Dear Friends,

   I'm a Canadian living in Arizona for the winter. You may be interested in
the following comparisons for 30 tablets of Pravastatin (40mg):

   All the below prices are converted to US dollars

   Albertson's Pharmacy:   $129.17   WallGreen's Pharmacy: $135.99

   www.pharmacyincanada.com:  $47.32

   A 'walk-in' to a typical Alberta, Canada {*filter*}tore:   $32.15

   I use regularly a generic Pravachol (Lin Pravastatin). This pravastatin is
manufactured by Linson Pharma Inc. of Montreal, Canada under licence of
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

   I was told at both Albertsons and Wallgreens that there was *no* generic
pravastatin available for sale in the USA !!

   Go figure !!

-Mel Smith

Mel:

Why are you taking Pravachol?

Colin Rose MD

Dr. Rose,

   I've been taking Pravastatin for several years now (because of high
cholesterol not controllable by exercise -- a lot of walking golf - 75 games
last year, and a good diet -- lots of veggies).

   Whatever I did, I couldn't get my cholesterol below 6.2 -- now its 4.1

-Mel Smith

What is your weight, height and waist circumference? Also, send me a diary
of your cooking.net">food and drink intake for a week and we will see if there are any
changes to make.

Colin Rose MD

Out of curiosity, since you are in Arizona, did you check in Mexico as
well?

From: Oliver Costich

Yes, I went to Juarez, Mexico before Christmas.  I didn't record the prices
there but remember, that they were approx twice the cost of Canada's prices.

-Mel Smith

You'll probably want that cooking.net">food and drink intake in units of weight (ie ounces or
grams)  *wink*

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Atlanta Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com

Drs Rose & Chung,

   This thread was *supposed to be* about drug prices, and now its de-generated
to *my* diet :(((

Re: {*filter*} (again):
   Why can't the US Government put a 'cap' on drug prices as the Canadian
government has done.  Is this fraught with political problems ??

Re: My diet:

   For what its worth my typical breakfast is.
   A mixture of Cheerios & Bran Flakes, with skim milk, covered with a sliced,
whole banana, and dried fruit (typically, 4 apricots, dried plums, etc), and a
cup of coffee

   My lunch is soup, chees and crackers,

   My supper was lastnite (one porkchop, and a whopping bunch of steam
vegetables (i.e., brocoli, cauliflour, and carrots). Also, I had one glass of
Livingstone Cabernet Sauvignon wine -- cheap plonk !

To Dr. Rose:
   I'm 5 ft 7in, and weigh 148 lbs

   (and I'm not interested in changing my diet or getting into the details of
what I eat. My wife forces proper cooking.net">food on me.)

-Mel Smith

        The process would be like the Public Utilities policy in the US: A company is
allowed to dominate the market in its area provided that said company is willing
to limit its profit to be about 6% after expenses are paid. It is allowed to
incur most any expense it likes, but only with a special Commission's permission
to incorporate those costs. This is the way that water, sewer and electricity is
produced and dispensed in all communities in the US.
        I think it is a good idea (for prescription {*filter*}) who's time has come. You can
be sure that this has been under discussion behind closed doors in drug
companies and in congress for years. The drug company's theme is "How can we
keep this out of our face forever?". The politician's theme is "When will my
constituency start demanding that we form a Public Prescriptions Utility
Commission?". Ask your congressman about it.

        Angelo Campanella