REFORM: U.S. drug costs grossly inflated

We have been hearing a lot about medical health reform lately from our government. This weekend I had an experience that relates directly to this situation.

My wife needed a prescription refill of Miraplex, which is a prescription drug to treat restless leg syndrome. I ordered it from our physician who sent it in to be refilled at a local pharmacy. This weekend I picked it up. When I did the charge was $126 for 90 pills! In addition her insurance had already paid $102.99 of the bill. This meant the charge for 90 pills was $228.99. When I told my wife this she said go ahead and get it since they did work. The cost was only going to be $1.40 per day! So I did.

After I got home I went online and found out how much they would cost from a Canadian pharmacy: $59 for 100 pills! No wonder the American public is fed up with the American drug industry. This is a serious rip-off and there is not any reason for it except greed. The pills were exactly the same (Pramipexole .25 mg, the generic for Miraplex).

How can a U.S. company in all good consciousness charge more than double for the same thing I could have gotten by calling an 800 number in Canada? This is grossly wrong and needs to be corrected.

I am writing my congressmen about the situation and I hope that everyone who has experienced or might experience the same thing will write also. Let’s all get together and get this situation corrected. It is wrong.

MICHAEL MILLER

Post Falls