4 ms·

For the last 18 years or so I have been taking some form of low cost Ritalin with a co-pay between 15-25 dollars. This ancient medication that is a generic cos

For the last 18 years or so I have been taking some form of low cost Ritalin with a co-pay between 15-25 dollars. This ancient medication that is a generic costs 130 dollars a month and that is the negotiated rate! The money isn't going to research and it isn't going to manufacturing so where does it go?

rsl7 13y ago
the cayman islands.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
TheLegace 13y ago
Ugh don't even get me started on Ritalin(although it was cheap for me). It caused such a huge depression that permanently changed who I was and still feels there's no going back to before I took it.
Daniel_Newby 13y ago
You can get that ancient medication for a pittance, but it will be the immediate release form that has a harsh onset and a harsh withdrawal in 2 hours. You are paying for the formulation of the pills, which you evidently consider worth it.
driverdan 13y ago
You're joking right? Drug companies are businesses just like any other. They try to maximize revenue just like everyone else.
chimeracoder 13y ago
> The money isn't going to research and it isn't going to manufacturing so where does it go? I don't know about Ritalin, but with Adderall, the reason for inflated prices is that the DEA artificially restricts the supply (hence the 2011 disaster[0][1]). It's simple economics: if it were possible for new companies to enter the market (or for existing companies to produce more), supply would increase, prices would fall, and markets would clear at a (lower) equilibrium price. However, because the US is waging a war on drugs (including psychiatric medicine!), ADHD patients have to suffer the burden of increased prices (that is, when they're lucky enough to even find any in stock). [0] https://encrypted.google.com/search?hl=en&q=adderall%20shortage https://encrypted.google.com/search?hl=en&q=adderall%20short... [1] http://www.google.com/trends/explore?q=adderall#q=adderall%20shortage&cmpt=q http://www.google.com/trends/explore?q=adderall#q=adderall%2...

rsl7 13y ago

the cayman islands.

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

TheLegace 13y ago

Ugh don't even get me started on Ritalin(although it was cheap for me). It caused such a huge depression that permanently changed who I was and still feels there's no going back to before I took it.

Daniel_Newby 13y ago

You can get that ancient medication for a pittance, but it will be the immediate release form that has a harsh onset and a harsh withdrawal in 2 hours. You are paying for the formulation of the pills, which you evidently consider worth it.

driverdan 13y ago

You're joking right? Drug companies are businesses just like any other. They try to maximize revenue just like everyone else.

chimeracoder 13y ago

> The money isn't going to research and it isn't going to manufacturing so where does it go? I don't know about Ritalin, but with Adderall, the reason for inflated prices is that the DEA artificially restricts the supply (hence the 2011 disaster[0][1]). It's simple economics: if it were possible for new companies to enter the market (or for existing companies to produce more), supply would increase, prices would fall, and markets would clear at a (lower) equilibrium price. However, because the US is waging a war on drugs (including psychiatric medicine!), ADHD patients have to suffer the burden of increased prices (that is, when they're lucky enough to even find any in stock). [0] https://encrypted.google.com/search?hl=en&q=adderall%20shortage https://encrypted.google.com/search?hl=en&q=adderall%20short... [1] http://www.google.com/trends/explore?q=adderall#q=adderall%20shortage&cmpt=q http://www.google.com/trends/explore?q=adderall#q=adderall%2...