"Sticker shock" on my presecription today at the pharmacy.

[CTyankee]

My doc prescribed Lyrica for my post herpetic nerve pain and even with my Medicare and supplemental insurance, the cost for 2 month's supply was $414!!!

I declined the prescription and called my doctor to get a substitute.

I guess I should not be surprised but fer gawd's sake! This is not a life saving medication!

Can someone give me information about this?

[sweetloukillbot]

1. Check online for a coupon or discount card.

My wife has been hit with a few high ticket prescriptions, every time there was a coupon or discount program that lowered the cost to $30 at most. Just had to verify our insurance and show the coupon at the pharmacy. They kept it on file and applied automatically. We had to renew it annually.

[CTyankee]

2. Thanks!

[Ms. Toad]

32. Try this

https://www.lyrica.com/co-pay-savings-card

[Sherman A1]

5. Thanks for the tip

This whole thing has gotten just too bizarre.

[shanti]

6. heh

there's even a teevee commercial about exactly this issue, running now.

[blue neen]

8. You can't use manufacturer's coupons if the patient uses Medicare.

She could, however, decide to not use her insurance and go with GoodRx.

[MineralMan]

17. Good point. I used to use GoodRX. I just took the prescription

to a different pharmacy than usual and handed the coupon over, instead of my insurance cards. No problem.

[Ms. Toad]

31. GoodRX is roughly the same price. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

20. Those things are usually BS

In my experience, anyway.

I tried looking for Lyrica, or its generic name, pregabalin, from numerous Canadian pharmacies that I've used, and they don't seem to stock it, unfortunately.

What I've done in the past is to find alternative drugs that are either less expensive in the US or are available from a Canadian pharmacy, and ask my doctor about prescribing them instead. She's a very conscientious individual, but Big Pharma spends a lot of time and money working on doctors to prescribe their high priced options, which often have no significant benefits over a drug whose patent has expired.

[cspanlovr]

3. I use Good Rx, and there are others, and

they work great. I got my son's seizure meds down from $600/mo to $15/mo (yes, you read that correctly) and the pharmacy has been applying the same coupon for 4 years now! I don't know how it works or how they make money and I don't care. I'm just very happy they are available. Good luck!

[hunter]

55. They make money because the $600/mo price is complete B.S.

They're still making money at $15/mo, okay maybe not enough for all the "Ask Your Doctor" television advertising, but maybe they get your word-of-mouth advertising as well as your identity instead.

[Glimmer of Hope]

4. Gabapentin is a pretty common substitute for Lyrica and not that expensive.

I think I pay $10 for month's supply. I don't understand why doctors try to prescribe these over priced medications when there are suitable alternatives!

[CTyankee]

10. Not in my case. My doc prescribed Gabapentin first and I tried it. It didn't work.

So he tried Lyrica. I have now downloaded a coupon and will see if that will lower the price substantially tomorrow when I go to the pharmacy.

[mr_lebowski]

28. I hope I'm wrong (and you get the Lyrica for a lower price so you can see) but

I think it's a little unlikely that Lyrica will 'work' whereas gabapentin 'didn't work'. They're very similar in action, close cousins if you will, Lyrica is just a little stronger. Kinda like Oxycodone vs. Hydrocodone ...

If gabapentin 'helped', then Lyrica may 'work' ... but if you got literally nothing from gabapentin ... doubt Lyrica will be much different.

But it's worth trying in any case.

[CTyankee]

34. The Gabapentin might have and Ijust didn't notice much.

At any rate, the doc just called to say he had some Lyrica samples. So I can run over there and try it today!

[Jane Austin]

53. Gabapentin didn't touch my shingles pain,

but acupuncture sure did.

Most pain was gone after one treatment, and all was gone after two treatments.

Good luck to you.

[CTyankee]

54. I had one bad experience with acupuncture and it's not very accessible anyway...

Gabopentin seemed a good bet but nothing much happened.

Looking forward to my nighttime, first dose of Lyrica.

