Slow grow for U.S. prescription sales

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - U.S. prescription-drug sales grew in 2004 at their slowest rate in nine years, according to a study released Monday.

Why? A mild flu season, greater use of over-the-counter drugs, higher consumer co-pay charges and safety concerns about antidepressants and the painkillers known as Cox-2 inhibitors combined to cut sales.

Total U.S. prescription-drug sales reached $235.4 billion in 2004, up 8.3 percent from $217.3 billion in 2003, according to IMS Health, a private drug-industry research firm in Fairfield, Conn.

It was the first one-year spending hike since 1995 that was under 10 percent.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/10899565.htm

[Warpy]

1. I was on 10 prescriptions 15 months ago

and since I've been unemployed, I've gotten it down to two.

I don't think I'm unique.

The health care industry has simply priced itself out of reach for ordinary people.

[CAG]

2. Lets start taking up a collection for them

those poor drug companies may only have a 15% profit margin this year

[Kansas Wyatt]

3. The drug companies have already....

Compensated themselves by adjusting their drug prices to offset the massive losses they have had to endure by cheap tight-assed working people who cannot afford overpriced and inflated insurance, medical care, and prescriptions.

Pharmaceutical philosophy: If you didn't need it last year, you'll definitely need it this year at twice the cost. Now which option do you want, a funeral or our life saving drugs? Those cheap people do not actually think that they are going to rob the pharmaceuticals out of any extra profits, do they?

[Colorado Blue]

4. LOL! Personally I have decided a funeral is a better deal:)

[rwheeler31]

5. If you stop and go into the rapture right

just remember can't take a u haul to a funeral.

[BattyDem]

6. Why?

Because no one can f*cking afford them!!!! :grr: