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Locut0s

(6,154 posts)
Tue Jul 16, 2013, 11:40 PM Jul 2013

Switching meds again...

So I've FINALLY found a med combo that seems to work well low doses of both Cipralex and Abilify and now I have to switch again! The reason is that Ability isn't covered under the government plan that I'm on. In fact for depression and anxiety usage it may not be covered by any plan as it's primary use is as an anti psychotic. So my DR prescribed Risperidone instead and said hopefully I should see similar effects. It has a greater side effect profile but I'm again on a very very low dose. Let's hope I still feel the positive effects on this new one. One good thing is I already have some positive momentum built up.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Switching meds again... (Original Post) Locut0s Jul 2013 OP
Abilify is REALLY expensive olddots Jul 2013 #1
600 a month! Ouch... Locut0s Jul 2013 #2
and i thought the $150 they wanted to charge me was robbery fizzgig Jul 2013 #6
I've had to change meds because they are too expensive and not covered by insurance... hunter Jul 2013 #3
Thanks hunter... Locut0s Jul 2013 #4
the irony about depression meds in the U.S. olddots Jul 2013 #5
how much was the abilify rx? fizzgig Jul 2013 #7
Wow that's nice... Locut0s Jul 2013 #8
the coupon is through the manufacturer fizzgig Jul 2013 #9
I see... Locut0s Jul 2013 #10
glad you're coming back up fizzgig Jul 2013 #11
 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
1. Abilify is REALLY expensive
Wed Jul 17, 2013, 02:02 AM
Jul 2013

our daughter's insurance ( which is second only to a mob loan outfit) wouldn't cover it and we found out it would be 600$ a month which we don't have so it's back to square one for the 10th time. Hope you can get around the price and the new combo works ,keep up the open attitude it works .

Locut0s

(6,154 posts)
2. 600 a month! Ouch...
Wed Jul 17, 2013, 02:15 AM
Jul 2013

Actually come to think of it, it may be similar here since I was on a really low dose. I was taking 1mg a day. But it's about $2-4 a pill from what I remember so even for me that worked out to $60-70 a month. But yeah if your daughter was taking 10mg which is the dosage for schizophrenia and other related conditions, that would come out to something similar here.

Thanks dots I hope the new one works too and yes I'm going to do my best to keep plowing ahead with the new experiments and self improvements.

hunter

(38,328 posts)
3. I've had to change meds because they are too expensive and not covered by insurance...
Wed Jul 17, 2013, 11:25 PM
Jul 2013


Probably worse here in the U.S.A.

Good luck!

Locut0s

(6,154 posts)
4. Thanks hunter...
Wed Jul 17, 2013, 11:37 PM
Jul 2013

I'm sure you know but for those who don't meds aren't covered by universal health care here in Canada. Surgery, DRs visits, and much more ARE but there are many things that aren't. Meds, dentist visits, psychologists and therapists among other things are not covered by universal health care (psychiatrists are). For these you need an extended plan through your job or one you buy yourself. If you have very little in the way of income or none like me right now though you can put in for special government plans to have some things covered. For example the SSRI I take is luckily 100% covered under a special plan I'm on, but the other one isn't and is expensive. Unfortunately it seemed to have been working well too.

My guess is that costs are higher in the US too, but they are pretty high here to. $2 to $4 a pill isn't my idea of something I can afford. Yeah it sucks

 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
5. the irony about depression meds in the U.S.
Thu Jul 18, 2013, 12:57 AM
Jul 2013

they are so expensive that you get depressed about how much they cost then have to take another med to treat that depression ...
Joking but the insurance game here with meds is in constant turmoil . I took a rare MAO inhibitor that went from 30 dollars a month to 180$ with the same insurance company .From what I see the Canadian system is

much better for doctors and consumers .


It's good you're in the system and have good professionals working with you because a lot of people discontinue meds ,stop seeing a doctor and have to start over .

fizzgig

(24,146 posts)
7. how much was the abilify rx?
Thu Jul 18, 2013, 01:47 AM
Jul 2013

i get $100 off a month thanks to a coupon in the pharmacy's system. don't know if i works the same up there, but is there a discount plan you could ask them to run it through?

i hope it works out for you.

Locut0s

(6,154 posts)
8. Wow that's nice...
Thu Jul 18, 2013, 02:08 AM
Jul 2013

Do you pay for a lot of other meds? How else could you get a $100 coupon?

Reason I ask is cause other than this one med I don't have any med expenses. So I don't think I'd qualify for a coupon. I believe it would have cost me about $70 a month which I'm now embarrassed to mention given some of the crazy costs I know you guys have to pay in the US, and some people here too. But for me that's more than I want to spend without a job right now. My DR also said it was too much which is why he switched me. I'll ask if there is such a thing, thanks for letting me know!

fizzgig

(24,146 posts)
9. the coupon is through the manufacturer
Thu Jul 18, 2013, 02:11 AM
Jul 2013

my other two meds are five bucks a pop.

the few times they forgot to run it through the system it was $150 even with my insurance. i recently switched insurance, so i have no idea how much it would cost through the new plan if the coupon wasn't available, but i'm assuming it would be cost prohibitive.

Locut0s

(6,154 posts)
10. I see...
Thu Jul 18, 2013, 02:22 AM
Jul 2013

Thanks for this fizzgig I'll look around and ask to see if I can get something like this. I'm going to give this new med it's due time as well though since it usually takes 2 weeks + to fully kick in and the down period I was talking about earlier in another thread is largely gone, so it MAY still work.

Thanks again!

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