My doctors are worse than crack dealers

[shadowknows69]

As some of you may know I've been seeking help for some mental health issues. Well anyhoo, before any real therapy or decent evaluation a couple doctors have thrown me on four different psyche medicines. When they started me on them they had bags full of free samples to take home because they know I have no insurance and even less money. Well, now that I've opened the pandoras box or psychoactive meds the free samples have run out so I had to get a scrip for one of them today. $116 for a months supply, and this is at wal mart. I already have another I've been paying for all along which costs me 40 a month and I'm the anti depressant I'm on, which thankfully I have about a 6 week supply of, runs about 100 a month too.

So basically my doctors have put me on a bunch of shit that THEY KNOW I CAN'T AFFORD, and are very dangerous to stop "cold turkey". What's the fucking point of attempting to get better in this world unless you're in the upper tax brackets. I think I'll start up a crack addiction. I think it's cheaper these days. I hope these docs have in mind that when I do end up going postal I do know where their offices are.

Rant off.
S

[Mojambo]

1. This is the exact reason I haven't sought help for my mental issues.

I wish you the best of luck.

Perhaps you could try buying them from outside the country?

[shadowknows69]

8. I barely care about myself I did this mainly for my wife

and so far the cure has been more stressfull than the disease that no one has officially diagnosed me with yet.

[ThomCat]

2. I don't think doctors really give a damn about what happens

to their patients 6 months from now. They want to do what they're expected to do right now, make money, and get you out the door as quickly as possible.

I'm constantly reminding my doctors that not everyone can afford to try a new med just to see if it will help, especially when it costs hundreds of dollars per prescription.

Often, there are older, less expensive meds they can try, but they're so brainwashed by the drug companies they forget that those meds exist.
x(

[shadowknows69]

3. Another hoot, and I know this is common knowledge but it still hurts

is that apparently the "cash" price is more than the insurance price for my pills. So I'm being punished because I have to pay up front.

[ThomCat]

4. Yes, because insurance companies negotiate bulk discounts.

Which you, as an uninsured individual, can't do.
x(

[sharp_stick]

5. Have you tried prescription assistance?

I know someone that gets her medication from one of the big pharma companies through this.

https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

I don't know if they have any of the generic stuff on here though or how low the bar is to qualify for free medications.

Good Luck

[shadowknows69]

6. thanks for the link

Worth a try.

[shadowknows69]

7. Well I know how we all feel about Wal Mart but I have to give them props this time

They're willing to do me 7 day scrips at 33 bucks a pop so I don't have to come up with it all at once. Rite Aid once refused a similar request.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

9. my younger sister is in the same boat shadow

Single mom, depressed, chronic pain disorder, etc. She's now on 8 different medications, most of which started as "free samples." Who knew one person needed 2 psychoactives, 2 anxiolytics, 2 sleeping aids, and 2 narcotic pain killers/cough syrups. The pharmacist even wondered why she was taking Xanax and Klonopin at the same time. She loses her health insurance tomorrow.

[sharp_stick]

11. That is one nasty cocktail she's taking

I predict a very tough time coming off of that if she ever does. I also hope she's able to continue w/o insurance somehow. Cold turkeying anxiolytics can be very scary, add that in with sleeping pills and I hope she has a lot of support.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

13. She's in for a rough ride

she loses her insurance coverage tomorrow and she knows she is in for one hell of a tough time of it.

[shadowknows69]

14. I told my doctor I wanted to be on xanax

and that I'd ditch my remaining klonopin right in front of him because he gave me some BS that no other dr could scrip me anti anxiety meds within 30 days and he doesn't prescribe xanax anyway despite the fact I told him I had luck with it in the past and that I was too immune to the klonopin. I give up. What a world.

[BlackVelvet04]

24. Please be very, very careful with Xanax....

it is highly addictive. I know because I took it for over 2 years. It also often CAUSES depression.

I weaned myself off Xanax and found relief with vitamins and minerals.

At one time I was on Xanax, Deseryl, Flexeryl and Talwin. I now take nothing but an occasional ibuprofen. I had major back surgery and have 2 rods and 6 screws in my back. Everyone else I know who has had this surgery is tanked on drugs and still in pain.

BTW, drugs for depression can cause anxiety.

[Psychmd]

10. You are blaming the doctors for your inability to pay. Huh?

Not sure you have a clue about the health care system. I think your anger is better placed on the insurance companies and the federal government who refuse to take care of the mess the health care system is in. It sounds like "these docs" went out of their way to provide you with the state of the art medication for what they felt your disorder/or disorders needed. They heard your issues relating to financial instability and gave you what sounds like a small fortune in free sample medications. If they saw you at all then they probably work for a hospital/clinic that takes care of the indigent. Most of these programs also have resources to help people get signed up for assistance. They can help you get signed up for medicaid or the mental health center's indigent plan that often have sliding scales for services. Did you inquire about the availability of any of these services? Often the evil drug companies for the purpose of PR only, I am sure, have voucher or free medication programs that you can sign up for. This is often a hassle and you need to prove your need monthly for ongoing enrollment.

There may be much less expensive medication options if you have to pay cash. However, these medications are not considered first line therapy and you would be choosing a drug regiment that places you in a second or third tier level of medical care. This may be better than nothing, and you have the right to discuss this with you doctor. These meds are generic and were all the doctors had 20 years ago, but they do have benefits and would be much better than no treatment at all.

