Posted by pharmrep on September 2, 2002, at 1:49:45
In reply to Re: Simple Economics?, posted by Simcha on September 1, 2002, at 20:28:59
> >****Do you know how managed care works? Just because Lexapro is less than Celexa, doesnt mean Celexa will get bumped off formulary. They will both be high on the formularies ahead of other AD's.
>
> Yes, I've had many HMOs and I know how they work. I have a cousin in that business. The HMOs are heartless entities who don't really care about what you really need. All they want to do is "control costs" so that profit is maximized.
>
> >Forest is not trying to "remove" Celexa. And there is a lot more to Lexapro than being "1/2 of Celexa" in fact if you are on 40mg of Celexa...then 10mg of Lexapro would be the equivalent..not 20mg.
>
> Actually I've read extensively about Escitalopram for years. I've been watching its arrival. All the studies I know say that I'd need 20mg to equal 40mg of Celexa.
>
> >Do you have access to any of the studies? If not...keep checking the posts (or web)...they are out there. And "doing it differently" is the right thing to do...bring the better med to the public if thats what it is.
>
> No, they are doing the same underhanded game of economics that other drug companies play just differently. Mark my words. HMOs will eliminate Celexa from their formularies once they see that Lexapro is cheaper. All they really care about is cost.
I still have yet to see a study that proves that Lexapro is a better med than Celexa. That trial will really come once it gets prescribed for years. I'm not willing to jump into this experiment quite yet.
>
> Still Sceptical,
> Simcha** I'm not sure what studies you've read, but in just the last year or so...9 have come out in the US. Have you seen anything from Jack Gorman, William Burke, C. Sanchez (microdialysis), Lydiard, or Greenblatt? These are the most recent, and ones the FDA used to approve in the US. They all show different mg's of both drugs, but I assure you, 10mg of Lexapro (the lowest dose) is "at least as effective as" 40mg of Celexa (The higher titrated dose)...taking 20mg of Lexapro is too much to start...besides, I thought you said you liked Celexa...why switch?
PS........Why would Celexa get bumped...it will be #3 in price behind only generic Prozac and Lexapro? I still dont think it will get bumped.
poster:pharmrep
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118498.html