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: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Monday August 15 2016, @07:13AM
I am not a medical doctor, but I am a doctor of philosophy. Any chance we can get some of this good stuff for the several members of our community that need it? In the interests of privacy, I will not mention any names, except for Runaway1956-2626. I feel he is in great need. He barely recognizes any of us Soylentils any more, he is constantly combative against those who most want to help him, and he seems like he is going to end up being a Trump voter. All classic signs. So, cross-border incursions, smuggling healing drugs? Would almost be like that Firefly episode with the train.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 15 2016, @01:24PM
Beware of "help"-bearing Greeks.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 15 2016, @06:20PM
and he seems like he is going to end up being a Trump voter
Those who disagree with you have a mental disease? Maybe you should rethink your values. Having a degree in philosophy you should know better than most that there is no 'one truth'.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by aristarchus on Monday August 15 2016, @11:40PM
Those who disagree with you have a mental disease? Maybe you should rethink your values.
And maybe you should rethink causality? My claim is that those who have a mental disease disagree with us, and need help. I did not say that all who disagree are mentally ill. Although in extreme cases, that is not unlikely. So, are you mental, or not? Inquiring minds want to know.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday August 15 2016, @09:26PM
Runaway really isn't that bad, and has shown himself to be far more rational and open to new information than Uzzard or, good grief, our resident scientific racist J-Mo. We clash but there's usually SOME constructive result, ad I've modded several of his posts up because they do make sense.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...