Drug Wars
Friday, October 27, 2006; Page D01
A look at the average retail and Costco.com prices for a typical month's supply of some of the most commonly prescribed generic drugs being sold by Wal-Mart for $4:
High blood pressure/heart disease
Captopril (generic for Capoten) 25 mg
Average retail price: $31
Costco price: $11.57
High cholesterol
Lovastatin (generic for Mevacor) 10 mg
Average retail price: $32
Costco price: $32.79
Depression
Fluoxetine (generic for Prozac) 10 mg
Average retail price: $33
Costco price: $9
Diabetes
Metformin (generic for Glucophage) 500 mg
Average retail price: $36
Costco price: $8.39
Menopause
Estradiol (generic for Estrace) 1 mg
Average retail price: $11
Costco price: $7.29
NOTE: Average retail prices are for August-September; Costco.com prices are as of yesterday. SOURCES: Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs/Consumer Union, Costco.com
GRAPHIC BY KAREN YOURISH AND TAN LY -- THE WASHINGTON POST
