Why don't we have generic Zyrtec in the USA?

Question

I'm so pissed off at our countries leadership. I'm paying $60 a month for my son's 10 mg zyrtec which he takes once a day. I did an online search. New Zealand and other countries have the generic, Razene available. Want to know for how much? $15 for 3 MONTHS worth! 90 PILLS!
So why???? Why they have it and we don't????
I KNOW! Maybe it's because they have socialized medicine and their government wants to save money? And maybe since we don't our government could care less how much it costs, or if we even have insurance, so the pharmaceutical companies stick it to us! Sad state of affairs.
One more year of Bush. Maybe the Democrats can fix this mess.

Harley, I'm not asking for the government to PROVIDE the medication or that we have socialized health insurance.
I just want the same opportunity to buy generic here that other countries do.

SweetPea: I never asked you or anyone else to buy my kid's medicine. I just think it's really strange we get the generics last. You don't think the pharmaceutical companies could be sending some bribes in the direction of the FDA do you? Oh no......no one in government would ever do that! LOL
My point was: it's cheaper in the socialized countries because their government contracts for cheaper price because THEY are footing the bill! ANd the pharmaceutical co.'s still make $$
Hence: it could be cheaper here if we could get the generics approved faster.
And they would still make money.
I understand the generic can't be sold until patent runs out. But my pharmacist said the Zyrtec one ran out last year!
So where is the generic? Overseas.

Answer 1

You hit that square on the head.

The shameful thing is most of the drugs are made in this country ,shipped to other countries and they still manage to pay a lower prices than the domestic prices here in America.

Now the US. drug manufacturer want to make it difficult or illegal for US citizens to acquire drugs from outside the U.S.A. I have hope also, however the Democrats probably
will not be able to resolve the situation without the assistance of concerned citizens.

Have a pleasant day.

Answer 2

It's not the governments responsibility to provide cheap medication. What about high milk prices or gas prices or Starbucks. Capitalism works like it should. The socialized medicine you speak of costs more than the out of pocket you are paying now, through taxes etc. If a Dem gets in, it will cost you a lot more than you are paying now.

Answer 3

The cost to bring one drug to market in the US, due to testing research and government approval costs between 450-700 million dollars. It takes on average 7 years to get it approved.

In return for the investment made by drug companies they get a patent that gives them a number of years to market the drug and recoup their money.

Once the patent expires, other companies can sell a generic.

if you take away the drug companies right to make a profit, do you really think they will invest the millions it takes to research new drugs?

In case you are wondering...no I don't work for a drug company. I just took the time to try and understand why drugs cost so much here in the US.

Answer 4

I'm not paying for your kids medicine. You want socialized medicine, move.