Alphagan, Xalatan Among Drugs Costing Seniors More.

Review of Optometry, July, 2001

The 50 most heavily prescribed drugs for seniors rose in price, on average, at more than twice the rate of inflation over the past year, reports a new study from the consumer health organization Families USA. The prices of these 50 drugs increased on average 6.1%, although the rate of inflation (excluding energy) was 2.7% during 2000.

The report says that more than a third (18 of 50) of the most-prescribed drugs for seniors rose in price at least three times the rate of inflation. Among the drugs were two for eye care: Alphagan (brimonidine), which rose 8.4 times the rate of inflation, and Xalatan (laranoprost) which rose 2.2 times inflation. Families USA director Ron Pollack says because many older Americans live on fixed incomes, such...