$60 for a simple albuterol inhaler!

[Drahthaardogs]

They are worth a dollar. This is America where you extort $$ from asthmatic children with 1976 medication.

[daleanime]

1. And people are perfectly fine with it.

[LiberalElite]

10. I'm asthmatic and I had no idea it's only worth $1

However, my prescribed inhaler, Flovent, was supposed to go off patent several years ago. I don't know what Big Pharma did, bless it's "heart" but that has not happened. If I didn't have insurance I could not afford this inhaler which costs at least $175.00 for one.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

2. Yup.

When CFCs were banned (the pharmaceutical industry made sure they wouldn't be given an exemption for inhalers), they were able to renew patents just because they used a new propellant so they could keep generics out of the market. Other countries told them to fuck off and let generics make them.

[LiberalElite]

11. I wonder if that's what happened with mine -

I use Flovent which was supposed to go generic but never has. It's $175.00 for one inhaler. One inhaler generally lasts one month.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

15. Yes.

Here are a couple articles about it:

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/heres-why-your-asthma-inhaler-costs-so-damn-much

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/us/the-soaring-cost-of-a-simple-breath.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131013&_r=0

[LiberalElite]

16. Thanks! nt

[Turn CO Blue]

22. ^THIS^ Beat me to it, thank you. The US govt allows these tricksters to play their tricks. n/t

[Logical]

3. Lets shut down all pharma companies! That will show them! nt

[nichomachus]

23. No, just nationalize them. Nt

[leftstreet]

41. +1

[LanternWaste]

33. Must be odd to posses a mind so intractable as to realize two and only two extremes

Must be odd to posses a mind so intractable as to realize two and only two extremes from otherwise endless possibilities. Good luck with that, little guy!

(insert irrelevant allegation below)

[Logical]

46. I think mostly you just like to read your own words. nt

[JanMichael]

48. is fuck off the right reply to you or right on? nt

[Logical]

49. I don't care. You pick. nt

[JanMichael]

50. thank you. it is the former not the latter. nt

[Logical]

51. Ahh, how adorable. Someone needs a nap! LOL. nt

[JanMichael]

53. sleep maybe it is almost 9pm. but fuck off has zero to do with sleep.

you are a funny fucker, eh?

you mock the lack of affordable medication for asthma. fuck you and your lungs. thanks.

[Logical]

56. Temper Temper. nt

[JanMichael]

57. empathy empathy.nt

[Fla Dem]

66. You so funny, ha ha ha. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

67. Yes because that's the only option.

[joshcryer]

71. The old inhaler had CFCs and they replaced it with HFAs.

So while the drug is super cheap itself (the liquid form you use with a nebulizer is still like a buck or two a piece), they were able to patent the HFA version as a new and novel drug (it's not, the HFAs have zero, absolutely zero direct medical benefit over the CFCs; in fact, CFC inhalers deliver a much more potent dose of the drug and don't require priming or extensive cleaning).

Suddenly a drug that costs a few bucks per inhaler that lasts a week or two now costs hundreds of dollars. This was 100% a pharma / corporate money grab. There was no legislative intervention in the roll out, there was no common sense, it was just "oh, whatever, we're going to get rid of CFCs in inhalers for the ozone, and costs be damned."

[JimDandy]

4. It should be a crime. n/t

[XemaSab]

5. As a lifelong asthmatic

I resent the hell out of the fact that people are getting rich off of my inability to breathe.

[laundry_queen]

17. ditto nt

[ebayfool]

25. Yup! n/t

[Snarkoleptic]

6. Won't someone think of the plight of the poor pharma shareholders and Shkreli's?

I mean, let's adjust our priorities here.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. It's a bitch, ain't it?

When both my husband and I were out of work so were without insurance, I went directly to the manufacturer for my albuterol and Advair. I got a years' worth of medication for free. If you're low income, please check into this option.

By the way, it was just 2005 when that was $12.00 at WalMart and you can STILL get them for $12.00 in Mexico. No, no gouging here. Huh uh.

