another reason to distrust the pharmacutical companies
- Thread starter Dave
- Start date
Dave
Well-Known Member
Gonz has a point there. we have become a pill popping nation. you'd be amazed at the number of people that continue with unhealthy lifestyles that figure whatever pill they are on will keep them safe.
i couldn't even begin to count the number of people that come into the ER for a simple cold or minor aches that didnt try any OTC meds or home remedies. they just come on down to the ER and look for a pill to make them better.
when i'm out in triage, i would say at least 40% of the people that come in are on some sort of anti-depressant and/or anti-anxiety pill. i attribute that to all the ads on tv. "not quite feeling yourself, take this pill. you'll feel better"
i couldn't even begin to count the number of people that come into the ER for a simple cold or minor aches that didnt try any OTC meds or home remedies. they just come on down to the ER and look for a pill to make them better.
when i'm out in triage, i would say at least 40% of the people that come in are on some sort of anti-depressant and/or anti-anxiety pill. i attribute that to all the ads on tv. "not quite feeling yourself, take this pill. you'll feel better"
Camelyn
New Member
A couple of facts: Innovator pharmaceutical research companies (Pfizer, Merck, Schering) spend billions of dollars annually developing potential drugs. A very few of these may show enough potential to be patented. A patent lasts 20 years. It will take 5 to 15 years and hundreds of millions of dollars more PER DRUG to perform all the FDA required testing to bring that drug to market. Most of these formulations never make into, let alone past Phase 1 clinical trials (There are 4 escalating phases). That leaves the innovator companies with an average of 9-11 years to recoup their investments in this successful drug, as well as in the drug research that didn't result in success, before the drug becomes avalable for copy by generic companies. A generic drug company need only meet some pretty basic FDA requirements (bioequivalence studies) to bring their generic drug to market. The innovator company has already done (and paid for) the safety and efficacy testing.
As for Zyprexa, it is a single pill that needs to be taken only once a day, which can make all the difference in the treatment of patients with mental disorders, who are notoriously difficult to medicate.
Bottom line: yes, the big pharmaceutical companies are out to make a buck, no one claims they are a non-profit venture. Unfortunately, they develop and market a commodity that affects whether people live or die. It's easy to villify them under those circumstances.
BTW: viagra was initially developed as a heart medication (its a vasodilator) when its unexpected side-affects were discovered. Pfizer was quick to spot the pot of gold, but in the end, it’s the consumer who creates the demand.
As for Zyprexa, it is a single pill that needs to be taken only once a day, which can make all the difference in the treatment of patients with mental disorders, who are notoriously difficult to medicate.
Bottom line: yes, the big pharmaceutical companies are out to make a buck, no one claims they are a non-profit venture. Unfortunately, they develop and market a commodity that affects whether people live or die. It's easy to villify them under those circumstances.
BTW: viagra was initially developed as a heart medication (its a vasodilator) when its unexpected side-affects were discovered. Pfizer was quick to spot the pot of gold, but in the end, it’s the consumer who creates the demand.
Gato_Solo
Out-freaking-standing OTC member
chcr said:
That's because Insurance companies in the US will pay what they ask for. If you don't have a demand, then the price will go down in accordance to your supply. However, you must also look at the cost of living in other countries, and the affect the US population has on drug companies that sell there at high prices.
For example...in Colombia, $1.00 US will get you 2 loaves of bread and a 6-pack of soda. Aspirin is around $2.00 per bottle (100 count). Now you want the drug companies to charge folks like that $2.00 per pill and up to alleviate the cost of your medication? Get real. Every person with a 'health care' chip on their shoulder would be up in arms about that, and you know it.