[vsrazdem]

11. Yes, ask for gabapentin instead. Hopefully this will be a good substitute for you.

[SoCalNative]

12. I was just going to suggest gabapentin

I think I pay $10 for a 90 day supply

[mitch96]

16. I don't understand why doctors prescribe over priced medications

In a word.......kickbacks..
My friend was a med sales rep.. Industry wide standard. Doc are on a list for how much meds they prescribe and what kind. If the md prescribes enough of the "chosen" meds he gets a family vacation or free meals.. It's like the lobbyist in Washington. You wash my back I wash yours.. Of course it's done in a way that us mere mortals can't see the obvious shit going on.
Not fair but that's how the world is working today.. Fuck the little guy out of what ever money he has so the 1% get richer... uffda
m

[Docreed2003]

19. Not to be that guy, but kickbacks are largely a thing of the paat

No one is getting "family vacations" as a reward for using a particular drug anymore, because that's illegal. There are very strict regulations on what and how much reps can provide to physicians and for very good reasons.

[mitch96]

58. "kickbacks are largely a thing of the past"

I worked in the medical field for over 40 years and from where I stood it was/is alive and well. They just cover it better these days.
m

[Docreed2003]

59. I'm in the medical field as well

I can assure you...you get the types of kickbacks that you listed and you're going to jail. That stuff is HEAVILY monitored. Sure lunches and dinners are still a thing, but not fancy vacations and golf outings.

[mitch96]

62. "Sure lunches and dinners are still a thing, but not fancy vacations and golf outings."

I worked in So Fla which is heavily influenced by the type of graft that is common in the Caribbean. Lunch on a cruise ship? Quick shot over to Bimini with the family? How about all expenses paid by a lobbyist to a medical convention at the Hard Rock ... A contract to buy a Radiology department full of new equipment given to a high bidder. The chief radiologist got a new Mercedes and the chief technologist got a wave runner.. I could go on and on. And don't get me started about the blatant medicare fraud down here... Seems once a year some sloppy MD gets popped but it still goes on..
Rick Scott LOVED this state..
Probably would not fly in California or NY but here??
Welcome to Fla...
m

[malaise]

22. And they are rewarded with lovely trips

and cruises = and much else

[Blues Heron]

24. Agree. Felt like my doctor was a shill for the pharma reps

she was using their lingo, pushing their expensive drugs, seeing them during what was supposed to be my appt. while I had to wait. Total airhead. She even had a valley girl accent. Luckily she's gone.

[Dazbog]

36. I see it all the time

But he does give me those expensive samples when I need 'em. Victoza pens are expensive as hell. I usually hit the donut hole in July and have to pay $800 for a 90 day supply. That's insane.

[customerserviceguy]

23. Doctors get worked on hard by drug reps

They get flown to exotic destinations, and have to listen to shills for Big Pharma tell them how much "better" a new drug is than older versions that they can't make the big bucks on. They may even give the doctor free samples to have a patient try them, then when the new stuff works, the patient then feels that they need to have the thing that worked, and neither patient nor doctor invests any time trying to find something cheaper that will work just as well.

In my experience, most doctors seem oblivious to what drugs, tests, and treatments actually cost people out of pocket. It is probably impossible to keep track of everything, given the different levels of coverage out there, but a computer program could be made which does that. However, I don't know how the programmer gets paid, the drug companies surely wouldn't like it!

[Hoyt]

7. Sorry about the pain. This is the junk we all go through, unfortunately. The newer drugs, which

are supposedly better than older drugs (but questionable when you figure in the cost), are prohibitively expensive, even with coverage.

I remember a couple of years ago, my "plan" stopped covering a time-release drug. It was quite expensive. When I asked the pharmacist what I might do, he said to get my doc to prescribe a cheap generic that you have to take twice a day (not time released). Pretty much the same thing -- and same efficacy -- as the time-release, but not quite as convenient. That's OK by me.

Hope your doc has a similar alternative like Gabapentin or something cheaper than the heavily advertised/promoted Lyrica.

