We're taking a number of the following drugs, amounting to many thousands of dollars a year. When we run out of this month's prescriptions, we're going to have to manage without (except for the Glucophage and Lotensin, which I've stashed) unless Sweetie gets a job. We may have to come up with the money for Allopurinol if I can't talk my doc out of some freebies when I see him Thursday.

CNN

Report: Drug costs for elderly continue rise

June 12, 2001 Posted: 7:05 AM EDT (1105 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The prices of the 50 prescription drugs most commonly used by the elderly on average rose more than twice the rate of inflation in the year ended January 2001, according to a consumer group report.

The prices increased on average by 6.1 percent, though the rate of inflation excluding energy in that one-year period was 2.7 percent, the report said.

This is not a new trend, according to an annual report issued Tuesday by Families USA. Between January 1996 and January 2001, the prices of prescription drugs most frequently used by seniors rose 22.2 percent on average,. The increase was nearly twice the rate of inflation, which was 12.4 percent over that period.

Because of the volatility of energy costs from year to year, references to inflation in the report are based on the Consumer Price Index less the costs of energy. The report says that using this formula "provides a more stable illustration of inflation" and "protects the comparison between drug prices and general inflation against distortions due to variations in energy costs."

Among the 50 drugs used most commonly by seniors, the following rose most significantly in price between January 2000 and January 2001, according to the report.

• Synthroid, a synthetic thyroid agent, rose by 22.6 percent, eight and a half times the rate of inflation.

• Alphagan, used to treat glaucoma, rose 22.5 percent, more than eight times the rate of inflation.

• Glucophage, marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and used to treat diabetes, rose 15.5 percent, nearly six times the rate of inflation.

• Premarin, marketed by Wyeth-Ayerst for estrogen replacement, rose 12.8 percent, nearly five times the rate of inflation.

• Demadex, a diuretic, rose 12.4 percent, more than four and a half times the rate of inflation.

Nine more drugs had a price increase of three or more times the rate of inflation, including:

• Zocor and Lipitor, cholesterol-lowering agents

• Pepcid, a gastrointestinal agent

• Claritin, an antihistamine

• Paxil, an antidepressant

• Fosamax, for osteoporosis

• Detrol, for treatment of an overactive bladder.

Of the 50 drugs most commonly used by seniors, the average annual cost per prescription as of January 2001 was $956, according to the report.

Celebrex, an anti-inflammatory agent, has an average annual cost of $1,837; Prilosec, a gastrointestinal medicine, has an average annual cost of $1,511; and Lipitor, for lipid-lowering, has an average annual cost of $1,148.

Of the top 50 drugs for seniors, only 10 are generics. Generics generally cost less than brand-name drugs and can be created only when the patent has expired on the brand name medicine.

The report said seniors make up 13 percent of the nation's population, but consume 34 percent of all prescriptions dispensed and pay 42 percent of the nation's bill for prescription drugs. Yet a third of seniors have no insurance coverage for prescription drugs throughout the year.

"The seniors who rely on these drugs have been regularly and repeatedly hit with price increases for the medicines that keep them healthy," the report said.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Answers

This is really terrible. I do hope sweetie finds something. We just found that Firestone let everyone else go, still have Dan on, (NOT LONG, I BET!!!) and they cut his already dismal rate. I think this is a recession even if TPTB are denying it.

Our Hospitalization went up 100.00 a month, and we are basically healthy! I don't know how the seniors are to exist!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Problem is I'm too old to go out and pick up sailors any more to make extra moolah. Sigh! (Snort!) Just bought a pack of 50 test strips for my glucometer--almost $50, ouch! We're okay so far, still have a little cushion. Sweetie met with a headhunter today who saw that he looks preppie and doesn't have multiple earrings or tattoos and wasn't wearing a FuckedCompany.com T-shirt.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

...he looks preppie and doesn't have multiple earrings or tattoos...

guess you really miss those sailors, huh?

ROTFL

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

barefoot...

i really look forward to the day i WILL get to spank you
florida is not that far away
; )

OG...

have you seen that list of pharmaceutical companies that provide prescription medications free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medications?

not sure how the "program" works....but it's sure worth looking into

i've got the list of participating drug companies around here somewhere....will post it as soon as i can find it

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Sweetie was a sailor when I met him and I'll have you know that on our first real date he took me to a punk bar in the French Quarter. Yep, me in my blue button-down and khakis, him in hia black jeans and Clash T-shirt. So next date I took him to a biker bar and played pool :)

Yep. mebs, would like to have that list just in case this thing goes on a bit longer than we'd like. But I think my doc will see us okay.

Tell you what, getting something out of the storeroom last night, I had to smile at the 8 x 20lb bags of Science Diet. Someone gave me a bunch of $3 off coupons about two months ago and I stocked up. She gave me Scoop-Away coupons too, so I have enough of that to last for at least 3-4 months. And, yes, we do have more people food than cat food and more toilet paper than cat litter, lol!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001