Some ideas regarding excessive cost of drugs

[Mike 03]

A number of drugmakers are making their drugs available for free for those people who were layed off since January 2009.

Other drugmakers have, for some time, offered free drugs to individuals in need of them who make below a certain wage per year. Thanks to one company, I was able to remain on my antidepressant meds at no cost for a year because I was making below a certain amount.

Another tip: For some reason I can't begin to fathom, in many cases you will find yourself paying the same amount regardless of the milligram of the pill you take.

In other words, you might be paying $25 for a 25 mg Imitrex, a 50 mg Imitrex, or find yourself paying the same amount for a 100 mg Imitrex.

Same for many other drugs. I can attest that the same is true for certain antidepressants. You pay the same for the 20 mg as the 40 mg.

Talk to your doctor and see if he or she cannot prescribe the higher dose tablet; then purchase a pill cutter and divide them. You will get twice as many pills for the same price.

This is not true of all medications, I'm guessing, but I know it is true of many.

Good luck.

My heart goes out to anyone needing medical care right now, during these difficult times, and attempting to deal with the red tape of insurance companies and obscene prices for life-saving drugs.

[Warpy]

1. A few things are at work here

First, the drug companies do have programs for the medically indigent, an insulting term for people who are unemployed and/or uninsured. The requirements are strict, though, and the hoops are many. However, if you find yourself in that situation and must have a patented medication, contact the company for information about their programs.

Second, the per milligram price is meaningless. The compounds aren't what make the pills cost. It's the testing to make sure the right drug in the right purity and the right dosage is in those pills. It's the fact that a pharmacy has to maintain a huge stock of thousands of different pills at all times and has to toss those that pass their expiration date. It's an expensive business just for those two facts. Patented drugs are extremely expensive because the company is recouping the cost of doing the final testing and bringing the drug to market. It's more than it should be if the company is advertising it directly to prospective patients, a practice that really needs to be stopped.

Some medications can be bought in the higher dosage and cut or broken to cut the cost of a prescription. Your doctor will know which ones can be.

Good luck. Our system is a disaster if you're insured. It can be fatal if you're not.

[quiller4]

2. Requirements are strict-yes; hoops not so many.

I've helped people qualify for medically indigent programs by completing a short interview and online form. Many nonprofit agencies regularly assist clients with the application process as do staff at many senior centers. It can be hard to learn about the programs but the application process is not onerous.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. Cutting pills in half

That's not always a good idea. Some pills are designed to break down in different places in the body, and when you cut them, you short-circuit the process. My physician - who's very careful with stuff like this - has cautioned me about doing this with certain medications.

So I don't think that's a very pragmatic idea.

[Warpy]

4. That's why patients need to ask their doctors about it.

Scored pills are best and can be bought in the larger dosages and cut.

Cutting unscored pills can be difficult and downright dangerous for some medications, especially those that are timed release.