[Mariana]

30. Newer, more expensive drugs aren't always more effective

than the older, more affordable stuff. It's tested out to be better than a placebo is all. As you pointed out, often it IS the older, more affordable stuff in a slightly different formulation. One scam is way overcharging for an extended release pill as in your example. Another is combining two cheap generic drugs into one pill and charging ridiculously more than what it costs to buy the two drugs separately. Some manufacturer did that with a drug I was taking, and it cost over ten times more to buy the combination pill than the two generics. Many people don't think to ask if there are less expensive options available, when they may be able to get the exact same drug for much less.

[Hoyt]

40. Sad, isn't it? Tics me off that so many doctors don't even mention

the likely cost. I know plans have different coverage, but so many docs just use that as an excuse for not discussing cost with patients.

I would bet there are very few drug plans that cover Lyrica to the same extent as older generic therapies. A doc ought to know and communicate that.

[Raven]

9. Read up on Lyrica. I had a terrible experience with that drug. n/t

[CTyankee]

13. I will. I don't want any nasty surprises...

[mr_lebowski]

33. If you take it for awhile (6+ months roughly) you'll need to wean down to get off of it

Unless you wanna feel like shit for a couple weeks.

That's the main thing people complain about, but there's other side effects some people don't much care for.

[Dem_4_Life]

14. RXSaver.com is another good one

https://rxsaver.retailmenot.com

[Niagara]

15. Yikes

If you're 50 and over, consider getting an AARP membership.

Depending on how one renews membership, I believe the cost is about $12-$16 a year.

Plus I found this handy dandy link for you about membership prescription discounts. https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/all/aarp-prescription-discounts-provided-by-optumrx-10187/

I hope this helps.

[area51]

18. One more reason

why we desperately need comprehensive Medicare for All. No other first world country tells citizens to go bankrupt or die if they need medical care.

[mopinko]

21. i'm dreading refilling this one.

been on this one for a long time. nothing else like it, which is why it owns the zone. it has been out there long enough that it ought to go to generic before much longer, but that's a racket, too.

i have been cutting back on it since a year or so ago when my pain was low. down to just one dose at bedtime. even tho i am dealing w a big fibro flare (which it wasnt helping) i want to be ready if it costs me too much when i go on medicare. do plan to have a wrap around, but. even on my previous great plan, it was a big co-pay.
got my mm card, and hoping to find a replacement there.

see if it helps you. it helped me.
but be careful, because it isnt one you should quit cold turkey.

[Vinca]

25. When I had post herpetic neuralgia (the worst pain I've ever had in my life), the neurologist

put me on gabapentin. Maybe that would be more affordable. It really helped me.

[WhiteTara]

26. Have you thought about

feeding the nerve endings? I don't think you can regenerate dead nerves; but vitamin b is for nerves. Nutritional yeast, ask about B12 injections. I have a nerve illness called ataxia and the b12 is really for me a life saver. Also, nutritional yeast is an incredible food. Start very small as it expands in the gut, but by building up over time, you can eat about 1 tbl a day in yoghurt? cereal. Coat tofu if you eat that. Coat popcorn. Good luck

[Firestorm49]

27. Right. By all means, let's have Republicans take health care back to the "good old days."

Sure, they’ll cover pre-existing conditions. You won’t be turned down. You’ll just have to mortgage your ass to pay for it. For Republicans, health care is the crime that just keeps on giving..

[COLGATE4]

29. Please log on to GoodRx.com

They offer substantial discounts on pharmaceuticals at no cost or obligation to you. Readily accepted by pharmacies.

[tblue37]

39. My almost $700/month prescription (which I declined) is close to $1000/month

without a GoodRx discount, so in some cases, GoodRX discounts are not that useful.

[CTyankee]

42. Thank you!.

[in2herbs]

35. Stick with your high-price RXs and their side effects or take colloidal silver and lysine. nt

[Act_of_Reparation]

38. Or do not take medical advice from randos you meet on the internet.

Maybe leave the medicine to the fucking doctors.

