Colchicine, a drug primarily used to treat gout, is an old drug. Very old. Extracts from the plant it comes from, colchicum, have been used in gout treatment for thousands of years. In pill form as colchicine, it's been on the market in the United States since the 19th century and predates the Food and Drug Administration. A few years ago, the company that makes one brand of the drug, Colcrys, obtained FDA approval for their version, and the exclusive rights to sell it in the United States for three years. Who cares? Reader Nick does. He works in retail, isn't wealthy, and the colchicine he takes twice a day for a serious medical condition shot up in cost from about $20 per month to closer to $400.
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6 comments:
Typical Big Pharma ripoff.
Do they care about you?
Does it look like they do?
They care about making mega-bucks. Period.
Guess what.. cherry juice is very effective for gout.
Cherry juice.
If Big Pharma ever manages to get a patent on it, it will cost $400/ounce.
But right now, you can just go buy some at the store.
If you have gout, research 'cherry juice'.
http://www.arthritistoday.org/news/colchicine-gout-drug-discontinued086.php
This is absurd! FDA says it's because colchicine has never been tested and approved. Neither have lots of other simple meds that have been around for over a century.
pharmacutial companies need to be revamped for they are surely vamping us now!
Biggest lobbist in D C! Don't think it will ever end. The American public has been ripped to shreads by them!
Thats Obamacare for you.
CITIZENS know that pharmacuetical companies bribe their way thru Congress like a hot knife thru butter. Congress goes along with EVERY ONE of their recommendations. Our leaders couldn't care less about the effects of these rip off schemes on the American public because Congress gets THEIR prescriptions for free (under their own, separate health care plan). "Campaign contributions" (BRIBES) has trumped democracy and members of Congress aren't even ashamed of this system anymore. They have their hands out 24-7 and these special interests are right there to fill 'em up. 24-7.
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