The need for the cost of medicine to go down

The rise in the cost of medicine is a pain that's felt by most people except pharmaceutical companies. Even with top government leaders promising a drop in the cost of medicine, the prices only go higher and higher, with consumers sinking in deeper and deeper healthcare debt. Margaret L. Salmon.

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Drug manufacturers rarely take the blame for the price hike. Instead, they point it out to the list price, or the amount usually reduced by additional payments to middlemen like pharmacies, which only benefit officials and health insurance companies. Patients are no strangers to this practice. The increase hit their wallets as their insurance deductibles reset every beginning of the year, which would require them to pay for their medicine straight out of their pockets. Margaret L. Salmon.

One would think that the answer to the problem is generic medicine. However, manufacturers of generic drugs don't help the case. In 2015, a recall for 257 generic drug products was made as they were either hard to dissolve, outright fake, or contaminated. Pharmaceutical firms utilize strategies that help them monopolize the industry. Before seeing a drop in the cost of medicine, government and business leaders must first develop policies that prevent pharmaceutical companies from becoming monopolies. Margaret L. Salmon.

Leaders must put a stop to restrictive distribution programs for generic drug manufacturers to conduct bioequivalence studies on sample medications. Pay-for-delay agreements should not be entertained and must be eliminated to enable generic competition to develop drug products for less. Margaret L. Salmon.

Here’s what skipping medication can do to the body

Everydayhealth.com 

Margaret L. Salmon. Millions of Americans take prescribed maintenance medication, usually for pain relief and to prevent common diseases. However, the rising costs of medication has led patients to split their medicines or to skip it altogether. What can the skipping of doses do to the body?

Not taking medicines as prescribed can be more harmful to the body. For chronic diseases such as Type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and others, not taking medication at the right time can affect the proper functioning of the organs. For anti-allergy and respiratory treatments, following the schedule is important to prevent symptoms such as blocked airways. Those who are taking pain-relief medication for chronic pain, missing the required dose can cause physical discomfort and hinder them from going about their usual routine. Making a habit out of missing maintenance medications can lead to complications. Margaret L. Salmon.

Everydayhealth.com 

Other medications, when not taken later might not be as effective when taken at the suggested time, such as in arthritis medications. When it comes to antibiotics, not following the schedule might delay the healing process. Each medication has a different effect on the body. While some medicines can be skipped and taken the next time, there are medicines patients should take as soon as they realize their mistake. To avoid missing doses, experts suggest taking these meds at the same time each day. Margaret L. Salmon.

Doctors and pharmacists suggest that patients inquire about their prescription. Studies show that the majority of patients do not know what they're supposed to do when they skip medication. Not following the schedule can have negative effects on the body or slow down treatment. With the rising prices of medicines and other concerns, people shouldn't hesitate to ask a healthcare provider about possible alternatives that will allow them to get the required dosage for a more affordable price. Margaret L. Salmon.

What are the most expensive prescription drugs in America?

It’s no secret that the United States has some of the most expensive prescription medications in the world. This is because unlike other governments, the U.S. government allows drug manufacturers to put whatever price tag they want on any prescription drug. Other governments actively negotiate to lower the prices of certain drugs, especially those which are vital to certain conditions like diabetes, cancer, or even severe allergies. Because of the free pricing of drugs in the U.S., it has led to some expensive prescription medication. Here are some of the most expensive drugs in America today. Margaret L. Salmon.

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Myalept (metreleptin) is currently the most expensive prescription drug in the country at $64,895. The package contains 14 vials and is used to treat a rare disease, which causes leptin deficiency in patients with acquired or congenital lipodystrophy. Even with its price tag, this medicine is not a cure for the disease. Margaret L. Salmon.

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Ravicti is the second most expensive drug, which goes for $52,756 for 11 vials. The drug is used to treat a genetic condition called urea cycle disorder, which results in high levels of ammonia in a person’s blood. Leaving the disease untreated can lead to confusion, comatose state, or even death. Margaret L. Salmon.

Actimmune is an approved medicine used to treat osteopetrosis and granulomatous disease, a disease that causes the immune system to malfunction. This drug costs $47,962 and comes in 11 single-use vials and is taken three times a week on average.

What makes these drugs so expensive is that they treat the rarest of rare conditions. Drug manufacturers have to pour a lot of funding in terms of researching for these drugs while on the production side of things, they can’t produce as much because very few people have the diseases these products manage. And while these products have exorbitant prices, health insurance can play a big part in reducing the prices of these drugs. Margaret L. Salmon.

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For thousands of years, people have been going to doctors to seek treatment for their ailments. And as early as 3,500 years ago, the Egyptians have been keeping written descriptions of medical treatments. It is believed that even before that, shamans and healers were already treating ill and injured patients with natural remedies. Margaret L. Salmon.

Over the recent decades, doctors and researchers found out that past remedies were doing more harm than good to patients. For instance, prescribing tobacco to treat asthma proved to be one of the biggest mistakes that doctors made in the 20th century. And there are various reasons for physicians to prescribe ineffective remedies. In the past, people would instead do something about their illness than nothing at all. It caused them to look for remedies that have not been tested. Margaret L. Salmon.

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The placebo effect may be the culprit for some cases. For some people, the belief in the power of treatment often makes them feel better. Doctors learn what works and what doesn’t by performing accurate scientific diagnoses, which then help them evaluate the treatments they give to patients. Medical trials done to a large number of people or sample size can help doctors determine the effectivity of the treatment. Margaret L. Salmon.

The science of medicine requires more than just belief in a treatment as established by the principle behind medical trials. In determining effective treatments, several factors must be eliminated. These factors are eliminated by blinding, a method used to prevent the issues of the placebo effect, and double blinding is one step further . Margaret L. Salmon.