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Can't afford meds!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/17/2008 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
I really need to rant... 

After I was released from the hospital last week, I was put on Asacol.  Even though it worked for a day and a 1/2, I had to go off of it because I couldn't breathe.  I had the doctor call in another prescription  (can't remember the name).  I went to go pick it up yestereday and they wanted $45 after insurance!  I'm sorry, but I am just a college student!!  At that rate, I will be dead broke and starving by next month.  I refuse to pay that much money for something when, chances are, I probably will get one of the serious side effects and have to discontinue. When I called and left a message for my doctor to call me and possibly prescribe something affordable, I never got a reply...and I called yesterday.  I am just utterly disgusted with all the doctors I have dealt with in the past 3 weeks, and at this point, I don't really care if I have meds or not...  poor attitude, I know.

thanks for listening..

Posted 9/17/2008 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hamley, don't give up on your meds because of cost. See if your doctor can give you samples of what you're supposed to try next. Since you didn't get a reply, call again first thing in the morning. Be your own best advocate. And believe me, $45 after insurance could be a lot worse. I don't have prescription coverage, and I've paid $330 for a month's worth of ONE prescription. Ouch!

Remember also, there are programs to help cover the cost of the medications, and some of the companies will give you discounts or free samples.

Take care,
emory
Posted 9/17/2008 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I went to get my script of Asacol last week and I dont have insurance at all and it would have been over $520....needless to say, i am without it :(
Posted 9/17/2008 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
I've got insurance, and I can afford my meds with or without it, but you better believe that when I'm at the GI's office for my 3 month check I get all the free meds I can......usually about $400 worth of Entocort yeah
Posted 9/17/2008 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hamley - tell your doc that before you buy a new med you want to make sure you are not allergic. He/She should give you free samples for at least a couple weeks worth. If the amount you paid was your copay will it matter what drug you are put on? Very few drugs without insurance would be less than that price. Are there lower copays for non name brand drugs? I guess one of the biggest annoyances about having a chronic illness is that we have to re-organize our priorities. I know way more of our budget (I am also a student) goes to my medication than I would like. Could you pick up a work study job or a part time job to help you out?

Finally, most of the big insurance companies offer a mail order option. Mine is $50 for a three month supply of Pentasa. My copay would be $25 per month if it was non-maintenence and $70/month if maintenence and I refused mail order. If you could get a three month supply for $80 (usually the price of a 2 month regular copay) than it might be worth looking into.
Posted 9/17/2008 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
please stay on your meds, you will only be hurting yourself. I put myself through college and I worked 3 jobs and I know how tough it is, I have lived week to week and gone to the grocery store w/$6 for me and my cats and had to make it last a week. Keep on working hard, you can do it!

Talk to your Doc about sulfasalazine or azulfadine, both of those should be pretty cheap.
Posted 9/17/2008 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Are you joking??? You ought to consider yourself lucky to even have insurance! $45.00 is a very small co-pay. The one time I had to pay out of pocket for a month of Asacol, it was about $375.00. I realize you're living independently, but can't your folks help you out with medical costs? Or the mail-order insurance option is great too- you get 3 months supply for the price of 1 month.

Just be glad you're not on remicade if you're concerned about cost.

Posted 9/17/2008 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hamley-

You might wantto check with your college about help paying for meds. When I was at a university, they had a student health plan that helped with medication costs. I know the trial and error method of finding the right med is frustrating, but it the best way to find what will work for you. You gained a lot of knowledge from trying the Asacol. Is there a way you can pick up partial prescriptions? That way it won't cost you as much if something is obviously not working after a couple of days. And once you find something that works, look into mail-order and 90 day supplies. When I was on Asacol, it was $45 a month from a local pharmacy, but only $60 for three months through my mail-order place.

Stick with the meds though. UC is tough to get under control without meds, but once you get things settled down, you can decide on whether or not to continue with the prescripts. Right now I'm spending so much on doc appts, meds and supplements that I have very little extra cash for anything else, but I look at it as an investment in my health, and someday that investment will pay off.

Keep the faith, and feel free to rant here anytime. That is what we're here for!
Posted 9/17/2008 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe see if they have a generic brand...also, I'm on generic Colazal and I think Colazal is the same type of med as Asacol...so Colozal might be another option if the Asacol is too expensive...of course will need to work this through your GI

Posted 9/18/2008 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
It's wrong that your doctor has not responded. Probably doesn't appreciate that all these drugs are so expensive. $45 is a pretty good price, but not for a student!
If you try a safety net clinic (health department or faith-based clinic, for example), they will know how to work with the drug companies to get the drugs for what you can afford. All the drug companies have these programs.

I'm surprised the Asacol affected your breathing, and I wonder if it was something else and you should give the asacol a little more time. But I'm not a doctor!
Posted 9/18/2008 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Keep calling your doctor until he responds! You aren't going to get better if you don't take meds.

Maybe you can call your insurance and ask what the co-pays for different 5ASA's (Asacol, Lialda, Colazal, sulfalazine, and their generics) would be, and then have your doctor write you a prescription for the cheapest one.
Posted 9/18/2008 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Check with the drug company they may a special promotion. I had 6 months of free (they paid up to $100 toward full amount or copay) for Colazol. Many companies are offering such plans. They know their meds are expensive.

Please don't stop taking your meds. Take it from experience. I did that once and ended up in the hospital for a week. It's not worth it.
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