WASHINGTON, March 17, 2009 – D.C. area residents who are trying to save money on medicine can go to Union Station this week for a free copy of a new magazine from Consumer Reports. 

The display in Union Station’s main hall will be easy to spot: Just look for the giant pills running on treadmills.

The free magazine is called “Consumer Reports Best Drugs for Less.” The 60-page guide has ratings for more than 200 kinds of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicine for conditions such as allergies, insomnia, depression, and high cholesterol.

The Union Station display will feature actors in giant pill costumes who are “working out” on exercise equipment while actors in white lab coats “analyze” them.

The free “Best Drugs for Less” guide provides unbiased, independent evaluations to help people choose medicines that are safe, effective, and affordable.  The magazine aims to assist patients and doctors in cutting through the clutter of drug advertising so they can make informed decisions about their medications.

“For many common medical conditions, the most expensive name-brand drug isn’t necessarily the best drug,” said Dr. John Santa, Director of the Health Rating Center for Consumer Reports Health. “This week, people in Washington, D.C. can pick up a free copy of this new guide to help navigate the pharmaceutical industry.  It’s a resource that helps you understand which drugs are most effective, and which can shave hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars from your annual budget.”

When available, generic medicines are as safe and effective as the newer brand-name drugs, and can save consumers thousands of dollars on their yearly drug bills. However, a new survey by Consumer Reports found that nearly half of Americans polled (47%) said they had reservations about taking generic drugs.

The free distribution of “Best Drugs for Less” at Union Station is part of a weeklong Washington D.C. campaign to raise awareness about “comparative effectiveness” --  the evaluation of different options for treating a medical condition.  The Obama administration’s recently-approved stimulus package dedicates $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research to determine which drugs, devices, and procedures are most effective and carry the lowest risk.

“By every measure, it is clear that our long term economic crisis will only be solved by also fixing our nation’s health-care system," said Jim Guest, the President of Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.  "Comparative effectiveness research helps patients and doctors make better choices, and will help improve our broken health-care system," said Guest.  

In addition to the Union Station event that will take place throughout the week, Consumer Reports will distribute free copies of “Best Drugs for Less” to congressional offices and at Metro stops on Capitol Hill.

More information about the “Best Drugs for Less” guide and comparative effectiveness is available online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.