Hypothetical question about a very expensive new medication.

[Seymour Flops]

Suppose big pharma came up with a new drug for alcoholism associated disorders and diseases. Liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome, dementia, and seizures.

But . . . suppose the drug was very expensive, say $12, 000 for a one-month supply so $144,000 per year. A rich person's medication.

And . . . the patient can keep drinking as they have been and still get the benefits.

Question: Should that medication be subsidized by the government to make it affordable for all, with manageable copays based on income?

 

[Hafar1014]

Suppose big pharma came up with a new drug for alcoholism associated disorders and diseases. Liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome, dementia, and seizures.

But . . . suppose the drug was very expensive, say $12, 000 for a one-month supply so $144,000 per year. A rich person's medication.

And . . . the patient can keep drinking as they have been and still get the benefits.

Question: Should that medication be subsidized by the government to make it affordable for all, with manageable copays based on income?

No because the disorders you mentioned are self inflicted. Korsakoffs Syndrome is irreversible brain damage.
Dementia HBP and Hepititus are exceptions. Get a damn Hp B shot

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

No because the disorders you mentioned are self inflicted. Korsakoffs Syndrome is irreversible brain damage.
Dementia HBP and Hepititus are exceptions. Get a damn Hp B shot

Thank God you are not a doctor. Many of those disorders are genetic and others are not self-inflicted in any way. My liver failure was not caused by my drinking or anything else I did. Both of my parents had high blood pressure, but I do not. My mother was diabetic and so am I. My brother is not. My father died of heart failure and I have 5 stents in my cardiac arteries.

I think you need to reevaluate your use of the term self-inflicted.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Suppose big pharma came up with a new drug for alcoholism associated disorders and diseases. Liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome, dementia, and seizures.

But . . . suppose the drug was very expensive, say $12, 000 for a one-month supply so $144,000 per year. A rich person's medication.

And . . . the patient can keep drinking as they have been and still get the benefits.

Question: Should that medication be subsidized by the government to make it affordable for all, with manageable copays based on income?

Why is the drug so expensive?

 

[Seymour Flops]

Why is the drug so expensive?

Let's say it is a combination of high research costs, higher than usual manufacturing costs, and other countries capping the price so that U.S. customers are asked to bear those costs for both.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Let's say it is a combination of high research costs, higher than usual manufacturing costs, and other countries capping the price so that U.S. customers are asked to bear those costs for both.

Yes, except none of that matters if it is for the good of mankind. None of that really matters. Do you think the polio vaccine was expensive? How about cancer medications?

I took a medication for about 2 years that was $3000 a month, but it kept me alive and my insurance paid for it.

 

[Seymour Flops]

No because the disorders you mentioned are self inflicted.

As are diseases associated with poor diet .

Korsakoffs Syndrome is irreversible brain damage.

For aake of discussion, this drug reverses it.

Dementia HBP and Hepititus are exceptions. Get a damn Hp B shot

Assume pstients are too drunk to remember to do that.

 

[The Irish Ram]

No. My health shouldn't involve the government. Having said that, the government needs to reign in big pharma. Why are we charged top dollar for the same drugs overseas that they get at a much lower price?
The United States is tired of being everyone's sucker...

 

[Seymour Flops]

No. My health shouldn't involve the government. Having said that, the government needs to reign in big pharma. Why are we charged top dollar for the same drugs overseas that they get at a much lower price?
The United States is tired of being everyone's sucker...

The other countries regulate prices. So much as I hate price controls, we need to do the same or we have to pay for their low prices.

Unfortunately, our lawmakers are bought and paid for on both sides of the aisle by the pharmaceuticals.

 

[Robert W]

Suppose big pharma came up with a new drug for alcoholism associated disorders and diseases. Liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome, dementia, and seizures.

But . . . suppose the drug was very expensive, say $12, 000 for a one-month supply so $144,000 per year. A rich person's medication.

And . . . the patient can keep drinking as they have been and still get the benefits.

Question: Should that medication be subsidized by the government to make it affordable for all, with manageable copays based on income?

The patient keeps drinking? No, of course not.

 

[Robert W]

Thank God you are not a doctor. Many of those disorders are genetic and others are not self-inflicted in any way. My liver failure was not caused by my drinking or anything else I did. Both of my parents had high blood pressure, but I do not. My mother was diabetic and so am I. My brother is not. My father died of heart failure and I have 5 stents in my cardiac arteries.

I think you need to reevaluate your use of the term self-inflicted.

Ask if the OP is a doctor and if yes, what field?

 

[The Irish Ram]

Pfizer was the number one stock pick of 48 Congress members before the pandemic. It would be nice if we could get them out of bed with each other.
And only one other country besides us allows pharmaceuticals to advertise publically. Every other commercial here is a pharmaceutical draw. I swear they make up new illnesses and then tell the audience to "tell your Dr." about this, or "have a conversation with your Dr." about this drug".

 

[toobfreak]

Suppose big pharma came up with a new drug for alcoholism associated disorders and diseases. Liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome, dementia, and seizures. But . . . suppose the drug was very expensive, say $12, 000 for a one-month supply so $144,000 per year. A rich person's medication.

