$65 for an antibiotic?!

[Tonya]

I haven't needed an antibiotic for an infection in several years, so I've never had one of these "new" 3-day antibitotics. Holy cow are they expensive! I remember getting amoxycilin or penicilin or erithyromicin in the past and the price of the drug was actually cheaper than my prescription card copay, so I'd pay the full price of like $12. So today I go to the doctor for a sinus uinfection :( and he gives me a prescription for "Zithromax" (1 pill a day for 3 days). When they ring it up at the pharmacy, my co-pay cost is $30! And apparently the full price of it was $65!! Holy cow. When did antibiotics get so darned expensive?!

[marengo]

:( all new antibiotics are expensive. And effective. Is it a rhetoric question? If no, manufacturing is really expensive and microbial flora evaluates (antibiotic tolerance). But you can ask your doctor about another not so expensive medicament.

[Mike]

Probably importing from Canada. You part of an HMO? ;) ;)

[marengo]

It's Pfizer's antibiotic (USA + 150 countries)

[cre8or]

I had to pick up some antibiotics for my hubby... when I got the perscription filled I just about had a heart attack... they were also $65!

And I had to pay the whole shot myself... We have no drug plan.

[WildCard]

Zithromax is one of the least resisted to antibiotics, I believe. My wife got it last week for the same reason - and the doc was nice enough to give us a sample pack of 5 day's usage, which is all you need. Pretty nice, glad he did now that you all mention how expensive it is.

I hear sometimes all you have to do is ask for samples, and the docs are more than happy to give. My wife's an RN so I guess she knows those ins and outs.

-Wc-

[rlevant]

Hi folks

Lacking insurance for many years I always know where to get any drug

1. for the least cost
2. that is actually made at the same labs that make the us stuff

Cheaper than Canada is Mexico

the difference..and only difference being the spanish language on the packages

Even less India

I mean it.... They send the same us made pills just in the blister packs and save on boxing

here is your drug for $5 :)

Zithromax from India (http://www.overturepharmacy.com:8080/jsp/products/Search.jsp?nGenericID=-1&nPopularBrandID=5&nTherapyID=-1) :D

[Eagle]

*
Phew...makes you appreciate our National Health Service!... :tup:

http://www.nhs.uk/thenhsexplained/what_is_nhs.asp

...well, almost.... :blink:

[rlevant]

Yes Eagle the United States is really strange.

Here we have the richest country in the industrialized world and we do not have health, social security or unemployment benefits that even come close to European and other industrialized nations :tdown:

[InFocus]

I don't think azithromycin is available in the generic form in the United States yet, unlike amoxicillin, erythromycin, or some of the older antibiotics. Most physicians prescribe a Z-pack because of the increased compliance (one pill a day for 3-5 days) and because it's a relatively new drug, less chance of drug resistance. For the other two drugs mentioned above, you'd have to take a pill 2-4x a day for much longer, since the theraputic level of azithromycin remains high for several more days after the last pill whereas some of the other abx are cleared earlier. All that being said, just found out a Zpack cost $60 last year. Makes you appreciate health insurance which covers some prescriptions. Allergy medications are even worse. Some aren't covered by insurances and you have to take them daily for a long period of time. Dynagirl, hope you and hubby are feeling better!

[Tonya]

Yeah, part of the problem is that there's no generic. If I could have gotten a generic my cost would have only been $15. But I guess I shouldn't complain since there are so many people that don't even have health insurance. It just seems like we pay a heck of a lot for health care considering we pay a heck of a lot for the health insurance.

I would love to know how Canadians and Europeans managed socialized health care. It just doesn't seem like it would work in the US. We'd end up with exactly what we have now: rich people getting the best health care and poor people getting the worst health care, becasue you know any health facilities run by the government would suck. Private doctors and hospitals would still exist and those that could afford the better care offered at those would go to them. And then there would be talk of private health care vouchers and.... ;)

[Raja]

It's only a sinus infection, Dynagirl. Let's be grateful for our good health. It'll make you feel better. Don't even begin to think about the rest of the world.

[cre8or]

Cheers!
:drink:

[Victoria]

Hurrah for the UK's National Health Service! :drink: :drink: