Comments on: The Purple Pill provides a perfect case in point for the health care price pandemic. http://standardmischief.com/blog/2007/07/01/the-purple-pill-provides-a-perfect-case-in-point-for-the-health-care-price-pandemic/ Life. Liberty. Pursuit of Happiness. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:56:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Standard Mischief » Blog Archive » More on health care, specifically so called “lifestyle drugs” http://standardmischief.com/blog/2007/07/01/the-purple-pill-provides-a-perfect-case-in-point-for-the-health-care-price-pandemic/#comment-16042 Standard Mischief » Blog Archive » More on health care, specifically so called “lifestyle drugs” Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:18:28 +0000 http://standardmischief.com/blog/2007/07/01/the-purple-pill-provides-a-perfect-case-in-point-for-the-health-care-price-pandemic/#comment-16042 [...] the other day I was talking about acid-reflux medication. Are they “medically necessary” or are they “lifestyle drugs”? Well, I [...] [...] the other day I was talking about acid-reflux medication. Are they “medically necessary” or are they “lifestyle drugs”? Well, I [...]

]]> By: Standard Mischief http://standardmischief.com/blog/2007/07/01/the-purple-pill-provides-a-perfect-case-in-point-for-the-health-care-price-pandemic/#comment-15037 Standard Mischief Tue, 03 Jul 2007 05:44:48 +0000 http://standardmischief.com/blog/2007/07/01/the-purple-pill-provides-a-perfect-case-in-point-for-the-health-care-price-pandemic/#comment-15037 Haven't tried the Giant stuff yet, I'll avoid it. One respiratory doc I saw gave me a recipe for home brewed stuff, but it looked like a lot of bother. Really, even at full price I'm paying less than a buck a week. I was wrong about splitting the Nexium capsule. Although it is a capsule, it has directions to dose using a feeding tube. Basically you open the capsule and either consume the micro-pills inside or in the case of the tube, flush it down using a bit of water. What you want to avoid doing is crushing the time-release micro-pills. Since the 40 mg is priced the same as the 20 mg, it might be feasible to split a 40 mg capsule and only take one half a day. That might cut your out-of-pocket in half, but it sure sounds like a lot of work to save $943 per year. Haven’t tried the Giant stuff yet, I’ll avoid it. One respiratory doc I saw gave me a recipe for home brewed stuff, but it looked like a lot of bother. Really, even at full price I’m paying less than a buck a week.

I was wrong about splitting the Nexium capsule. Although it is a capsule, it has directions to dose using a feeding tube. Basically you open the capsule and either consume the micro-pills inside or in the case of the tube, flush it down using a bit of water. What you want to avoid doing is crushing the time-release micro-pills. Since the 40 mg is priced the same as the 20 mg, it might be feasible to split a 40 mg capsule and only take one half a day. That might cut your out-of-pocket in half, but it sure sounds like a lot of work to save $943 per year.

]]> By: Tino http://standardmischief.com/blog/2007/07/01/the-purple-pill-provides-a-perfect-case-in-point-for-the-health-care-price-pandemic/#comment-15013 Tino Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:23:06 +0000 http://standardmischief.com/blog/2007/07/01/the-purple-pill-provides-a-perfect-case-in-point-for-the-health-care-price-pandemic/#comment-15013 I use Prilosec OTC, and I don't notice any difference at all from Nexium. Exact same effects. Beware the generic saline nose-spray, though! While the sterile salt-water is the same thing, the real value-add is the packaging. I've tried the Giant brand saline nose-spray, and found it wanting. They seem to use a cheaper plastic for their bottles which imparts a plasticky smell to the spray, and the sprayer isn't as good, either. I've compared them and found that the premium is well worth it. (Plus, Costco sells Ocean on the cheap anyway.) I use Prilosec OTC, and I don’t notice any difference at all from Nexium. Exact same effects.

Beware the generic saline nose-spray, though! While the sterile salt-water is the same thing, the real value-add is the packaging. I’ve tried the Giant brand saline nose-spray, and found it wanting. They seem to use a cheaper plastic for their bottles which imparts a plasticky smell to the spray, and the sprayer isn’t as good, either. I’ve compared them and found that the premium is well worth it.

(Plus, Costco sells Ocean on the cheap anyway.)

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