[pnwmom]

8. It must be available in a generic, right? So why aren't some cheaper generics coming out? n/t

[ohnoyoudidnt]

12. They are in other countries.

Here is a detailed article explaining the reason:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/us/the-soaring-cost-of-a-simple-breath.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131013&_r=1

[Drahthaardogs]

13. That is the generic...

Bullshit, Cuba charges one dollar for them.

[pnwmom]

20. But there can be more than one generic. i'm wondering why there's no competition

at a much lower price.

[Aerows]

24. Because the Pharmaceutical industry

writes laws and regulation *FOR* Congress that allows them to play around with patents.

How can anyone argue for jacking up the price of a medication that people depend upon by 4000% for no good reason except gross profiteering?

[Drahthaardogs]

31. The drug was generic for years

Then they got to repatent them over packaging and inert materials. It is a sordid little story...

[Aerows]

36. Sordid little story, indeed.

Manipulation of the packaging and inert materials is how it got around the "laws".

This is a disgrace to our labeling of pharma - to the sole benefit of pharma executives.

Of course, the person you are replying to has a disdain for vaccinations. I wouldn't put too much stake in their opinion of the pharma industry in general.

[joshcryer]

70. This is one of those FDA rules...

...where the FDAs hands are tied but no one gives a fuck about writing legislation to fix the issue. The pharmas should've been required to sell the thing at the same cost (if only a tiny bit above it, for the cost of changing over to the HFAs) and there should've been a tiered exception / exemption period.

0.1% of all CFCs came from inhalers, worldwide, it is a joke of epic proportions and a true travesty. And the only people gaining are pharma executives. I mean, you can't even argue that this helps the pharma workers or scientists or R&D or whatever. A high school chemistry kid could've done their stupid ass "reformulation."

[joshcryer]

69. They got rid of the CFCs and were able to repatent.

So the same fucking drug that costs like 2 cents to make is way expensive now even though the HFAs (CFC replacement) isn't more chemically complex or anything. It's purely a pharma money grab.

[Triana]

9. Not just children. Elderly too. n/t

[williesgirl]

14. Are you talking about the ProAir HFA? If yes, Ventolin just cane out

With a new competitor. Supposedly much cheaper, same shit. I'll post more specific info in the morning.

[REP]

18. No; albuterol, the rescue inhaler

[Kittycat]

29. My husband uses Ventolin in place of ProAir HFA.

Def. cheaper, he says it works the same for him.

[REP]

19. The co-pay for my QVar is insane; it'll never go off patent

I get most of my Rxs for $10 or $20; the QVar is $40.

[Neurotica]

60. Just bought 3 for about $600

We haven't met our deductible yet and we need these on hand for the times when my son gets sick (respiratory infection-induced asthma).

[jillan]

21. And they are made like crap! I go to use mine and nothing comes out even tho it's not empty.

[REP]

58. Clean the mouthpiece and pump it a few times

If it's not used often, it has to be primed. If it is used often, the mouthpiece gets clogged.

[valerief]

26. Congress ensures the U.S. makes very rich people richer. nt

[840high]

27. ..+1

[Kittycat]

28. $358 for my son's Advair HFA + $75 for Xopenex HFA

And that isn't our most expensive medication. We have 3 more meds in the house that easily eclipse that, not counting enteral feeding supplies. Our scripts are so high in fact, that we hit the deductible limit on our high deductible plan the other day, which drops us in to the 90/10 until we max out for the year.

I opted not to fill our nebulizers this last time (pulmacort, atrovent & xopenex), because he hasn't needed them lately. Waiting instead until we cap out - or until we have to have a major health need. It's just too much money at once. Next month I get to refill our expiring EpiPens, in addition to our monthly scripts. Fun-fun!

[Aerows]

35. If that doesn't strike you as

RICO level pharmaceutical collusion to fix prices, I think drug kingpins that dealt heroin and cocaine did less harm to society than these licensed drug dealers. At least they knew what they were getting into.

