Prescription drug costs

Introduction
Drug prices
Patient costs
Presidential actions and legislation
State actions
Drug imports
Pros
- Pro 1: Regulation will control drug prices, so people do not have to choose between life-saving drugs and other essentials.
- Pro 2: The government should regulate companies with private interests that result in price gouging, higher drug prices, and limited access to much-needed medicine.
- Pro 3: Without regulation, drug costs are inconsistent and often hidden, leaving consumers in the dark and doctors struggling to provide appropriate care to their patients.
Cons
- Con 1: Regulation of drug prices reduces the revenue needed for the research and development of new drugs
- Con 2: Regulation of prices is not the solution to high drug prices—more responsible and affordable health insurance is the answer.
- Con 3: The U.S. government is already over-involved in health care and should leave prescription drugs to the free market.
International prescription drug costs
- Prescription Drug Spending per Person: Insurance or Government Health Program Versus Out-of-Pocket Costs, 2004–19
- Prescription Drug Spending per Person, 2004–19*
FDA-approved prescription drugs later pulled from the market by the FDA
- Baycol (Cerivastatin)
- Belviq, Belviq XR (Lorcaserin)
- Bextra (Valdecoxib)
- Cylert (Pemoline)
- Darvon & Darvocet (Propoxyphene)
- DBI (Phenformin)
- DES (Diethylstibestrol)
- Duract (Bromfenac)
- Ergamisol (Levamisole)
- Hismanal (Astemizole)
- Lotronex (Alosetron)
- Meridia (Sibutramine)
- Merital & Alival (Nomifensine)
- Micturin (Terodiline)
- Mylotarg (Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin)
- Omniflox (Temafloxacin)
- Palladone (Hydromorphone hydrochloride, extended-release)
- Permax (Pergolide)
- Pondimin (Fenfluramine)
- Posicor (Mibefradil)
- Propulsid (Cisapride)
- PTZ and Metrazol (Pentylenetetrazol)
- Quaalude (Methaqualone)
- Raplon (Rapacuronium)
- Raptiva (Efalizumab)
- Raxar (Grepafloxacin)
- Redux (Dexfenfluramine)
- Rezulin (Troglitazone)
- Selacryn (Tienilic acid)
- Seldane (Terfenadine)
- Trasylol (Aprotinin)
- Vioxx (Rofecoxib)
- Xigris (Drotrecogin alfa activated)
- Zantac (Ranitidine)
- Zelmid (Zimelidine)
- Zelnorm (Tegaserod maleate)
Assessment quiz
1-minute survey
Discussion questions
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Prescription drug costs

Prescription drug costs: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

The Editors of ProCon
ProCon's editors write and verify new content and update existing content. ProCon presents the pro and con arguments to debatable issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Discussion questions standardized.	The Editors of ProCon	Jul 23, 2026
	Quiz and photo added.	The Editors of ProCon	Feb 27, 2026
	Updates throughout.	The Editors of ProCon The Editors of ProCon	Feb 19, 2026
	Photo added.	The Editors of ProCon	Feb 04, 2026
	Definition added.	The Editors of ProCon	Jan 03, 2026
	Overall update.	The Editors of ProCon	Nov 17, 2025
	Invalidated site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The high cost of prescription drugs: causes and solutions.	Emily Rodriguez	May 22, 2025
	2020 and 2025 Trump EO's added.	The Editors of ProCon	May 12, 2025
	Survey added.	The Editors of ProCon	May 06, 2025
	Addition to Pro 2 & table code fixes.	The Editors of ProCon	Mar 26, 2025
	Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The high cost of prescription drugs: causes and solutions.	Grace Young	Mar 21, 2025
	Links added.	The Editors of ProCon	Jan 04, 2025
	New article added.	The Editors of ProCon	Nov 08, 2024