Brand Name Medications

The age old debate that continues to rage to this day and most likely will continue for quite some time: brand vs. generic medication. Brand name medications take the spot light in this post as I go over some of the key talking points concerning brand name.

The Price

Multiple variables factor in to the high price of brand name medications.

• Research and development (Kaiser, 2011)

• Manufacturers try to regain some of the cost that goes in to both successful and unsuccessful drugs

• Advertising and marketing (Kaiser, 2011)

• Manufacturers invest heavily in to advertising new and expensive drugs to doctors and patients

• Patent protection (Kaiser, 2011)

• New medications may be patented for up to twenty years giving exclusive right to the manufacturers to sell the drug.

In a perfect example, Pfizer has moved to extremes to protect one of their most profitable drugs, Lipitor. Pfizer will pump millions of dollars in to marketing Lipitor further in an attempt to undermine the recently released generic.

But the brand is safer and better than generic right?

Not necessarily. Have you tried looking for brand name Tylenol®, Benadryl®, Motrin®, Rolaids®, Simply Sleep®, or St. Joseph’s® aspirin on the shelves in the past year? The mentioned brand names have been hard to find because McNeil PPC, Inc. recalled the medications and pulled them off theshelves.

McNeil PPC, Inc. created a site to explain and provide affected lots.

However, do not allow the fault of one manufacturer completely discredit the rest. I mention this particular manufacturer simply to prove the point that just because you buy brand does not mean you are buying the best quality.

References

Associated Press. (2010, January 21). Tylenol recall expanded to Motrin, Benadryl, more. News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2010-01-15-tylenol-recall-expands_N.htm

DeNoon, D. (2010, January 15). Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, Aspirin, Rolaids Recall. WebMD - Better information. Better health.. Retrieved December 2, 2011, from http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20100115/tylenol-motrin-benedryl-rolaids-aspirin-recall

Johnson, L. A., & Press, A. (2011, November 30). Lipitor will be far cheaper as patent expires. News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/treatments/story/2011-11-29/Pfizer-maneuvers-to-protect-Lipitor-from-generics/51475288/1

McNeil PPC, Inc.. (2010, October 8). MCNEIL PRODUCT RECALL. MCNEIL PRODUCT RECALL. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/

The Kaiser Family Foundation. (February 2010). Prescription Drug Costs: Issue Modules, Background 

                 Brief - KaiserEDU.org, Health Policy Education from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. 

                 KaiserEDU.org. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://www.kaiseredu.org/Issue-

                 Modules/Prescription-Drug-Costs/Background-Brief.aspx