[Kittycat]

42. The best part about Epi-pens

Retail is over $500 for a 2pack. One for home, one for school. We've never had to use them. Not once. But we've never left home without them. Too many risks should we need it. It should be Criminal! There's a $100 coupon out there you can get, but it doesn't put a dent in the cost.

[Aerows]

43. It *IS* criminal

but we have a government that is ready to throw every young man and woman in prison if they possess a shred of marijuana - which is just grown like I cultivate rosemary, basil and oregano - as though they are hardened criminals.

Denying people of lifesaving medications? Oh, that's just fine, hey they deserve to suffer because they can't afford the insurance premium that is hanging over their heads.

We have been taught to be acclimated to a system where you can't get health care unless you drop in the street, and even then, you probably don't deserve it.

You do *NOT* deserve any treatment whatsoever unless you can pay the exorbitant prices demanded.

I do not understand how it seems moral to throw people in jail for marijuana that legitimately helps scores and scores of people with cancer, spinal issues, and a host of other problems, and it is moral to deny people asthma medication because they jacked the prices up 6,000%. ($1 -> $60)

We have price subsidies for every corporation that is on the Fortune 500 company based in the United States. That impacts a handful of wealthy shareholders and the CEOs that direct those companies, and Congress by way of massive donations.

I'm absolutely stunned that as a people we haven't flooded the streets, voted a shitload of politicians out of office, and demanded that anyone who supports such policies resign in disgrace.

It *IS* criminal.

[Drahthaardogs]

52. What sucks is that no one talks about it.

It makes news when a rather old, but somewhat obscure drug is raised ridiculously high by a little prick, and the outrage ensues. Hillary wails, Bernie shouts, Congress holds a meeting.

Meanwhile, the CEOs screw millions really badly and NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING! This little pile of shit exemplifies what the fuck is wrong with our country, We have greedy CEOs, lobbyists paid through the nose, and politicians on the take, meanwhile little kids suffer. I too remember 3 inhalers for $21.

Where is Obama? Where are the Democrats? Where is the JUSTICE?

[Aerows]

62. You are preaching to the choir, my friend.

Where in the hell is the justice, and where in the hell is the "all men are created equal", for that matter.

How are we all created equal if only a select portion of Americans are deemed worthy of having their prescriptions - live-saving medicine - filled at a price point that people can afford?

How did we become a country where our elderly must monthly decide whether it is more important to eat, or more important to purchase their prescriptions?

How did we become a country where parents *must* choose which health care emergency is worse, asthma or an allergic reaction because meeting the bills gets harder every day?

We have THE most screwed up health care system in the developed world, and even some undeveloped ones are doing better than we are.

You can order your prescription from Canada, made by the same exact company with the same exact precision, ingredients and standards. You pay 50% less on average. In a few cases it is 85% less.

That should tell every single voter in this country that is struggling to make ends meet just to fund health care for their children, and postpone or ration out their own medical needs for the sake of their kids what our country has degenerated into.

It is a perfectly fixable problem, but somebody will have to give up a big ass pay off, pay check or payola to do so.

[Jim Beard]

30. This is from Canada... it is the cheapest I can find

Much cheaper than my own prescription.

.11cents a dose

from www.canadadrugs.com

[Aerows]

45. ^ this ^

Why in the hell are treatments so damn expensive in the US?

[Ratty]

32. My gripe is that it is prescription only

Something like this needs to be sold over the counter! I use to rely on the the OTC brands but when the CFCs were banned and congress refused to grant a waiver, many many people were out of options. Yes, the OTCs were horrible but where is the alternative? My asthma has always been mild and I rarely had problems with it so the $60 is not a great hardship since I use an inhaler so rarely. But I almost died when I got the flu and ended up in the emergency room. I'm terrified of getting the flu again this year because my prescription ran out. Can't pharmacists dispense something like that without a prescription?

