Annual Price Increases of Most Commonly Prescribed Brand-Name Drugs

July 9, 2018

The most often prescribed drugs for seniors, and how their prices have changed.

Prices for the most prescribed brand-name drugs for seniors increased 12% every year for the last five years, almost 10 times higher than the average annual rate of inflation.

A study released by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs concluded that 12 of these drugs (60%) had their prices increased by more than 50% in the five-year period while 35% or six of the 20, had price increases of more than 100%. In one instance, the average wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for a single drug increased by 477% over a five-year period.

Here's a look at the top 12 most commonly prescribed brand name drugs for seniors and their price increases over the last five years.

Advair Diskus
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $227.60
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $360.86
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 10%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 59%

Januvia
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $306.58
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $517.91
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 11%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 69%

Lantus Solostar
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $144.15
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $354.12
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 20%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 146%

Novolog Flexpen
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $131.95
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $313.05
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 19%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 137%%

Proair Hfa
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $39.96%
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $54.05%
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 6%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 35%

Restasis
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $167.62
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $321.26
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 14%%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 92%

Spiriva
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $244.77
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $348.30
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 7%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 42%

Synthroid
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $96.35
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $153.82
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 10%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 60%

Tamiflu
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $97.94
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $143.18
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 8%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 46%

Ventolin
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $34.67
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $50.68
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 8%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 46%

Xarelto
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $258.82
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $449.51
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 12%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 74%

Zetia
2012 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $225.63
2017 Annual Weighted Average WAC Price: $483.71
Average Annual Percent Change (2012-2017): 16%
Percent Change (2012-2017): 114%

*The following drugs were also included among the top most prescribed drugs for seniors.
Crestor, Lyrica, Nexium, Nitrostat, Premarin, Symbicort, Voltaren Gel, Zostavax.