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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 164. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by andys on November 28, 2002, at 14:53:30
I just filled my prescription to start a trial on aripiprazole. I assumed it would be expensive, but it turned out to be PROHIBITIVE! A 15 mg. tablet (the normal daily dose) is $13.00 per pill! I doubt if many people will be able to afford this potentially great drug. My insurance has a $1000 prescription drug cap, so that leaves me out. And I assume that many insurance companies will dis-allow a drug of this expense. (And many patients in the trials required 30 mg., so that's a whopping $26.00 per day!).
Posted by ross c on November 28, 2002, at 16:53:41
In reply to Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by andys on November 28, 2002, at 14:53:30
thats strange because the drug is not even on the shelves yet. no press release from bristol myers and i called every pharmacy from here to timbucktoo and they aint heard of abilify yet. how did you get to order this blockbuster drug????
r....
Posted by ItsHowdyDudyTime on November 28, 2002, at 23:19:09
In reply to Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by andys on November 28, 2002, at 14:53:30
Hmmmmmm I wonder why Abilify costs so darn much? Its not because the drug companies "invented" Abilify...they didnt invent it. See, all the core medical and pharmaceutical research in the USA usually starts out at a taxpayer funded place called NIH. National Institute of Health does the majority of basic research on new potential drugs and treatments. The pharmaceutical companies then come in, take the good stuff and capitalize on it. They then run clinical trials, perfect it, etc. and then market and sell it. But it shouldnt cost $13 a pill, because the company that makes Abilify didnt actually invent it. Taxpayer funded government research labs invented it.
Gee, that makes a lot of sense. You pay all these taxes to our government for basic, core level science research. Then elitist greedy pharmaceutical companies come along and say "hey, that compound looks like it has promise lets pick it up and develop it further." So they do and end up charging YOU, the American taxpayer an arm and a leg for a drug that YOU helped pay for the basic core level research on. How unAmerican.
Damn, maybe we need to get rid of our present government and replace it with one that has balls and a backbone for a change.
Howdy Dudy.
Posted by andys on November 29, 2002, at 16:45:23
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by ross c on November 28, 2002, at 16:53:41
I pre-ordered it at Rite-Aid Pharmacy, and shortly thereafter the Bristol Meyers rep came in, so I evidently got one of the first orders.
Posted by gregg on November 29, 2002, at 19:51:22
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by ItsHowdyDudyTime on November 28, 2002, at 23:19:09
HowdyDudy,
I largely agree with what you are saying....but Abilify was developed by a Japanese company! They just have a marketing agreement with Brystol Meyers.
GG
Posted by Vince on November 29, 2002, at 22:52:36
In reply to Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by andys on November 28, 2002, at 14:53:30
Just wondeering if it is going to be prescribed for anything other than Schizophrenia?
Vince
Posted by ross c on November 29, 2002, at 23:20:00
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by andys on November 29, 2002, at 16:45:23
well you still have to wait for it and it is not 13 dollars a pill. where do u live? and before they release a drug they must have a press release on their stock site. or called a PR. go to a stock site and type in BMY. nothing their and everyone on the message boards still waiting. sorry but i do not believe you. Viagra is not even 13 bucks a pill.............
Posted by Tabitha on November 30, 2002, at 1:39:01
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by ross c on November 29, 2002, at 23:20:00
> well you still have to wait for it and it is not 13 dollars a pill. where do u live? and before they release a drug they must have a press release on their stock site. or called a PR. go to a stock site and type in BMY. nothing their and everyone on the message boards still waiting. sorry but i do not believe you. Viagra is not even 13 bucks a pill.............
Please don't post anything that could make another poster feel accused or put down. Here's a link to the civility guidelines for the site http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
Tabitha (filling in for Dr Bob)P.S. please direct any follow-up to this message to Psycho-Babble Administration.
Posted by andys on November 30, 2002, at 7:08:02
In reply to What dx was it prescribed for? » andys, posted by Vince on November 29, 2002, at 22:52:36
I can't divulge details, but I was at a clinic that was doing a trial on apripiiprazole for bipolar, and they were having very good results.
Another big advantage is it's supposed to have very low side effects (see the official drug insert at www.abilify.com)
Posted by andys on November 30, 2002, at 7:13:46
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by ross c on November 29, 2002, at 23:20:00
I live in California, and I assure you it was $13.00.
After getting the prohibitive price, I searched google, keywords: "abilify price", to check it out, and found an article that mentioned that it was strange that Bristol announced that it was approved, but didn't say the price.
You seem to know something about stocks, maybe you can help:
My brother is a day trader, and says that the $13.00 may be to make a "big splash", by making the drug look very profitable, when all the new announcements happen. Then they will lower the price, when they have to get serious about actually selling some product. Any thoughts?
Posted by ross c on November 30, 2002, at 10:23:18
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by andys on November 30, 2002, at 7:13:46
andys.
bristol is going after the big gun from eli lilly ( zyprexa ). they have to stay in a current range that zyprexa is in or its all for nault. so the 13 dollar thing i think is a typo or something just wrong. im not accusing you of anything but that would be absurd. right? and according to bristol who i just called its still not out but they say it should be out very soon in all pharmacies. i mean i called them yesterday.
hey im gonna try that goggle search.
i hope you get it soon.... im waiting because it seems like its going to be a blockbuster and bristol is forecating profits already so at 26 bucks a share buy a bit of BMY. cant hurt
take care
ross
Posted by andys on November 30, 2002, at 18:21:25
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by ross c on November 30, 2002, at 10:23:18
Boy, I hope you're right! I saved the receipt from Rite-Aid, in case there was a screw up. But I confirmed with the pharmacist on duty that it was really the price. She couldn't believe it either. (So maybe her Bristol Distributor made the error). Hopefully, we'll see a post here, about someone getting billed a more appropriate price, then I'll go back for a refund.
