OMG! the cost of prescription drugs!
#201901 - 08/02/05 06:09 PM
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jen1013
Reged: 05/06/05
Posts: 1322
Loc: the wabe
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I've been struggling to find something that controls my GERD without giving me horrible D/cramps. Well, the last one my doctor had to try was Aciphex. It's great!!! No side effects. No horrible refluxing, even when I cheat and have a little bit of onion or chocolate (I still haven't tried anything traumatic like tomatoes though).
She's been treating me with samples until she could find something that definitely worked. Well, I just got my prescription filled. Do you know how much Aciphex costs?? $134!!!!! For a lousy 30-day supply!!!! That's $4.47 PER PILL! (yes, I get out my calculator when I get freaked out)
I do have insurance, so my copay ended up being "only" $43.50. Still, I am completely floored! I'm guessing it's because there is no generic for Aciphex yet -- I had to take Celebrex once and my copay was like $90 because there isn't a generic.
My doctor said I would probably have to take this indefinitely. What about you guys with GERD? Do you have to take meds or were you able to stop after awhile?
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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I didn't used to take anything for mine until I ended up in the ED with an awful pain under my left rib. Now I'm on Nexium (wow I just had like a 10 minute mental block on that name  ). It's covered by the PBS so doesn't cost me much. It doesn't give me D (almost everything does, breathing included some days I think  ) but I'm not sure it's working ALL that well for me. Have you tried it before?
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Amy
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I only need a course of 6 weeks for my GERDs - I'm now on my 2nd one in 3 years.
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I never had an issue with reflux, ever, until I had my gallbladder removed about 5 years ago. I started out on Previcid, also very expensive and now I just take a low dose of generic pepcid, which seems to be enough has long as I don't do silly things like eat a big meal and try to lay down! 
I know some drugs are outrageously expensive. My grandma needs a medication to prevent her from having more strokes, I forget what its called but it was over $600 a month! Thats almost as much as her ssi!! She also takes several other medications which are very expensive. My mom finally found a program offered by the drug companies for low income people so now she gets her medications for free!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Does your employer have a flexible spending account? If you take a lot of meds you can have money taken out of your paycheck pre-tax for your prescription drugs as well non-prescription. Believe it or not, it does save you money. You may also want to look into having your drugs delivered by mail. Usually healhtcare providers provide this option at a discount.
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and it worked GREAT for the GERD. Unfortunately, it made my D about a million times worse and I had the most agonizing cramps. I even had tomato sauce once. OK, so it immediately made a beeline for the exit, but at least it didn't reflux on me!
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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but the insurance company uses it automatically for stuff that isn't covered, so our $2000 in flex spending was gone by like May. I haven't looked into the cost of this script by mail, though. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check with the insurance company.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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