Pharmaceuticals

Prices for generic drugs have fallen although prices for popular brand name drugs have increased.

Of interest, a few of the drugs with the largest price increases in 2008 were Prevacid (for acid reflux), Wellbutrin (for depression), and Lunesta (for sleeping) -- they went up at least 20 percent. Part of the reason for hiking the prices has to do with the brand drugs' patent expirations coming up, meaning that generic versions will become available; so it's a last attempt to make money on the brand drugs before copies hit the market.

But there's another reason, it seems, one that is related to the type of condition the drug treats. Right now in this economic meltdown it follows that more people are depressed and anxiety-ridden -- hence their new or heightened problems with sleeping, depression, and acid reflux. So once again, the brand drug companies are trying to make money off the fact that more people at this moment in time need Wellbutrin, Lunesta, and Prevacid.