Why are Drug Prices so High?

The high drug prices in the United States have seen a lot of debate, and while the new health care bill can provide some Americans with support, it does not do nearly enough to cut the high cost of medication for those living in the United States. There are several key factors that contribute to the high cost of drugs in the United States, and here we will go over what these factors are, how they work, and how you can beat them to get your medications for less.

One of the primary factors that make medications cost so much in the United States is the marketing that goes into promoting new drugs. Because drug companies have a limited time frame in which to capitalize on a new drug before their patent expires, they make great efforts to ensure that people will buy them. Brand name products are therefore more expensive in order to pay for the marketing that promotes them. After the patent expires on a new drug, generic drug companies copy the product and provide the generic version for less money. This means that if you can afford to wait until a generic version of a drug becomes available, you can save a lot of money on your medication by opting for that. Generic versions of brand name drugs are exactly the same, save for the difference between the price tags.

When buying Combivent Inhaler from a Canadian online pharmacy you can get it between 30 − 80% cheaper than buying from the United States, and when buying the generic form (Ipratropium/Albuterol) you can save even more.

Another reason drug prices are high in the United States is the lack of price controls the US government places on pharmaceutical companies. Countries like Canada have strong price controls, ensuring that Canadian medications are affordable. Many Americans have already taken advantage of this fact by purchasing their medications from Canadian pharmacies online, where drug prices are cheaper. There is also the notable convenience of having drugs shipped directly to your door, which can save trips to and from the pharmacy.

Lastly, the research and development that goes into creating a new drug is many times more expensive than the production of the finished medication. This means that once pharmaceutical companies recoup the cost of creating the drug in the United States, they can sell it for low prices in other countries and still profit. If you want to save money on medication, a Canadian online pharmacy can help.