The Generic Lipitor costs MORE than Lipitor!

[thekeithfan]

I went down to CVS to pick up my first prescription of "generic" Lipitor yesterday. My Lipitor prescription was $113.86. The generic version of 'Atorvastatin" for the same dose etc was $124.97!!!! Remember the article in the Villages Sun about how much we were going to save on Generic Lipitor??? CVS filled the more expensive generic! I asked the pharmacist about it and he pretty much gave me the blank stare (frankly I don't think he could believe it either). What is going on here?

[RichieB]

My wife uses Lipitor, and we get 90-day supplies through a nail order pharmacy. Her last order placed early this month cost $222.70 for the generic version you mentioned. The brand name Lipitor would have cost $409.21. These prices are from the drug price checker on the mail order pharmacy website.

Do a Google search on "Generic Lipitor," and check some of the articles that come up. It seems that some kinds of deals weree in the works between Pfizer and several other generic manufacturers. I don't fully understand what was/is going on. You might also see where you can get $4 co-pay cards for generic Lipitor. You might also talk about this with your pharmacist and see what programs they might be aware of.

[brostholder]

I went down to CVS to pick up my first prescription of "generic" Lipitor yesterday. My Lipitor prescription was $113.86. The generic version of 'Atorvastatin" for the same dose etc was $124.97!!!! Remember the article in the Villages Sun about how much we were going to save on Generic Lipitor??? CVS filled the more expensive generic! I asked the pharmacist about it and he pretty much gave me the blank stare (frankly I don't think he could believe it either). What is going on here?
There are a few things the pharmacist could've done. He could have given you the name brand (although he may have had to call the doctor first). He could have checked with his management to find out why cvs was charging more for a generic than a name brand. And, he could have done all he could to get you an explanation instead of giving you a blank stare. Often, when a generic comes out, they are granted 90 day exclusivity by the FDA. When there is only one generic on the market, they will usually sell for about 85% of the brand price. As other generics come to market, the price drops considerably.

[natickdan]

My co-pay dropped from $50 for Lipitor to $10 for the generic brand (1 month). I would definitely contact CVS as your cost doesn't make sense.

Lipitor now has a $4 monthly co-pay program. I don't know what the terms are, but I know my sister in FL is now paying only a $4 co-pay. Here is the link:

https://www.lipitor.com/patients/lipitorforyou.aspx

[KayakerNC]

I went down to CVS to pick up my first prescription of "generic" Lipitor yesterday. My Lipitor prescription was $113.86. The generic version of 'Atorvastatin" for the same dose etc was $124.97!!!! Remember the article in the Villages Sun about how much we were going to save on Generic Lipitor??? CVS filled the more expensive generic! I asked the pharmacist about it and he pretty much gave me the blank stare (frankly I don't think he could believe it either). What is going on here?

I'd be stopping at a nearby Walmart and Walgreen store, and having a nice talk with the pharmacists there about prescription costs. :$:

[jblum315]

When I lived in NY, the CVS made several costly errors on my prescriptions and had to refund my money. Just saying.

[cherylncliff]

Once Lipitor went generic Pfizer reduced prices to remain competitive. You should check out the Pfizer patient assistance program at http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/misc/Default.aspx This program is designed to help patients get the medicine they need.

[blueash]

When a drug patent expires, the Fda encourages the production of generic equivalent substitutes to save the consumer $$. However, they recognize that if many companies all at once produced a generic then there would be little motivation for any company to make one as they would be splitting the market. So, only one company gets to make a generic for the first six months, after that multiple generics may become available. The generic manufacturer usually prices their drug at 80 to 90 % of the brand name product, however Pfizer decided to undercut the generic to preserve market share. In six months the price will come way down. Just FYI, there are multiple generic statin drugs available for $4/month. Lipitor is a very well marketed drug but as far as I can tell, there is no data of it being any more effective than for instance zocor (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11016019
So stop paying $100/mo and ask your doctor to write generic simvastatin or pravastatin or whatever your local pharmacy will give you for $4/mo. In six months if you want then go back to lipitor when the price comes down

[Villages PL]

What is going on here?

I would try asking for a partial refund, at least. Find out what is a reasonable price you should have paid and ask them to refund the difference. If they say no, ask them for the toll free number of the main office. That should do it. If they want your business to continue, and I'm sure they do, they will do whatever it takes to satisfy you.

Take my advice for whatever it's worth.....I have never had to take any prescription drugs so I'm not speaking from experience. But I think I know something about the way stores operate. :)