In 2004, the Oregon Department of Justice helped reach a $430 million global settlement against Warner-Lambert, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., over allegations of deceptive and off-label marketing of Neurontin, an epilepsy drug. The settlement was agreed to by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs™ is a public education project administered by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine. It is partially supported by funding from the Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant, which was established using $21 million of the Neurontin settlement, to offer consumers and health care providers unbiased research and information about pharmaceutical products.
Note: The site is intended to help consumers make informed health care decisions, but is not a substitute for a doctor’s advice or judgment. Please visit the site's FAQs for more information.
Some general tips on how to protect your health and your pocketbook include:
Explore Generic Drug Options. Prescription drugs come in two forms, brand name drugs and generic drugs. Generic drugs are identical formulas or brand name drugs that have expired patents. Generic medicines differ from brand-name medicines in only two ways: name and appearance (by law generic drugs may not look like their brand-name counterparts). It is a common misconception that the newest drugs on the market are better. Studies show that many older medicines are just as effective as newer medicines and can offered at a substantially lower price.
Keep a Written Record of Your Prescriptions. It is important to keep a written list of all the drugs and supplements you are taking. Some drugs and supplements will interact negatively with or counteract each other if taken together. Most importantly, this can be hazardous to your health, but it can also be a waste of money if the medications you are taking are not working effectively. Make sure to periodically review this list with your doctor to ensure that your regimen is both safe and cost-effective.
Talk to Your Doctor. Only a medical professional can help you decide which drug and what dose of a drug is right for you. However, the information provided information on the Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs™ Web site can be a solid starting point to talk to you doctor about how to get the most value for your health care dollar.
Please visit Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs™ for more detailed information about making savvy choices about prescription medicines and your health.
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