an

> > >email address.

> > >

> > >Sharon L. , Budget Analyst, US Department of Commerce Room

> 6839

> > >Office Ph: ; Office Fax: Email Address:

> > >sdavis@docgov

> > >

> > > Palmer, Budget Analyst, Bureau of Economic Analysis Office

of

> > >Budget & Finance; Voice:

[Guest guest]

Dear Rod

I'm sure there are lots of folks in the drug industry who are honest, hardworking and really are making a difference in our lives. But I also know from working at a hospital that pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money paying their reps to wine and dine physicians to entice them to use their products, much like lobbyists wine and dine politicians to push their positions. Pharmaceutical reps in this area make a very nice base salary in addition to perks and commissions. And those TV commercials pushing the designer drugs aren't free either. Add in the money drug companies spend to lobby the government in their favor, and you come up with a lot of overhead that has nothing to do with research and development. I don't mean to get on your case. We all have sick kids here and we're all suffering to some extent. But my sister's child is dying, she's on Ky. Medicaid, and she can't get everything she needs to make him comfortable. I

referred her to the website you referenced, and we hope to find some relief. But, yes, I get mad at the drug companies every time I see another commercial for meds to resolve erectile dysfunction when it seems so little effort is being made to understand and cure mitochondrial disease.

Now I'll get off my soapbox.

Peace,

Cyndy

scrod98 wrote:

Saying that the ingredients are cheap does nothing to indicate thereal cost of producing drugs (Oil is just sitting in the groundfor free, but costs over $2 a gallon at the pump). There are a lot ofthings that happen between the barrels of chemicals coming in to pillsgoing out the door. As an old ad for a big pharmaceutical company said"The one you take is never tested." There are lots of people andsystems in place making sure that any drug you take (even generics)are correct for safety, integrity, strength, purity, and quality.If you haven't guessed, I do work in the industry and lots of us trulybelieve we are doing important work that makes peoples lives better. Three of my kids and my father depend on drugs that come right fromthe plant I visit every day. As I recently posted in this forum, you can go

towww.helpingpatients.org and find many programs to help people buy themedicines that they need. What other segment of healthcare does this?I'll get off my soapbox now.Rod> > I am reposting this from another group I'm on. It's about > prescription drug prices. It's unbelievable!> > > > The following is incredible. Make sure to keep reading to the bottom> where> >it discusses Costco, Sam's Club, etc.> >> >> >> >The women who wrote this email and signed below are Federal Budget> >Analysts in Washington, DC> >> >Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active> >ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must> cost a> >lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We did

a> >search of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active> >ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have revealed> in> >past issues of "Life Extension," a significant percentage of drugs> sold> in> >the United State contain active ingredients made in othercountries.> >> >In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies> really> >make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in> some of> >the most popular drugs sold in America.> >> >The chart below speaks for itself.> >> >Celebrex 100 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60> >Percent markup: 21,712%> >> >Claritin 10 mg> >Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17> >Cost of general active ingredients:

$0.71> >Percent markup: 30,306%> >> >Keflex 250 mg> >Consumer Price (100 tablets): $157.39> >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.88> >Percent markup: 8,372%> >> >Lipitor 20 mg Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37 Cost of general> active> >ingredients: $5.80 Percent markup: 4,696%> >> >Norvasec 10 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $188.29> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.14> >Percent markup: 134,493%> >> >Paxil 20 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27> >Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60> >Percent markup: 2,898%> >> >Prevacid 30 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77> >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01> >Percent markup: 34,136%> >> >Prilosec 20 mg> >Consumer price (100

tablets): $360.97> >Cost of general active ingredients $0.52> >Percent markup: 69,417%> >> >Prozac 20 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets) : $247.47> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.11> >Percent markup: 224,973%> >> >Tenormin 50 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $104.47> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.13> >Percent markup: 80,362%> >> >Vasotec 10 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $10237> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.20> >Percent markup: 51,185%> >> >Xanax 1 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79> >Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024> >Percent markup: 569,958%> >> >Zestril 20 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets) $89.89> >Cost of general active ingredients $3.20> >Percent markup:

2,809%> >> >Zithromax 600 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19> >Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78> >Percent markup: 7,892%> >> >Zocor 40 mg> >Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27> >Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63> >Percent markup: 4,059%> >> >Zoloft 50 mg> >Consumer price: $206.87> >Cost of general active ingredients: $1.75> >Percent markup: 11,821%> >> >Since the cost of prescription drugs is so outrageous, I thought> everyone> >I knew should know about this. Please read the following and passit> on.> >It pays to shop around. This helps to solve the mystery as to why> they> >can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner.> >> >On Monday night, Steve , an investigative reporter forChannel>

7> >News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug price gouging by> pharmacies.> >He found in his investigation, that some of these generic drugswere> >marked up as much as 3,000% or more. Yes, that's not a typo ..three> >thousand percent! So often, we blame the drug companies for> >the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in thiscase,> the> >fault clearly lies with the pharmacies themselves For example, if> you had> >to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you mightpay> $100> >for 100 pills. The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the> generic> >equiva-lent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are> >"saving" $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that those> 100> >generic pills may have only cost him $10!> >> >At the end of the report, one of

the anchors asked Mr. > whether or> >not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this practice,> and> >he said that Costco, Sam's Club and other discount volume stores> >consistently charged little over their cost for the generic drugs.I> went> >to the discount store's website, where you can look up any drug,> >and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are> consistent> >with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you oneexample> from> >my own experience, I had to use the drug, Comparing, which helps> prevent> >nausea in chemo patients. I used the generic equivalent, which cost> >$54.99 for 60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I> could> >have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I paid> >$72.57. I could have got 150 at another discount store for

$28.08.I> >would like to mention, that although these are a "membership" type> store,> >you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions there, as itis > a> >federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door that> you> >wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in.> >> >I am asking each of you to please help me by copying this letter, > and> >passing it into your own email, and send it to everyone you know> with an> >email address.> >> >Sharon L. , Budget Analyst, US Department of Commerce Room6839> >Office Ph: ; Office Fax: Email Address:> >sdavis@docgov> >> > Palmer, Budget Analyst, Bureau of Economic Analysis Office of> >Budget & Finance; Voice: Please contact

mito-owner with any problems or questions. __________________________________________________