Courtesy of blogaboutinsurance.net
While the holiday season is supposed to be a time of celebration, many will be forced to face difficult economic realities, this year perhaps more than most.
I was recently confronted with some of these realities in my own practice, when two different patients self-discontinued medications they needed because they simply could not afford them. For one of these patients, I was able to provide an economic alternative before her condition had deteriorated significantly. My other patient developed serious complications after trying to split his time-released pills in an effort to stretch them out.
If you are on any medications, and I do mean any, no matter how unimportant you may feel they are, do not make the decision to discontinue them on your own. Some drugs require tapering in order to discontinue, and others may cause withdrawal symptoms if abruptly discontinued.
Here are some tips to help you deal with the cost of your medications, while remaining safe:
Talk to your physician about alternative medications. Often there are less expensive alternatives to the medications you are taking. Note that sometimes what may be less expensive for you may not be for your friends, as it can largely be dependent upon your insurance plan, and the region in which you live.
Ask your physician to look at the dosing of your medications. Sometimes, different doses of pills cost the same. If your medications can be split, perhaps doubling the size of the pills can save you some money.
Don't make the decision to split your pills on your own. Some medications, particularly extended release versions, or those with purpose built coatings should not be cut in half. Doing so could inadvertently release toxic amounts of drugs into your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before splitting anything.
Contact the manufacturer of your drugs. If there are no affordable alternatives to your medications, try contacting the manufacturer. Many drug companies have special programs for people who cannot afford their drugs. These programs usually offer medications at significantly reduced cost, or sometimes no cost.
Andrew Kirschner, D.O., is a board-certified physician with a private practice in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and a consultancy in Miami, Florida. He specializes in treating individuals and couples with musculoskeletal and back pain. To learn more about his practice, please visit BackTogether.org.
From: Dealing with the high cost of medications… « BackWords | 12/27/10 at 8:53 pm
[...] Last year I offered a brief post on this topic. This season, when many people are facing economic hardships, I thought it would be a good time to revisit the topic. HERE is a link to my most recent post on Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Daily blog. [...]
From: Acupuncture San Francisco | 1/12/11 at 4:48 am
Generic medicines are trending here in our country. These are the medicine that carry generic drug name rather than brand names. they are a lot cheaper, about 50% of those branded drugs and they gave the same results as those with branded.