[Lucinda]

49. The suggestion is a good one and the OP can talk to their doc about them. n/t

[Act_of_Reparation]

60. Except it isn't.

In fact, it's dangerous.

[Lucinda]

63. The Mayo Clinic disagrees with you - and lists Amino Acid therapy as showing promise.

You can search Amino Acids and Mayo Clinic.

[Act_of_Reparation]

64. Link.

I searched Mayo for amino acid therapy and found nothing of the sort. If there's a particular article you have in mind, please post the link.

Where colloidal silver is concerned: silver is toxic. Not extremely toxic, mind you, but it accumulates over time because the body can't do anything with it. It's useless and it poisons you in the long-term. Not a great treatment.

[Lucinda]

48. I'd add CBD Oil and Hemp Seed Oil to your list of basics to have on hand

Colloidal Silver has been a huge help for me. I also see a lot of benefits with Lysine.

[tblue37]

37. I declined a new prescription, too, because it was almost $700/month! My current BP meds,

which started at $30/month years ago, now cost $170/month.

Other meds I take have also gone up drastically, even in their generic version.

[LAS14]

41. Hopefully this has some helpful info.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211982914

[Act_of_Reparation]

43. Do you have Medicare Part D?

I only ask because that looks like the wholesale cost of the drug.

Parts A and B cover medical procedures, and supplemental picks up what A and B don't cover. Part D covers prescription drugs specifically. You would have enrolled in Part D separately; just because you have A and B does not mean you have D.


Now, if you do have Part D and Part D doesn't cover it, you can either fight your insurance carrier tooth and nail (and probably lose) or you could ask your doctor for an alternative treatment.

Whatever you do, don't listen to the chuckleheads here telling you to eat magic food. They do not know what the fuck they're talking about.

[CTyankee]

44. I think I do. I'll check.

[Act_of_Reparation]

45. Please do.

Like I said, it would be separate from your Part A and Part D. It would be through a private carrier (like Humana, or Cigna, CVS/Caremark, etc.) and would have its own insurance card.

A lot of people overlook it when enrolling in Medicare (because prescription plans aren't separate anywhere else, and if you aren't on maintenance medicationcs, it isn't necessarily something you think about).

[stopbush]

46. I have been on Cosentyx for over three years. It has cured 99% of my

psoriasis.

The MONTHLY cost for a 300mg dosage is $5100. I have never paid a cent for the drug as I have been in the Novartis Foundation’s program that gets the medication to people under a certain financial threshold.

If you have insurance, the drug might cost you $250 a month, but Novartis has a discount card program that allows one to get the drug for $5 a month.

I mention Cosentyx because it’s one of those drugs Sanders trolloped out in 2016, comparing prices in the USA with Europe. Of course, what he didn’t point out were these manufacturer-sponsored programs in the USA that reduce the user’s cost for the drug to almost nothing in the USA, while the cost in Europe was over $1000 a month.

[Lucinda]

47. Lyrica got a patent extension - generics wont be available until July - CBD oil might help

https://www.mymatrixx.com/launch-of-generic-lyrica-delayed-pfizer-inc-recieves-patent-extension/

Alan Rook, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist

"Lyrica (Pregabalin) is considered a first-line medication for the treatment of neuropathic pain, which is a chronic pain disorder commonly seen in workers’ compensation. This medication is one of few remaining single source brand name drugs of significance in workers’ compensation, and the expiration of its patent on December 30, 2018 had been widely anticipated as a significant source of cost-savings as generic alternatives became available. In fact, generic drug manufacturers Mylan, Teva and Novartis Sandoz had all received tentative FDA approval for pregabalin, the generic version of Lyrica. Unfortunately, the launch of these less expensive generic versions will be postponed until middle of 2019 as a result of Pfizer, Inc., the brand name manufacturer, receiving a six-month patent-term extension from the FDA for pediatric exclusivity. Although the pediatric exclusivity is not significant to workers’ compensation, the patent extension means the anticipated date for pregabalin to be available for any use will not be until June 30, 2019. The extension resulted from FDA approval of a supplemental new drug application filed in November 2017 by Pfizer for a new indication: adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures (POS) to include pediatric patients four to 16 years of age."

