prescription drugs are always considerably cheaper than their name brand counterpart. The only thing better than low cost is no cost, something a Piedmont pharmacist plans to offer starting June 1.
Of course, there are restrictions. But like the disclaimers you see in pharmaceutical ads, we're saving them for the end of the story.
Dave Marley has a unique perspective on America's health care costs. He owns and runs Marley Drugs in Winston-Salem, N.C.
"I have just had it with the pharmaceutical manufacturers dictating how medicines and how much medicines are going to cost this country," said Marley.
For an example, he offers the prescription sleep aid Ambien. His cost for 100 tablets is $420. The generic version, which was just recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is $5.20.
Generic drugs have the exact effect as brand-name drugs. The FDA requires generic drugs to be as safe as the brand names. Generics are cheaper because the patents awarded to drug manufacturers have expired. Patents last, on average, 17-20 years. When you pay for the name-brand drugs, you are also paying for the research and development and marketing.
"That's a hell of a mark up," exclaimed Marley, who has decided to do more than talk about it. He's doing something.
Marley will offer seven of his most popular generic drugs for free from June 1 until August 31.
"There is no catch," promises Marley, "there is no hook."
Marley said he doesn't know much the deal will cost him, but he hopes to make others aware of the cheaper versions of the same drugs.
Here are the details. Quantities are limited to a ten-day supply and a prescription is required for the following antibiotics:
- Penicillin
- Cephalexin (Keflex)
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim DS)
- Doxycycline
- Amoxicillin
- Clindamyacin
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