how many vital drugs are still under patent?

[excess_3]

please be as specific as you can
.......................
I am somewhat skeptical of claims like ...

'my child needs $3000 a month for drugs.

what do they need?, laetrile?, insulin?
antibiotics?
how much raw material is in oxy-contin?.
..............................................
when I was growing up, I don't seem to remember
any large number of kids needing ritalin
...............................................
please enlighten me.

(thanks for any comments)

[exboyfil]

1. Many of the chemotherapy drugs are under

patent and are that expensive (I know from seeing my dad's statements). Did not work for my dad much - made him too sick. I went with him when I could (we lived 16 hours apart) to get the treatments. Over half the times I went with him he did not even get the drugs because he was too sick.

[Why Syzygy]

2. "Vital"

Is subjective.

Most of the sites that turn up with a google require paid subscription. Everyone seems to be watching them for patent expirations. You can get some idea of what the situation was five years ago from this:

http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/Drug-papers/Mullins-Palumbo%20paper-final.htm

[Celebration]

3. NO generic insulin

If you want to read part of the sad story about that

http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/inspiration_expert_advice/expert_columns/trecroci_122707.html

And we wonder why our health care costs are so high?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. Asthma drugs are expensive.

I take Spiriva (a once a day inhaled from a capsule medicine).

It costs $5 per day for one capsule with 18 mcg (micrograms, one-millionth of a gram) of active ingredient.

I calculated that that is $12,666,000.00 per POUND which is insane. :grr:

Most of what I take is generic but some of them have no generic substitute.
Patent drugs I take: Lipitor, Spiriva, Advair, Allegra-D 24 hr., Diovan, Rozerem (melatonin uptake inhibitor)