Scroll down to comment on this story.
July / August 2008
At the Drugstore: Do You Get What You Pay For?
by Staff
Positive people have little choice when buying HIV meds—most remain under patent, with no cheaper generic versions available. So file this until your combo does go generic: A pill’s price may affect how good you think it is.
People in a randomized study got mild electric shocks to the wrist to gauge baseline pain. They then took a placebo (a fake pain-killer) and another shock. Half were told the “pain-killer” cost $2.50 a pill; half were told it cost 10 cents. The results:
Percentage of those given the $2.50 pill who found it effective in dulling the pain: 85%
Percentage of those given the cheaper fake who found it effective: 61%
Experiencing the placebo effect: Priceless
NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.
Previous Comments:
