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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Katie Rose on March 21, 2002, at 18:09:08
Hello all!
Provigil is so expensive for us poor folks. Does anybody know when or if we will get Adrafinil in the USA? I really wish that I could try it now. My pdoc won't approve of that, and I don't want to do anything behind his back. He suspects that Adrafinil is bad for the liver ... I think that's what he said. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and really need the Provigil, or something very similar. Ritalin and Concerta didn't work very well for my type of fatigue. With those I can sleep right through a dose. Overall, I like Provigil much better.
Thank you all for being here, and for caring! : )
Katie Rose
Posted by Mark H. on March 21, 2002, at 20:26:04
In reply to When do we get Adrafinil in US??, posted by Katie Rose on March 21, 2002, at 18:09:08
Hi Katie Rose,
I've asked myself the same question and came up with this possible answer:
The makers of Olmifon (adrafinil) face two significant obstacles to marketing it in the US: 1.) Provigil (based on a metabolite of adrafinil, I believe) is newer, stronger, already approved by the FDA and selling extremely well, despite the high cost to the consumer; and 2.) adrafinil is associated with a higher incidence of serious side-effects (notably liver damage, as your doctor said).
From a business standpoint, it's expensive for a pharmaceutical company to get FDA approval. Likewise, any drug that causes serious harm to a significant number of patients is more likely to result in lawsuits, which also costs them money. Finally, the introduction of adrafinil in the US might undercut their sales of Provigil and negatively affect their profits.
I think this one is all about money, and unless the business climate for pharmaceutical companies changes drastically, we may never see adrafinil offered here.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by fachad on March 21, 2002, at 20:33:44
In reply to When do we get Adrafinil in US??, posted by Katie Rose on March 21, 2002, at 18:09:08
Probably Not Ever.
It's all about the $$.
The drug companies look at the cost to bring a product to market, which in the US is very high due to red tape surrounding the FDA requirements.
Then they look at the potential market share that could be captured by that drug, and the revenue it would bring in.
Basically, the idea is that the US psych drug market place is already saturated, and the return on investment would not be quick enough to justify spending the money to make Adrafanil available in the US.
We should never forget that the whole psyco-pharmaceutical industry is a for-profit business, and that their objectives are focused on profitabiltiy and high dividends to stockholders, not on our well being or response to their products.
Sorry to sound so cynical, but it's the way things are in the real world.
This is the end of the thread.
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