The sham that “newer” meds are better. Despite what big pharma tells you.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/migraines/112021?xid=nl_mpt_Neurology_update_2024-09-20&mh=22c3cd8ebe0a923b5ca6e6e20f1222e0&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Automated%20Specialty%20Update%20Neurology%20BiWeekly%20FRIDAY%202024-09-20&utm_term=NL_Spec_Neurology_Update_Active

I am sharing this not due to the revelation that Triptans for migraine are better, but as a classic example of big pharma lying and promoting the newest $1500 meds as “better” than the cheaper generic predecessors. If you are a migraine sufferer, this article will be of interest to you though!

One thing needs to be put on the table: when pharma comes out with a new drug, it does NOT have to be BETTER at fixing the disease, it has to be JUST AS GOOD as the drugs that came before it. Do you know how many drugs enter the market that are just overpriced garbage that do no better for treating a patient than the old meds, but cost thousand(s) of dollars more? A TON.

We have a few great examples in psych right now. Lorazepam is a controlled 4 benzodiazepine for panic/anxiety/seizure disorder. It has been on the market for decades, generic and cheap. But oh wait, there is a pharma company (Bausch) that decided they want to make a “long acting” version of it. You take it once per day instead of 3x per day. Why do they want to do this? They require next to zero R&D, they just take an old drug, *improve it*, and sell it at an outrageous price.

https://www.loreevxr.com/

What did they do different? They put a special “coating” on it and put it into capsule form to make it last longer in your system to slow down the drug release. But it also does not truly replace the 3 doses that people have taken for years. Onset time is slower, lower, and it never reaches the efficacy level of the decade old generic version.

Does that look like you get them same efficacy out of 1 dose of Loreev versus 3 doses of Lorazepam? Nope. (Pharma loves trash graphs like this. They throw them in your face).

Now the really fun part. How much does this new Loreev cost compared to generic Lorazepam? Let’s consult GoodRX.

Generic Lorazepam, 1mg dose, given 3x per day, 90 tabs per month:

So wait……a patient can spend $20 or less per month (without insurance) and keep taking what they have been taking for years……or they can take 1 pill per day and pay $400-$500 per month because it is BRAND NAME? For the record, I have not prescribed Loreev to anyone, but one of my patients was started on it by another provider while I was on vacation, and when I got back they requested to go back to their old dose of Lorazepam because the Loreev didn’t work as well. *shocked*

Here is another dandy. The Tris company has decided that THEY want to make a new extend release version of Adderall. Why? Well, there is a shortage of generic! If another brand name hits the market, they know they can convince insurance companies to approve prior authorizations to pay for their new brand version of Adderall XR and reap the financial benefit of a short supply of generic Adderall on the market.

Dyanavel. That is their version of Adderall. And check this out: https://www.biospace.com/tris-pharma-announces-continued-supply-and-availability-of-dyanavel-xr-amphetamine-tablets-and-oral-suspension-for-adhd-despite-adderall-shortage

Well isn’t THAT convenient!!!!! They market themselves as available when generic is short supplied. What does the cost of this look like compared to generic Adderall?

Generic first: I ran the 20mg XR dose for 30 days:

What does ol’ Dyanavel charge ya?

Well look at that. What makes me mad is that they even allocated part of the amphetamine supply to this company to make this brand drug. Allocate it to the generic companies making generic Adderall, because it isn’t coincidental that THIS DRUG LAUNCHED when the Adderall shortage was increasing.

I am not promoting people being on Adderall or Lorazepam here, I am using them as two great examples in the world of psych. Newer is not always better. It just has to be “as good”. Newer is never cheaper. Pharma advertising must stop. Pharma reps need to stop having open access to healthcare providers and clinics.