I am new so bare with me....has anyone noticed that the cost of Gabapentin has increased dramatically in the last few months. Does anyone know why this is happening?

Soory I don't use it. Just want to say welcome to the group. There are many knowledge and caring people here.

Welcome to Neuro Talk. I know about the prices of medications have gone up. In fact most of them. I went to Canada, in person, as that country bargins with the pharmacutical companies. what I found out being there horrified me. I do have a suggestion. If you cannot afford your medications, you can write directly to the company that manufactures the medicine. Sometimes they have a program that will allow you to receive your med. at no charge. Your doctor could also write a letter saying you need this medication. When I had no insurance, I did this with my PCP and got two of my medications for free. I hope you try to do this, as not many know this is available. I wish you all the best. ginnie

Supposedly there is a shortage of some ingredients for some meds. Whether thisis true, or contrived by BigPharma, I don't know. A shortage of anything always drives up prices, as if they don't rake in enough $$$ now.

A short search shows these companies making gabapentin powder:

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/gabapentin.html

Notice many are China... this may be the problem. Quality from China has been not good in the past years, so some problem may be present there.

Also I found a UK PDF stating that gabapentin had increased in price by 250% by 2010. I don't know if that is unique to England or not.

Do not suddenly stop taking gabapentin if you have been on this drug for a substantial period of time. It should be tapered off if you and your doctor decide to discontinue it.

I have been involved with a group of people who went to Canada through a consumer watch dog entity. This group has proved that our gov. does control the prices through the big pharmacy companies. There is no barganing, and because of that the pharmacy industry is free to do any thing it wants. I was paying $1,000 for my scripts a month. when I went to canada I got three months worth of all my meds, for under $300. What does that say about our country? There is a power play going on. I witnessed it first hand when the freedom of speech was denied to those of us on the train to canada. Reporters were not let on board to hear our stories. where did our freedom of speech go? I had no health insurance, and the poor without insurance cannot afford their medications at all. All of what two generations saved for was taken form me because I had no insurance, and I joined the ranks of the poor because of my health. Our system is extremely flawed. I feel for all those people we know right here who struggle to get and pay for their medications. I Think the shortage is to drive up prices artificially. this of course is my own opinion, but yet again, I have been involved with an action group who researched this. ginnie

And I think they are doing it with pet meds too. The companies have announced they are suspending production. They are the same companies that make stuff for us.

Which pet meds?
I am curious.

You know, there are many shortages today. More than ever in fact.
Here is a recent FDA list:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/.../ucm050792.htm

Interceptor for dogs, one more I can't remember . I won't use Heartguard, it's toxic for herding breeds.