Gabapentn was a no-go for me. Had a reaction to it. I am currently phasing out Lyrica...it made me feel much worse overall, and doesn't help much with my pain - It does help me sleep though. I know for those who do well with Lyrica it is a total blessing.

Something that might be helpful is CBD Oil. It is legal in the US and there are a lot of articles about the benefits of medical marijuana (and CBD Oil for a non THC option) for neuropathic pain. I'd do a little reading and ask your doc about it.

[Cold War Spook]

50. I take 300MG X 3 of Gabapentin

for my peripheral neuropathy. Works good. I understand that Gabapentin and Lyrica are used for two different types of pain.

[matt819]

51. That's not a bad price

Check prices on GoodRx.com. Double the price you mentioned.

[SouthernLiberal]

52. I just got my first prescriptions filled under Medicare

The good thing is that I can go to a local pharmacy that will put easy open caps on bottles. And frankly, the cost of my prescriptions in this first month was better than the first few months of last year's plan. So it was the person behind the counter that had the sticker shock when my Rheumatoid Disease medicine came to $1,000. For one month. She thought that maybe I hadn't given them my insurance info. Nope! That WAS the copay after insurance.

Now, I haven't had a cheap medicine for RD in a very long time. The initial treatment is very affordable. But the thing is, the disease will get worse, and then, the medicines get expensive fast. And after a few years, a treatment may stop working, so you need a newer and more expensive drug. The worst thing is that I have 'burned through" four or five medications, and all but one because I had to change insurance companies, and the new company wouldn't cover the old medicine.

The best thing about medicare part d for me right now, is that the cost of this medicine will go down, pretty quickly. Under the only plan I could afford before medicare this year, I would have to pay almost $8,000 out of pocket before any medicine was covered.

[Celerity]

56. lucky you are not taking this: Catalyst Pharma sees net price of drug, once free, topping $300,000

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-catalyst-pharms-drugpricing/catalyst-pharma-sees-net-price-of-drug-once-free-topping-300000-idUSKCN1Q0286

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Monday that it expects its drug for a rare disease, which had long been available to patients for free, will cost more than $300,000 per year including rebates to insurers and other discounts.

The drug, Firdapse, is used to treat Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), a rare neuromuscular disorder.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders sent a letter to Catalyst last week asking the company to justify its pricing.

For years, patients had been able to get the drug for free from Jacobus Pharmaceuticals, a small New Jersey-based drug company that offered it through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “compassionate use” program. The program allows those with rare diseases access to experimental drugs outside of a clinical trial when there is no viable alternative.

Florida-based Catalyst, which in November received U.S. approval to sell the drug, set a list price of $375,000 a year.

In a presentation to investors at a conference in New York on Monday, Catalyst said it expects the net price to be between $300,000 and $318,750 a year, which means it sees rebates and other discounts reducing the cost by 15 percent to 20 percent.



madness, criminal price gouging

[Karadeniz]

57. My husband takes lyrica. Costs $45/mo. There's another product that lyrica "replaced"

that he tried earlier($12/mo), but at that time he was having so many problems, world's most finicky stomach, that the doctor put him on lyrica. He says that now that he's feeling better, he may go back to the earlier one to see how it treats him now.

[xmas74]

61. Always call multiple pharmacies and ask

For the cash price first, then shop online for coupons.

I take estradiol and progesterone. With my insurance it was $125/month. After calling around I was able to get estradiol at Walmart for $5.00 and progesterone at CVS for $19.60. Even the most expensive pharmacy in town offered both for under $50 without insurance.

Some states actually have laws preventing pharmacies from telling customers if the drug is cheaper without insurance.