Shopping for Drugs
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Comparing Prices
- Therapeutic Drug Substitution
- Pill Splitting
- Generic Drug Substitutes
- Switching to Over-the-Counter Drugs
- Mail-Order Pharmacies
- Global Options
- Financial Assistance to Lower Drug Costs
- Price Comparisons for Specific Drugs
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Appendix
- About the Author
Switching to Over-the-Counter Drugs
About 80 percent of the time, patients initially treat their medical problems with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Americans buy more than 5 billion OTC drug products each year - accounting for 60 percent of drugs used.41 Today consumers can choose from among more than 100,000 different OTC drug products.42 More than 600 OTC drugs were previously available only by prescription.43 Utilizing these OTC medications can save patients money. For example:
- Over the past few years, powerful prescription ulcer medications such as Zantac (Ranitidine), Pepcid and Tagamet (Cimetidine) were moved from prescription-only to over the counter.44
- In addition, strong pain relievers such as Advil (Ibuprofen) and Aleve (Naproxen) were approved for OTC sales.
- Cold and allergy medications such as first-generation antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl and its generic Diphenhydramine, Chlor-Trimeton and its generic Chlorpheniramine) and decongestants like Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) have now been joined by Claritin (Loratadine), a second-generation antihistamine.
In fact, many blockbuster drugs originally available only by prescription are ultimately sold over the counter. In years past, the switch was usually done only at the request of the drugmaker, who had little incentive to make the request until patent protection was about to expire.45 Recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a much more aggressive stance. Acting on a request from WellPoint Health Networks, which manages health care plans, an FDA panel voted to recommend OTC status for Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec - the first time the FDA had taken such an action when the manufacturers had not requested and were opposed to the switch.46
"Over the next few years, many blockbuster prescription drugs will be available over the counter."
Over the next few years, many analysts predict that a flood of relatively new blockbuster drugs will enter the OTC market.47 For example, an OTC version of the popular antiulcer drug Prilosec - which had $3.7 billion sales and was the second biggest-selling drug in 200148 - should be available in the fall of 2003. It will be sold for around $1 per capsule compared to $4 for the prescription version.49 Analysts expect several more non-sedating antihistamines, and possibly cholesterol-fighting drugs such as Mevacor (Lovastatin) and Pravachol (Pravastatin) will be approved for OTC sale.50
When products move to the OTC market, their prices drop sharply.51 For example, Claritin, one of the best-selling allergy medications, was moved to the OTC market in December 2002. Analysts predict worldwide sales will drop to $500 million in 2003 from $3.1 billion in 2001.52 This does not mean people are buying less Claritin. Rather, they are paying less for what they buy and, in many cases, buying generic (Loratadine) versions of the drug.