Remember, the doctors that work at hospitals and clinics that see people without insurance tend to care more about the care of patients and less about the money. There are plenty of options where these mental health professionals can work and only see the slightly anxious housewife who can't stand her marriage/family. Please give the doctors a break, they are likely just as angry and frustrated as you are.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

12. Do you work in the health care field?

[Psychmd]

16. Yes

Used to work for a mental health center the served mostly the poor of Indianapolis. The patients had no insurance or money. There were a lot of very caring mental health practitioners that worked there because they really wanted to make a difference. Many left over the years I was there because of the mess that health care has become.

I now work at a long term state hospital caring for mentally retarded adults who can't function in less restrictive settings. I came here because I don't have to worry about insurance companies or whether the patient is able to pay. All services are covered under medicaid, which has its own issues/problems.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

17. thank you

for your reply.

[shadowknows69]

15. Gotta run, I'll be back in a few to tell you why you should bite me

n/t

[Psychmd]

19. Be nice

Glad the medications haven't dulled your assertiveness. Seriously. It sounds like you have serious mental health issues and believe it or not I am in agreement with some of what you are saying. The state of mental health care in this country is horrible. But it isn't fair to put so much of the blame and anger on the doctors. If you have only had experiences with bad docs, I am truly sorry. The dispensing of benzdiazepines(Xanax and Klonopin) such as you have described have to be controlled very tightly. Many a doctor has lost his/her ability to prescribe these by losing their DEA license when they are not diligent about making sure their client is not "doctor shopping" and abusing these meds. I don't like these medications at all for people because they are addictive and cause true physical withdrawal problems and tolerance. There are better choices for most psychiatric disorders and most good doctors will avoid these, especially if the patient requests them. I agree that patients are put on way too much high priced medications. This occurs in all fields of medicine. Just ask a friend with diabetes or heart disease. Again, I am sorry you are having a hard time, but try going to a doctor that has treated someone you know. Doctors are no different than any service industry. Sometimes you find a bad plumber who just wants to screw you.

[shadowknows69]

21. Sorry

Feeling a little grouchy needless to say. Just believe me when I say I've been through all the steps and more and all I keep finding is brick walls and lousy advice.

[Psychmd]

28. Hope you find the help/meds that work and that you can finacially manage

[EFerrari]

18. My friend, mosey on over to the Mental Health Support Group.

Tips galore.

:hug:

[shadowknows69]

20. Yeah I know hon

thanks, Will be using that as my therapy for a while

[distantearlywarning]

22. This is a completely off-the-wall suggestion, but...

I have anxiety problems myself and am too scared of drugs and therapists to seek professional help. I came across some studies on the Internets about fish oil helping with different types of mental illness and decided to give it a try. I have been taking a few fish oil pills every day for several years now and it seems to have diminished the occurrence and severity of panic attacks for me. Also, I don't worry so much about unimportant crap all day long like I used to. Maybe it's the placebo effect, but there is some research out there about fish oil and mental stuff, and it does seem to be working for me, at least to some extent.

Also, my cholesterol has improved (a welcome side effect). :-)

Just a suggestion. Take it or leave it.

[symbolman]

23. hey pal, I've been on that merry go round

I found that Walmart can rip you off here and there.. I have no insurance either - last week Wakmart wanted to charge me 150 bucks for the same meds I got at Costco for exactly half the price!! You can shop around and you will fund a VAST difference in price ...

Definatly do call Costco, even if you have to travel you'll save a lot..

And welcome to the club - I'm ready to move to Mexico over meds alone..

Hope you get better, don't let them talk you into methadone as any cheap alternative, it was created by Hitler's guys, and should have been sent to Hell with him.. A bitch to get off of, and it's a true monkey on your back..

Get better!

[porphyrian]

25. Doctors often get free samples from pharmaceutical suppliers that they could give you...

...free of charge. There are also a number of programs that offer free or reduced price medications directly from the manufacturers. It's worth a few minutes on Google, anyway. Just don't hold your breath. Good luck.

[KT2000]

26. There is another one

to watch out for.
Say you are taking drugs that should not be stopped all of a sudden. The prescription is good for one year only, at least in the state where I live. In order to get refills for another year you have to make an appointment with a doctor. Where I live - doctors do not take the uninsured. The few who do require a deposit of a couple hundred dollars that they keep for a period of time beyond the actual appointment.
You end up going cold turkey and good luck with that.

This is not about health and safety because if it was, there would be provision for people in that situation. It's about money.

[Karenina]

27. Don't swallow ANY of BigPharma's shit

without thoroughly studying it. Yeah, it's WORK, I know, but you gotta realize THEIR aganda is selling pills, NOT helping YOU. THEIR AGENDA IS SELLING PILLS. And if you can't afford them or decide you don't like their effects, BP has covered their a$$es by formulating them to KILL YOU (or at the very least create difficulties) if you try to kick them to the curb.

[KT2000]

29. Like Monsanto's Terminator

seeds.
You are so right. Unfortunately I got addicted to an antidepressant. Since that is a Big Pharma sanctioned addiction I guess it is OK though. The literature did not say anything about this being a possibility, neither did the doctor.