The high cost of generic medicine!

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When your doctor gives you a prescription and tells you that the stuff doesn't cost much anymore because generics are available, don't believe him. For example, I acquired a case of pnumonia (very low grade infection to the point that I didn't feel good but didn't have any specific symptoms). The ER doctor prescribed Azithromycin and Augmentin. In both cases, he allowed for generics. When I picked the medicine up at the pharmacy, I was blithely told "that'll be $139.98". WHAT!!!!!! After avoiding the ER for a second time as a result of the financial shock, I inquired as to whether or not those were generics. Come to find out, they were. Why so much? Because the name brands have not been available but for just a short time. Bottom line is this: Generic drugs, if they've been available for a considerable period of time, are significantly cheaper than the name brands. In some cases, so cheap as to be almost free. However, if they've only recently become available as a generic, there may not be more than a $10 or $20 difference.