Consumer Reports 'Best Buy Drug' for Enlarged Prostate Could Save Consumers Nearly $3,... (i Reports Health Ratings Center t...)

Consumer Reports 'Best Buy Drug' for Enlarged Prostate Could Save Consumers Nearly $3,000 a Year

Date:6/15/2009

i> Reports Health Ratings Center to provide consumers with health Ratings based on independent and unbiased review of the best scientific evidence available, also known as Comparative Effectiveness Research. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs reports are available for free at www.consumerreportsenespanol.org.

Research from Consumer Reports shows that when prescribing medication, physicians do not routinely consider the cost of a drug. But, when patients can afford their medications, Consumer Reports' research also finds they are more likely to take their drugs as their doctor prescribed. Dr. Santa urges physicians to pay attention to a drug's cost, since part of a doctor's oath is to be a fiduciary for the patient. "This means that doctors should consider the financial interests of their patients. It is unfortunate that many doctors and some patients have forgotten that obligation," says Santa.

The Story of Flomax: One Advertising Dollar At a Time

Half of all men over age 50, or about 20 million men in the U.S., have an enlarged prostate, as a normal part of aging, though not all experience bothersome symptoms. Says Santa, "A few years ago, drug manufactures saw a huge potential market and went for it. Since then we've seen advertising for this drug skyrocket, and as a result, Flomax is now overprescribed."

In 2008, more than $1.2 billion dollars were spent by consumers and their insurance companies on Flomax alone, an increase of 23 percent over 2007; ranking it #27 on the top 100 list of branded drug by retail dollars. Not coincidentally, in 2008, Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of Flomax, spent more than $115 million to advertise Flomax directly to consumers, ranking it #7 in the top 10 of most commonly advertised drugs last year. The result: Flomax was among the top 20
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