Generics as Effective for Arthritis and Pain as Brand Drugs - Consumer Reports

Ibuprofen and Salsalate Chosen as Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs -
Two generic drugs - ibuprofen and salsalate - cost significantly less and are as effective as brand name medicines for most
people needing treatment for osteoarthritis and mild to moderate pain, according to a report released today by the Consumer
Reports Best Buy Drugs Project. This is particularly good news for people with arthritis who are now looking for an
alternative to Vioxx, which has been withdrawn from the market for safety reasons.


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The two generics, selected as the Best Buy Drugs in the category known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
cost $24 to $30 a month on average. Some brand name NSAIDs cost more than $150 a month and up to $300 a month.


Thus, the savings possible from a prescription for one of the Best Buy medicines compared to an expensive brand can be
substantial.


The report indicates that all the prescription NSAIDs are equally as effective at typical and comparable dose levels. It
recommends that people who have health insurance talk with their doctor about finding the NSAID that has the lowest possible
out-of-pocket cost under their health insurance plan. Other relatively low-cost generic NSAIDs are available in addition to
ibuprofen and salsalate.


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The report also notes that all NSAIDs can have dangerous side effects, especially at higher doses. It recommends that people
who have had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, or are at risk of either, consider avoiding the drugs
altogether if possible.


A newer type of NSAID - called Cox-2 inhibitors - have been marketed to help protect against stomach ulcers and GI bleeding.
The report notes that the Cox-2 drugs - Celebrex and Bextra - do not protect against this risk completely. In addition, these
medicines are being closely scrutinized in light of the recent removal from the market of Vioxx, also a Cox-2 drug. Vioxx was
linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.


"The ubiquitous ads for Vioxx and Celebrex over the last few years have led many consumers to think these costly drugs are
better for everyone. They are not." says Gail Shearer, director of health policy analysis for Consumers Union and project
manager for Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs. "Our analysis indicates that millions of consumers could get the same symptom
relief and save a lot of money by taking one of the Best Buy drugs we recommend, or another generic, especially if they must
pay for their own medicines out-of-pocket."















Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is an educational and outreach initiative that compares a variety of prescription drugs on
cost, effectiveness and safety to help consumers and their doctors identify the most effective and affordable medicines.
Consumers can download reports from the free website, CRBestBuyDrugs, of the first three drug categories reviewed: cholesterol-lowering statins,
heartburn and acid reflux treatments, and anti-inflammatories. Each month, Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs will feature a
report on best buys in commonly used drug categories.


Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs combines evidence-based research on the comparative effectiveness and safety of prescription
drugs with national-level data on drug prices. The information on drug effectiveness is derived from the Drug Effectiveness
Review Project (DERP), a 12-state initiative. Drug cost information reflects average retail prices paid in cash by consumers
at the pharmacy. The CU reports are peer-reviewed by medical experts in the particular drug category.


Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is funded in part with a grant from the Engelberg Foundation, a charitable trust that
supports a wide range of activities in the fields of health care, science and education. The project is also partially funded
through a grant from the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health.


©Consumers Union 2004. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or
promotional purposes. Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports®, is an expert, independent nonprofit organization
whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect
themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and impartiality, CU accepts
no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports itself
through the sale of our information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.


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View drug information on Bextra; Vioxx.