I will say this:

• I've studied medicine/anatomy for about 60 years. It was my first love of my life.
• In those 60 years, I've watched medicines go from broad, safe, cheap and effective to highly specialized, very dangerous side effects, efficacy in question, uber expensive.
• In my early teens, I found part of a leftover diet prescription unused by my mother.
• I took part of that partial prescription and lost all the weight I ever could need, safely, effectively and cheaply.
• Today, you can't get the drug and the prescribed alternative, Wegovy, is only poorly effective, dangerous to take, and costs an arm and a leg.
• When I was a kid, they routinely prescribed ear drops for my childhood earaches. Very effective. They still make the drug, but no one will prescribe it now.
• I've noticed that in the modern era, the more expensive a drug, the less effective it is and the more the insurance pushes it, but the more effective it is, the most the industry fights its prescription.

 

[Blaster]

Suppose big pharma came up with a new drug for alcoholism associated disorders and diseases. Liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome, dementia, and seizures.

But . . . suppose the drug was very expensive, say $12, 000 for a one-month supply so $144,000 per year. A rich person's medication.

And . . . the patient can keep drinking as they have been and still get the benefits.

Question: Should that medication be subsidized by the government to make it affordable for all, with manageable copays based on income?

They claim an anti-aging cure in another 10 years.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Ask if the OP is a doctor and if yes, what field?

Is this a question only doctors should be allowed to ask?

 

[Seymour Flops]

I will say this:

• I've studied medicine/anatomy for about 60 years. It was my first love of my life.
• In those 60 years, I've watched medicines go from broad, safe, cheap and effective to highly specialized, very dangerous side effects, efficacy in question, uber expensive.
• In my early teens, I found part of a leftover diet prescription unused by my mother.
• I took part of that partial prescription and lost all the weight I ever could need, safely, effectively and cheaply.
• Today, you can't get the drug and the prescribed alternative, Wegovy, is only poorly effective, dangerous to take, and costs an arm and a leg.
• When I was a kid, they routinely prescribed ear drops for my childhood earaches. Very effective. They still make the drug, but no one will prescribe it now.
• I've noticed that in the modern era, the more expensive a drug, the less effective it is and the more the insurance pushes it, but the more effective it is, the most the industry fights its prescription.

Interesting. in my early 30s, I was prescribed a drug called Soma for
TMJ that had been an issue for me since I was a kid. i woke up with sore jaws every morning which was pretty mild. but once in a while, If I jumped from a height or clenched my teeth for any reason, my jaw muscles would spasm badly, pulling my mouth open and I would have to work my jaw for many minutes just to be able to function.

I took the soma for a week. when I finished the prescription, I had a little trouble sleeping the first couple of nights and then no side effects after. The TMJ was completely gone and stayed gone for about twenty years.

When it came back I went to the doctor and told him about having taken soma years ago and how effective it was. His demeanor changed immediately, and he "prescribed" heating pads. i realized later that he assumed I was there drug shopping.

Adults should be able to take all but the most dangerous drugs on their own volition.

 

[Zincwarrior]

Suppose big pharma came up with a new drug for alcoholism associated disorders and diseases. Liver disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome, dementia, and seizures.

But . . . suppose the drug was very expensive, say $12, 000 for a one-month supply so $144,000 per year. A rich person's medication.

And . . . the patient can keep drinking as they have been and still get the benefits.

Question: Should that medication be subsidized by the government to make it affordable for all, with manageable copays based on income?

No. My health shouldn't involve the government. Having said that, the government needs to reign in big pharma. Why are we charged top dollar for the same drugs overseas that they get at a much lower price?
The United States is tired of being everyone's sucker...

Says the Boomer on Social Security and Medicare.

 

[toobfreak]

Interesting. in my early 30s, I was prescribed a drug called Soma for
TMJ that had been an issue for me since I was a kid. i woke up with sore jaws every morning which was pretty mild. but once in a while, If I jumped from a height or clenched my teeth for any reason, my jaw muscles would spasm badly, pulling my mouth open and I would have to work my jaw for many minutes just to be able to function.

I took the soma for a week. when I finished the prescription, I had a little trouble sleeping the first couple of nights and then no side effects after. The TMJ was completely gone and stayed gone for about twenty years.

When it came back I went to the doctor and told him about having taken soma years ago and how effective it was. His demeanor changed immediately, and he "prescribed" heating pads. i realized later that he assumed I was there drug shopping.

Adults should be able to take all but the most dangerous drugs on their own volition.

I had TMJ but never took Soma. I wore a splint for it.

 

[Seymour Flops]

I had TMJ but never took Soma. I wore a splint for it.

How'd that do for you? Mine is very mild, so I'm not sure it would be worth it.

 

[toobfreak]

How'd that do for you? Mine is very mild, so I'm not sure it would be worth it.

I had real bad TMJ and wore a full splint for many years. I only took it out to eat. It was only after many years and using it gradually less and less that I finally stopped using it altogether.