April 12, 2011

Rise in the Price of Prescription Drugs

Filed under: healthcare,medication — Janine @ 12:33 am

Price of Prescription DrugsAccording to the investment bank Barclays Capital, there will be a rise of 6-9% on brand name drugs. Barclays Capital analyzed the prices of 130 top selling drugs. According to the study, Benicar, a blood pressure pill, had the biggest jump in price by 29.3%. In addition, Lipitor rose by 12.4% and Plavix rose by 13.2%.

This increase in prices reflects the industry’s efforts to work against the efforts of government and commercial health plans to control costs on medications as well as to make up revenue on brand drugs that will soon be losing their patent protection.

Typically, health plans negotiate rebates to lower their cost. Rebates for private health plans average 14.3% on a brand drug. Over the past year, drug prices have negatively impacted revenue when rebates and discounts are considered. Drug companies are preparing for a fall in revenue as firms lose their exclusive rights to produce specific drugs due to patents expiring.

Between 2002 and 2009, drug prices have gone up an average of $58.96 per prescription while rebates for private health plans went up by $12.57. In 2008, about $7,681 was spent by US health care per resident. In the US, prescription drugs have about $300 billion in yearly sales and prices are still rising! Brand name drug prices are becoming more expensive than any other medical goods or services.

Top selling drug firms are preparing to compete against generic drugs when their patent ends. When the patent ends, it is eligible to become a generic so a company can sell discount prescription drugs. A generic drug contains the exact same ingredients, has the same dosage, and has the same side effects; the only differences are that the generic version will look different and is much cheaper! For example, you could choose to buy Tylenol, when it’s generic, acetaminophen, is actually more affordable.

Another way Americans are saving money is by buying drugs online from Canada. Drugs from Canada are 35-55% cheaper than in the US. Buying drugs such as Lipitor online from an online pharmacy is much more affordable than buying prescription drugs from a local US pharmacy.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online Canadian pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com.
For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

January 30, 2007

Baraclude – treatment for Hepatitis B.

Filed under: baraclude,canadian drugs,chronic,damage,drugs,hepatitis B,infection,liver,medication,medicine,prescription drugs,Uncategorized — Ashlynn @ 1:04 pm

Baraclude is a new antiviral prescription drug used for chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in adults who also have active liver damage.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis z virus (HBV), a member of the Hepadnavirus family and one of several unrelated viral species which cause viral hepatitis. Symptoms of the acute illness caused by the virus include liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice, and rarely, death. Chronic hepatitis B may cause liver cirrhosis which may then lead to liver cancer.

Hepatitis B is largely transmitted through exposure to bodily fluids containing the virus. This includes unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated needles and syringes, vertical transmission from mother to child during childbirth, and so on.

What should I know about Baraclude before using it?

  • Lactic acidosis and severe liver problems, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of Baraclude, alone or in combination. Contact your physician immediately if you experience nausea, vomiting, or unusual or unexpected stomach discomfort; weakness and tiredness; shortness of breath; weakness in the arms and legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes; or pain in the upper stomach area. These may be early symptoms of lactic acidosis or liver problems.
  • Some people who have taken medicines like Baraclude have developed serious liver problems called hepatotoxicity, with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if; your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice), your urine turns dark, your bowel movements (stools) turn light in color, you don’t feel like eating food for several days or longer, you feel sick to your stomach (nausea) or if you have lower stomach pain. These may be early symptoms of liver problems.
  • Follow your physician’s instructions with respect to high-risk activities such as unprotected sex and the sharing of needles. Baraclude does not reduce the risk of passing hepatitis B virus to others.
  • It is not known whether Baraclude passes into breast milk and what effect it may have on a nursing baby. Do not take Baraclude without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How do I take Baraclude?

Baraclude is available as 0.5mg tablets and 1mg tablets and should be taken with a full glass of water on an empty stomach – at least 2 hours after a meal and at least two hours before the next meal. Try to take it at the same time every day.

Your dose depends on whether you have been treated for hepatitis B virus infection before and what medicine you took. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Store Baraclude at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Does Baraclude have any side effects?

There are less serious side effects which may likely occur. Continue taking Baraclude and talk to your doctor if you experience:

  • fatigue or tiredness;
  • mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite;
  • headache;
  • dizziness;
  • skin rash; or
  • insomnia

If you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives), stop taking Baraclude and seek emergency medical attention.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC Q37),offers lower cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best Canadian pharmacies online by PharmacyChecker.com. DoctorSolve has filled more than 200,000 U.S. prescriptions.

For more information on how to order canadian drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canada pharmacy for over 6 years.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online Canadian pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com.
For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.