Iowa is part of a multi-state settlement of case in which a major drug company was charged with trying to monopolize the market on a popular anxiety drug. Attorney General Tom Miller says Bristol-Myers Squibb was accused of trying to illegally extend its patent protected period to block generic versions of the drug “BuSpar” from hitting the market. Miller says the 41-million dollar settlement will send refunds to people who used the drug from January of 1998 through January of this year.He says those who can prove they took the drug are due part of the refund.You can file a claim by calling: 800-678-9587, or by visiting the settlement website at: www.busparsettlement.com. You have until October 10th to file a claim. Miller says the amount of money you get back depends on how long you took the drug. He says the refunds will likely be between 200 and 300 dollars per person. Jerry Karbeling of the Iowa Pharmacy Association says elderly Iowans will likely get the biggest refunds. He says seniors often are the patients most likely to be paying the most out-of-pocket for drugs, so they’d be more likely to get refunds. Karbeling says BuSpar is one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment of anxiety attacks.He says the drug doesn’t have the side effect of sedation as much as other anti-anxiety drugs, which has made it popular. Karbeling says pharmacists can help you in getting your records together for filing a claim.
