The Price of Prescription Drugs

Taking medication is a daily necessity for many people. Nearly half of U.S. residents have used at least one prescription drug in the last 30 days. And with the price of prescription drugs skyrocketing in recent years, people all over the world are suffering the financial consequences. Today, one third of pharmaceutical industries profit stems from the U.S., which totals roughly $340 billion in sales.

In fact, the U.S. spends nearly $1000 per person per year on pharmaceuticals. That’s around 40 percent more than Canada and more than twice the cost than France and Germany.

These astronomical prices have led many people to ask doctors for lower-cost medications, use alternative therapies, not follow instructions on the prescription, and purchase their prescriptions from other countries. For example Cymbalta—a prescription used to treat depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia—costs a staggering $194 in the U.S. Yet in Canadian pharmacies, that price dips to $110. Overseas in England, Cymbalta is only around one quarter of the U.S. price.

Want to learn more about the price of prescription drugs and how it may affect your family? Check out the infographic below for more staggering facts and statistics about prescription drugs.