According to a report just published by the American Association of retired Persons (AARP) , the thyroid drug Synthroid is one of the 20 brand name drugs with the highest average annual manufacturer price increases. Find out more about this development now, and see the report.

AARP's "Rx Watchdog Report" study was released April 12, 2005, and is titled "Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Brand Name Prescription Drugs Used by Older Americans-2004 Year-end Update."

According to the report, Synthroid is #6 among 20 brand name drugs with the highest average annual manufacturer price increases -- 10 percent or more per year -- from 2000 through 2003.

Specifically...

• Synthroid 88 mcg -- had an 11.9% price increase from 2000-2003
• Synthroid 50 mcg -- had an 11.9% price increase from 2000-2003
• Synthroid 125 mcg -- had an 11.8% price increase from 2000-2003
• Synthroid 100 mcg -- had an 11.8% price increase from 2000-2003
• Synthroid 75 mcg -- had an 11.8% price increase from 2000-2003
• Synthroid 25 mcg -- had an 11.8% price increase from 2000-2003

Only Altace 10 mg, with 12.6% increase, and various Premarin dosage sizes from .3 mg to 1.25 mg, with increasese ranging from 13.8 to 21.4%, had higher price increases during that timeframe.

An interesting side note: during part of this time that the price of Synthroid was going up so quickly, the drug was not even approved by the FDA, and was facing potential phase out and removal from the market for failure to receive FDA approval.

See the report in PDF online now.