January 2008
Best medicines for less
We compare drugs for what ails America
GlaxoSmithKline spent $52 million between 2005 and 2006 advertising the diabetes drug Avandia and increased sales by 20 percent.
But older diabetes drugs that cost much less are equally effective and probably safer.
Alzheimer's drugs that cost $150 to $200 a month are heavily promoted to doctors and are routinely prescribed, yet studies show they may help only 10 to 20 percent of patients.
The four prescription drugs that treat heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) produce about the same benefit. But there's a nonprescription drug that works just as well and can save users hundreds of dollars a year.
Those are among the highlights from Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, a public education project that makes comparative drug information available free of charge at www.ConsumerReportsBestBuyDrugs.org. We have now evaluated drugs for 35 conditions, including attention deficit disorder, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insomnia, menopause, migraine, and overactive bladder.
Alzheimer's drugs that cost $150 to $200 a month are heavily promoted to doctors and are routinely prescribed, yet studies show they may help only 10 to 20 percent of patients.
The four prescription drugs that treat heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) produce about the same benefit. But there's a nonprescription drug that works just as well and can save users hundreds of dollars a year.
Those are among the highlights from Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, a public education project that makes comparative drug information available free of charge at www.ConsumerReportsBestBuyDrugs.org. We have now evaluated drugs for 35 conditions, including attention deficit disorder, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insomnia, menopause, migraine, and overactive bladder.
