Posted by pharmrep on September 1, 2002, at 19:08:40
In reply to Re: Generic Celexa Won't Happen: Simple Economics » pharmrep, posted by Simcha on September 1, 2002, at 18:53:32
> >*** where do you get your info on Celexa being "knocked off" formulary?
>
> Logic my man. Pure logic. Since Lexapro is supposed to be the "New and Improved Celexa" and it will be priced cheaper than Celexa, insurance companies *WILL* notice and dump Celexa from the formulary. It's simple economics.
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> >I dont think that will happen...Forest is not trying to have "happy" Celexa patients switch to Lexapro...just those who "need" to for adverse event reasons. And to concur..generic Celexa not in US til late 2005....
>
> Um, I beg to differ. I still see no research that tells me that Lexapro is anything more than just another SSRI. Lexapro is 1/2 of what Celexa is and yes it still would take 20mg of Lexapro to equal 40mg of Celexa. This is my effective dose. The side effect profile for 20mg of Lexapro and 40mg of Celexa are not statistically significant.
>
> >PS Will somebody tell Simcha about Howard Soloman and his story (and his son) so maybe this way Simcha might see Forest in a different light.
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> Um Forest Labs is soooo very far away from its early days. Now it is no more than any other Drug Giant.
>
> If Forest were really so benificent then they would give up their patent for an allegedly inferior drug (Celexa) so that more patients might at least be able to afford it while introducing the lower-priced Lexapro. Instead we will see insurance companies drop the more expensive version of Forest's drug, Celexa, from their formularies. No, this is a marketing strategy to force Lexapro into market dominance.
>
>
> >PPS...the above point about waiting til patent out is what GlaxoSmithKline did with Paxil...Paxil CR was approved by FDA 3 years ago, but only came out this year...when the original Paxil expires...the public and Dr's are learning this and are not happy....sorry it happens Simcha...but really...Forest isnt a bad cookie and is trying to do the right thing...by promoting the better med.)
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> Forest is just doing it differently. Please use common sense, economics, and marketing savvy then tell me if their plan is not about forcing Celexa out so that Lexapro will rise to the top.****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. 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. 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.
poster:pharmrep
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118472.html