1900% Drug Price Increase

[jesse_the_k]

I’ve been hypothyroid for a long time, and happily, simple hypothyroidism is treatable. I’ve been taking thyroid meds–levothyroxine (T4) and lyothyronine (T3) .

Up until yesterday, hypothyroidism has been inexpensive to treat. Lyothyronine was synthesized in the 1950s, and was first approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 1954.

Thursday I saw my endocrinologist and she suggested changing my T3 dosage. But my pharmacy had bad news: they didn’t have access to any generic lyothyronine. My insurance won’t pay for a proprietary (brand-name) drug unless the physician explicitly requests that in the prescription. So, I ask the endo to write another script. Then MyGuy went to pick it up and

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STICKER SHOCK

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Generic lyothyronine: $34.24
Cytomel (lyothyronine from Pfizer): $654.40.

Yes, that’s a twenty-fold increase. I haven’t been able to find out why: it could be because the drug was manufactured in Puerto Rico; it could be because [horrible news thing I don’t know details of] changed the tax incentives for generic drug producers; it could be the phase of the moon.

Two pieces of good news: I can afford to pay for it, and I can finally spell lyothyronine.

Comments

[petra]

There are few things in my life that make my jaw drop as hard as Rx drug prices, because I am both lucky in much of my life and unlucky in health.

100%

[jesse_the_k]

in agreement with you.

I know there are at least 100 people who have faced that choice today and can't afford it. And their easily managed disease will go untreated. They will suffer, their families will suffer, ....