Anxiety/ADD/PDD-NOS but can't afford meds...

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Went to the head-shrinker today, and that's the basic prognosis...
It was the lenghthiest conversation I have ever had with a Psychiatrist.
He said that he was no expert, but it was his opinion based on what I told him,
that the assessment I received regarding Asperger's was accurate..but did not count as a formal diagnosis...(he wrote it on my chart as PDD-NOS)....and neither did my GP diagnosis for ADD....BUT...he does believe that I have it..and will do what he can so that we can hopefully forgo the extensive and expensive testing.
I was given a script for a month's supply of a low dose of Wellbutrin...but I did not realize that it would cost upwards of $240..and the pharmacist would not tell me how much it would cost before I had it filled..so i am not sure what to do because I had to leave the prescription at the pharmacy...so that is sort of a bummer...as maybe there is a place that might fill it for less money.

Were I to attempt to get insurance..I am wondering if it would be considered pre-existing..and therefore..not be covered....

Another assessment down the drain...what am I supposed to tell the doctor...when and if I go back there?

Knowing my previous patterns, i guess it means I won't be able to go back there..


I feel pretty frayed...

Next conversation, inform the doctor that you have no insurance and any and all meds must be available in generic form and be of viable financial availability to you. I work with my doctor on that basis, and have found that some medications that are over 50 years old are more effective than these new ones w/o all the side effects.


M.

Yes; when they approve new meds, all they have to prove is it's better than placebo. Some old medications are still very useful--look at your grocery store shelf and you'll see aspirin, a big example. Penicillin is old, too.

Doesn't even have to be that old--just has to be generic. That's a lot cheaper than name-brand. Call your doctor (write yourself a script first if necessary) and say, I can't afford your medication; I need a generic version; can we talk about changing the prescription?

Some docs also have sliding-scale arrangements, where you pay based on your income. I used to do that, and I only paid about 5% of the fees at one point.

Another place to check out is NeedyMeds.org. They offer coupons and discount cards.

The $240 stuff was the generic for Wellbutrin...I guess I will call Baylor and ask them if they have any sort of med-assistance program....but I don't know what to do about the script that I had to leave at the pharmacy.

You should ask for a medication that is funded by the government. The doctor who you talked to should know which ones are and which ones aren't. When I took meds for depression and anxiety it was only NZ$8 for one months supply and if they weren't funded it would have been a LOT more.

I think it works differently in America..

Just don't pick the prescription up. They'll eventually put the medication back on the shelves. Your prescription isn't for a highly controlled substance so I'm sure you could call your doctor and get another one.

As a side note, the pharmacy can ring up the price for you before they fill it. They might have not wanted to, but they can do it. Next time make sure they tell you how much it will cost you.

Where would you be getting insurance from? Privately? The Wellbutrin wouldn't matter as far as pre-existing conditions go. That medication is used for many things, least often PDD-NOS! They wouldn't even know what the medication was for.. its not like they write what its for on the prescription itself. The pre existing stuff isn't for all insurances. You'd have to look up the laws for your state to find out if private insurance companies are allowed to exclude people, if group HMO's are, and if there is a time limit to the exclusion.

Oh, sorry. I thought the American government would still fund some meds but obviously not.

The Wellbutrin is for the ADD...He said it is approved for adult ADD....He is also sorta convinced I have depression..and hinted at wanting to try an SSRI out on me eventually.. (Admittedly, I am depressed...but a lot of it has to do with dismay over executive dysfunction)
I will call tomorrow and try to talk to someone about my difficulties affording the meds, and the need for a new script.
I guess I should have asked about this when he asked me if I had any more questions...

There are other families of medications that are available, such as the tricyclic antidepressants, that are inexpensive... and from what I have read and personally experienced, SSRIs are not effective for dealing with depression stemming from AS related difficulties. My best results have been with anti-anxiety medications, which have cost me between $10 and $20 a month each without insurance. The most expensive will likely be a form the ADD medication; most of those are still artificially astronomical.


M.

Do you know for sure that they filled your Wellbutrin script with Buproprion? Thats the generic form of it. MANY times the pharmacies sneak the regular ones in and try to charge you for it. Sometimes the doctor forgets to specify on the script that the generic can be used. (usually a check box that say, generic may be used unless this box is checked) or something of the sort.

There are quite a few other medications for depression and/or ADD. Though its common for doctors to start with Buproprion. Your payment sounds extremely high though, thats why I'm wondering if you're sure it was the generic form.

Another option is sometimes doctors will give you samples of the medication they want you to try. Usually they can give you a month or two worth of "free samples." Enough time for you to see if the medication is even going to work for you. You can always tell your doctor you don't have insurance and you're having trouble paying for the medication, does he have any samples available for you.

I requested the generic...we just headed over the the nearest drug store/pharmacy...CVS....guess we shoulda done further research...

Wallmart or something similar might sell a cheap generic brand of the same medication; I've read here that they do sell cheap generic brands of medication (Wallmart that is).

They're quite expensive. The Seroquel XR is well over $200 here, but I get it for $7 (yay for a "liberal" government and poor and sick people given help). However, I've seen the generic brands of Zoloft and Valium go for around $7 here (no government help), whereas the brands are well over over $50.

I don't know if this is an option(because it might be too expensive) but you can try to get low cost health insurance. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Health Insurance" and see what you find. Blue Cross/Blue Shields is good. You will have to pay the monthly premium and a co pay when going to the doc and getting Rxs filled. It sounds expensive but if you will be going to the doctor a lot it's actually cheaper in the long run, especially if you need specialists or hospital stays.

Really?! That's ridiculously much! We have a totally different healthcare system with pretty much everyone having insurance, so I neve rhave to pay for meds. However, it seems here drugs are much cheaper than in the US anyway.

Why did you have to leave the script at the pharmacist? If you don't get it filled, why would they need it?