Wellness

[Laura14]

@LTT1  Many do and the PBMs are going to cut their costs and force people to the cheaper versions.  And you're right about the skin creams.  They attracted dust on our pharmacy shelves.  Unfortunately, the law of supply and demand factors in as well.     

[shaggygirl]

Speaking of medicines and what is and what is not covered, last week I almost croaked when picking up a prescribed teeny tiny eensy weensy squeeze bottle of a med called Ciprodex and the pharmacy guy asked "did they tell you the co-pay on this?" Uhm NO. Well $218.00 dollars later.........cause I needed it so had to cough it up. It seems to have done the trick though so there's that. I have a Medicare Advantage Plan.

[software]

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@shaggygirl wrote:

Speaking of medicines and what is and what is not covered, last week I almost croaked when picking up a prescribed teeny tiny eensy weensy squeeze bottle of a med called Ciprodex and the pharmacy guy asked "did they tell you the co-pay on this?" Uhm NO. Well $218.00 dollars later.........cause I needed it so had to cough it up. It seems to have done the trick though so there's that. I have a Medicare Advantage Plan.

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If you need it from time to time, you may need to review your plan for 2019

I'm on a MA plan and some of my co-pays went down.

I've already checked with my provider to get confirmation for next year.

I only have 1 generic prescription I take regularly.  Tier 2

[sassenach1]

@Laura14Totally agree abou the Oxy...could see that coming!  (However, I think big pharma needs to come up with an effective non-addicting pain killer. However, what woud be in if for them,then: 

As for Namenda, it must be due to the cost vs. the effectiveness.  Again, someone needs to come up with better help for Alzheimer's.  Skeptical me: I don't think we can find a drug to cure it.  We need to prevent it.  My FIL, until the day he died from Alzheimer's was still being given Namenda.  Who benefitted from that?  Again, skeptical me!!

[Laura14]

@sassenach1  I am so sorry to hear that about your FIL.  None of the Alzheimer's drugs works well but Namenda seems to be the front runner for at least slowing it a bit.  I follow a lot of the scientists who are developing multi faceted protocols that do seem to be working and even reversing some symptoms of this horrible disease.  It's kind of become a passion of mine.

And there are lots of non-controlled or lesser controlled pain killers with less or zero addiction risk.  Tramadol is Schedule IV instead of Oxy which is a Schedule II.  That means it's less of a risk.  And then we do have the prescription strength aspirins, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodiums.   I filled big huge tablets worth of massive dose aspirins all day long.  

If you ever find yourself in a bad situation where you need some pain relief, ask for those lesser ones and work up if you need to.  

[pigletsmom]

I've never understood why people thinks it's weird that insurance was covering Viagra. It is a drug that fixes a medical problem.

[Snoopp]

I can't believe they are dropping a Parkinson's drug.  There aren't that many options for that disease.

[Mom2Dogs]

@Laura14...I always thought/heard Viagra was super expensive...and they only purhcase 1 or 2 pills....seems odd to me.

The pharcamist told my DH that the expensive drug Eloquis that he takes does not go down in price until the end of 2019....go figure.

[sassenach1]

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@Laura14 wrote:

@sassenach1  I am so sorry to hear that about your FIL.  None of the Alzheimer's drugs works well but Namenda seems to be the front runner for at least slowing it a bit.  I follow a lot of the scientists who are developing multi faceted protocols that do seem to be working and even reversing some symptoms of this horrible disease.  It's kind of become a passion of mine.

And there are lots of non-controlled or lesser controlled pain killers with less or zero addiction risk.  Tramadol is Schedule IV instead of Oxy which is a Schedule II.  That means it's less of a risk.  And then we do have the prescription strength aspirins, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodiums.   I filled big huge tablets worth of massive dose aspirins all day long.  

If you ever find yourself in a bad situation where you need some pain relief, ask for those lesser ones and work up if you need to. 

Thanks, @Laura14  In a previous life, I worked as a Pharmacy tech.  All through HS and college.  I loved it and learned so much.  I was in two robberies, with the gun at my head in one.  I still have the sketch that the police artist drew from my description.

From that, and from my mom with so many heath issues, I stay away from both docs and drugs as much as possible.  I continue to struggle with neck issues but I will not take anything more than 800 mg ibuprofen.  It's pretty good most of the time.  I am very grateful for that.

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[sassenach1]

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@pigletsmom wrote:

I've never understood why people thinks it's weird that insurance was covering Viagra. It is a drug that fixes a medical problem.

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Then, insurance should pay for Retin A after age 20 ish.  It stops aging on your skin.