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: Media

Should the U.S. government regulate prescription drug prices?

Images

Prescription drug costs

Prescription drug costs

Should the U.S. government regulate prescription drug prices?

© v_l/stock.adobe.com

Rx

A prescription with the common “Rx” symbol, derived from the Latin word for “take.”

© Sherry Young/stock.adobe.com

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