[fwiff]

38. It's still available OTC in liquid form, but you have to get a nebulizer.

I use it sometimes.

It's Asthmanefrin (sp?), epinephrine in liquid form, and most of the big drug chains have it. Epi is not the ideal drug for its side effects, but sometimes it's the only one that works.

Get a real nebulizer! (Don't use theirs, it sucks) Mine cost about 25 bucks.

[Ratty]

39. Wow, that is such great news

It really eases my worries until I can somehow get a real prescription. Thanks for that. I'll check the drug store today.

[Ratty]

40. Oops I remember now I already got this some time ago

But the nebulizer stopped working almost right away and became worthless. I actually still have a lot of the little packets. Asthmanefrin seems to have fewer side effects than the old Primatene. Thanks for the advice about a nebulizer. I didn't think to look for one for this.

[Ino]

68. Please... what brand of nebulizer do you have? (nt)

[Aerows]

34. Talking about special places in hell

There should be a special place in hell when a pharmaceutical company makes children suffer or die of asthma because they charge a $1, at best, inhaler $60 each to wring every single dollar out of the parents because there are no laws that say they cannot.

Despicable.

[Glassunion]

37. I only pay $10 for that inhailer.

And used to pay $20 for the Advair...

My doc switched me over to Flovent in place of the Advair which I pay $15 for.

[Drahthaardogs]

44. How? I have very good insurance through work and I pay $40-$60

How do you manage to pay so little>

[JanMichael]

55. my 10 dollar is albuteral. if i go for that special name i cannot recall.

65 bucks. it is the concentrated albuteral.

i have had both and the 65 dollar one works twice as well and that does not mean 1 puff to 2.

it simply makes me clearer and longer lassting in the lungs than regular albuteral.

i have pretty decent insurance, probably better than most.

[Glassunion]

63. Better insurance and company I guess?

My insurance runs me about $38 a pay period (weekly), plus my contribution to my HSA account.

My company has always been self insured up to a certain amount before the 3rd party kicks in. I think this has a lot to do with it. It keeps our premiums down, but our coverage up.

So I may pay $10 for the inhaler, but my company may have to come up with the other $15 before the insurance covers the rest.

My company, outlays more in insurance coverage, than we make in profit.

[Drahthaardogs]

64. I pay more, much more

and I an insured with the nations largest insurance company. Something is not right here.

[Glassunion]

65. The company I work for probably has a lot to do with it.

Like I said, my company is self insured up to a certain amount.

We spend more in insurance coverage of our employees than we earn in profit.

[JanMichael]

47. i know. in 2005 or 2006 costco had 3 inhalers for 21 dollars.

7 bucks apiece. now when i buy that one inhaler that docs recommend it is usually 65 dollars with insurance per inhaler. that is for the higher quality inhaler. it is 10 bucks for tge cheap inhaler that i need.

what about kids? if i as as 48 year old adult can lose one what about an active 10 year old?

how the fuck can parents afford this bullshit?????

[TuxedoKat]

54. If you call around

to different drug store chains and Walmart and Target sometimes you can find a prescription substantially cheaper. One prescription my MD gave me was $39.00 at Target and everywhere else over $100.00 for the same thing. I think this is because Target got a special price for buying this particular medicine in bulk or something. Good luck.

[EllieBC]

59. I don't have extended MSP benefits (nor does my husband).

We paid $90 for our daughter's Ventolin inhaler and spacer this year when she had bronchitis followed by another cold.

Needless to say, I can't wait for our benefits package from my job to kick in this summer.

[Neurotica]

61. We had the same problem for a while but recently got a Ventolin inhaler for approx. $10

Unbelievably, at the time when prices for albuterol skyrocketed, our insurance reduced the number of inhalers provided via mail order by half--saying that people weren't managing their asthma properly and were relying too much on rescue medicines.

I told the customer service rep that we were dealing with our asthma just fine and didn't need them to make such a determination!