A P.E.I. man has raised the alarm about the rising cost of prescription drugs after the drug he uses to treat depression more than doubled in price this month.

Tom Clark is concerned about having to start using a new drug to treat his depression. (CBC)

Tom Clark of Murray Harbour, in eastern P.E.I., has been taking trimipramine for 19 years, but he got a shock Thursday when he tried to refill the prescription.

"It went from $45 to $105 in less than a month," said Clark.

Trimipramine is made by Canadian drug maker Apotex. The company notified retailers April 1 that it was raising the price of the drug and several others. Pharmacists on the Island say the increase in the price of trimipramine is just one of several hefty increases this month from drug companies. They advise people with concerns to contact their local pharmacist.

"Will their drug prices go up because of this? That would be the question I'd ask," said Paul Jenkins, a pharmacist with the Friendly Pharmacy in Charlottetown.

"Their pharmacists would know their profile and know which drugs were increased and they would be able to answer that directly."

The increased cost is a serious problem for Clark, who is seasonally employed and is receiving employment insurance benefits. He pays for the drugs out of his own pocket.

Clark's pharmacy refilled his prescription at last month's price. He has an appointment with his doctor to figure out what he'll do next month. He worries he may have to switch to a less expensive drug, something he doesn't want to do.

"I've been taking this medication since 1990," he said.

"This drug has been good to me. I've never had to change. I am a little nervous about that."

The increases will not just affect end users. The P.E.I. government is also concerned. It paid $34 million last year to cover drug costs for low-income Islanders. With a projected $85-million deficit, the government is looking for ways to reduce drug costs, including buying generic drugs in bulk with other Atlantic provinces.

A source connected to Apotex told CBC News that the costs of raw materials and manufacturing for the drug have gone up. He also noted Apotex is the only company still making the drug.