By the way, I have been following aripiprazole research for awhile now, and did buy some Bristol stock.
Posted by viridis on November 30, 2002, at 19:39:05
In reply to Re: Abilify (aripiprazole) cost is PROHIBITIVE!, posted by andys on November 30, 2002, at 18:21:25
I have no plans to try it, but I was curious about a pill that costs $13 a shot. So, I checked an online pharmacy in the U.S., and Abilify does in fact range from about $9 - $13 a pill, depending on the dose and number. Pretty startling! I guess the rationale is that it's unique and (apparently) very effective, so they can pretty much charge what they want. Here's the website:
Posted by gregg on December 1, 2002, at 22:18:02
In reply to Cost of Abilify, posted by viridis on November 30, 2002, at 19:39:05
For comparsison purposes, the price for 5 mg of Zyprexa (the low end of the normal daily dosage range)is about $9, according to my wife's receipt from Kaiser Permanente. Thank God I only have to pay $5 for a month's supply! It's an outrage that so many people in this country don't have insurance to cover these costs.
Posted by Surly on January 3, 2003, at 11:41:28
In reply to Re: What dx was it prescribed for?, posted by andys on November 30, 2002, at 7:08:02
I take Abilify for bipolar disorder. I've been taking it for I think a few weeks now... but there are mild side effects. I paid $58 a bottle AFTER insurance, for 30 days of 15 mg. My eyes about popped out of my head when they told me the price, even with the insurance discount. It seems to work very well though. Felt nauseous at first but not anymore.
Posted by Vanidosa on January 3, 2003, at 16:36:47
In reply to Re: What dx was it prescribed for?, posted by Surly on January 3, 2003, at 11:41:28
Yes, the cost is most definitely prohibitive! 30 tabs of Abilify 10mg cost me $300.
Everyone says that it has very few side effects, but then the only info out there is PR from Otsuka and Bristol-Meyers.
After the first two weeks the initial nausea and sedation pretty much wore off. I think the thing to watch out for is the extreme physical anxiety it causes. Is anyone else experiencing this?
V.
Posted by ShelliR on January 3, 2003, at 21:40:44
In reply to Re: What dx was it prescribed for?, posted by Surly on January 3, 2003, at 11:41:28
> It seems to work very well though. Felt nauseous at first but not anymore.
>For what symptoms is it working well? Is it helping depression?
Shelli
Posted by Vanidosa on January 3, 2003, at 22:46:37
In reply to Abilify -- cost is prohibitive!/ Anxious?, posted by Vanidosa on January 3, 2003, at 16:36:47
I'm taking it for bipolar, and yes it seems to be helping even me out, but not too much, which is good. Shelli, you're not feeling anxious and painfully wound up? How is it helping you? Which symptoms are you treating with it? Thanks for your input.
V.
Posted by Vanidosa on January 3, 2003, at 22:51:25
In reply to Re: What dx was it prescribed for? » Surly, posted by ShelliR on January 3, 2003, at 21:40:44
I guess I was confused about who wrote what. So, my questions about the anxiety and effectiveness for symptoms goes to Surly, and Shelli if you're taking it too... and to anyone else who might have some input. Thanks.
V.
Posted by Surly on January 6, 2003, at 18:52:00
In reply to Re: What dx was it prescribed for? » Surly, posted by ShelliR on January 3, 2003, at 21:40:44
Bipolar/depression... side effects i noticed was (okay this is a little gross) that i had to pee all the time and that i felt nauseous, both are no longer. A little tired at the end of the day, but not necessarily in a bad way.
> > It seems to work very well though. Felt nauseous at first but not anymore.
> >
>
> For what symptoms is it working well? Is it helping depression?
>
> Shelli
Posted by Surly on January 6, 2003, at 18:56:25
In reply to Oops, Shelli and Surly, posted by Vanidosa on January 3, 2003, at 22:51:25
You know, come to think of it, i did have an anxiety attack a week ago, and i've been slightly keyed, but only slightly. Mostly it's worked really really well for me. My doc also, at the same time, upped my prozac weekly dose to two a week, so i initially attributed the anxiety to that. I would classify the anxiety as low-level and fleeting. In addition i take an anti-convulsant.
> I guess I was confused about who wrote what. So, my questions about the anxiety and effectiveness for symptoms goes to Surly, and Shelli if you're taking it too... and to anyone else who might have some input. Thanks.
>
> V.
Posted by ShelliR on January 6, 2003, at 19:57:36
In reply to Re: Oops, Shelli and Surly, posted by Surly on January 6, 2003, at 18:56:25
Posted by Surly on January 7, 2003, at 13:54:52
In reply to Just Started Abilify Today--for Depression/Anxiety (nm) » Surly, posted by ShelliR on January 6, 2003, at 19:57:36
Keep me posted as to how it goes. What time do you take it at? I was told not to take it at night, and i've noticed that it's harder to stay asleep lately. But i'm not sure if it's this or the extra prozac that's cutting into my sleep time. Good luck!
Posted by ShelliR on January 7, 2003, at 18:45:21
In reply to Re: Just Started Abilify Today--for Depression/Anxiety, posted by Surly on January 7, 2003, at 13:54:52
Posted by Surly on January 8, 2003, at 13:49:00
In reply to How Long Did It Take To Kick In? (nm) » Surly, posted by ShelliR on January 7, 2003, at 18:45:21
about a week or a week and a half. Quicker than the usual 2 weeks to a month. Hang in there!
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