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January 7, 2013 Doctors' apparent willingness to prescribe brand-name drugs instead of generics in response to patients' requests is associated with their acceptance of free food from drugmakers, a study finds.

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September 12, 2012 Some grocery chains are now offering free atorvastatin, the generic version of Lipitor, at their pharmacies. The cholesterol drug requires a prescription, but now you don't need insurance or cash to get the pills.

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April 4, 2012 Seniors are traditionally the biggest consumers of prescription drugs, but they aren't using as many. Greater use of generics also played a role in last year's slow growth.

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October 24, 2011 KHNDozens of popular high-end pharmaceuticals — from Lipitor to Nexium to Plavix — are going off-patent in the coming months and years. That will lead to a big drop in drug costs. But analysts say that could be offset by a price increase in other areas.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

• 'Deadly Monopolies'? Patenting The Human Body
• Medicare Enrollment Comes Earlier This Year

October 3, 2011 Drug shortages may be the new normal in U.S. medical care, experts say. Most drug shortages occur because something goes wrong in the manufacturing process that halts production.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

September 16, 2011 A maker of is recalling a slew of birth control pills because a mistake in the factory put the pills in the wrong place inside plastic packages. The error could leave women taking the pills at risk for unintended pregnancy.

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May 19, 2011 Patents are expiring on medicines launched during the 1990s, triggering a wave of new generic drugs. These days most prescriptions are filled with generics, which can save consumers on copays or the amount those without insurance have to pay out of their own pocket.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

April 20, 2011 As more brand-name drugs lose patent protection, use of inexpensive generic medicines continues to rise. Later this year cholesterol-fighter Lipitor will become available as a generic in the U.S., a change that will add more fuel to the trend.

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