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

[jesse_the_k]

I have no idea, and neither did the pharmacist. It is a mom-and-pop operation; probably the mega chains have the economic clout to buy out all the generic supplies when the hurricane headed towards P.R.

In fact, chances are good that the Pfizer drug and the generic drug are made IN THE SAME FACTORY, with different labels. (Not always the case for newer meds, esp psych meds.)

[davidgillon]

{Rolls eyes} {Winces}