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I ran across a story in the acclaimed “medical journal”, International Business Times, about how an old PMS medication from the 60s might be an Alzheimer's cure. Considering the source, I don't put a ton of stock in the story but it was interesting enough to look around a little more. That led me first to wikipedia to learn a little more about the drug in question (sounds like it has nasty side effects), which is when I got totally sidetracked:
Mefenamic acid is generic and is available worldwide under many brand names.[5]
In the USA, wholesale price of a week's supply of generic mefenamic acid has been quoted as $426.90 in 2014. Brand-name Ponstel is $571.70.[15] In contrast, in the UK, a weeks supply is £1.66, or £8.17 for branded Ponstan.[16] In the Philippines, 10 tablets of 500 mg generic mefenamic acid cost PHP39.00 (or the equivalent of $0.88USD) as of October 25, 2014.
The numbers in wikipedia may be extreme, but not by much. Looking online, I see that thirty 250mg tablets cost at least $111 at Walmart. In an almost direct reversal of the quantity and price numbers, one hundred 250mg tablets cost $35 from a UK manufacturer, but to get the drug at that price, you must break Federal law.
The rest of my comment would be a long string of expletives which I shall omit.
(Score: 1) by fubari on Monday August 15 2016, @04:52PM
(also, meant to say sorry to hear about her getting hit with alzheimers before hitting submit)
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Monday August 15 2016, @06:41PM
I can look, may have some records still, but it's been 15 years since HRT for her was quietly dropped. It was for menopause, and I expect she would have received whatever was thought a "standard" treatment at the time.
(Score: 1) by fubari on Tuesday August 23 2016, @06:32PM
ok, thanks for the context - don't worry about following up. That is long enough ago that my best guess would be they were prescribing premarin (I've yet to read anything good about permarin). At any rate... anyone stumbling on this should search for "bioidentical hormone replacement therapy".