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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWell now I know personally why our insurance is so high
...My doctor prescribed a drug for high cholesterol, I took it and it made me very ill, so bad I had to go to the ER. Naturally I stopped taking it. Doc said try cutting it in half, so I did, no go, still made me sick.
So he writes me a prescription for Crestor, the name brand, non-generic drug.
First I have to wait a week and a half to be "pre-authorized"by the insurance company (death panel?) for this drug, then I find my co-pay is $30 for 30 pills!!!!...
So I decide to find out how much these suckers cost out right, this is what I found out...
In the US they cost $129 for 30 pills, that approx. $4.30 per pill.
In Canada they cost $79 for 100 pills, that's 79 CENTS per pill.
That's a difference of $3.51 per pill, and I know Canada isn't selling them at a loss!
THIS....THIS is why we need health care reform in this country!!!!
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DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)Was it Simvastatin that made you sick?
Response to DURHAM D (Reply #1)
Tikki This message was self-deleted by its author.
madmom
(9,681 posts)DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)I got what I refer to as Simvastatin Poison about two years ago.
As my brother said, I had every known side effect. I am still mad about it because my GP and three specialists said it wasn't the Simvastatin. But it was. I took myself off and changed doctors.
madmom
(9,681 posts)was just gas, but it got worse. On day two it was so bad I told hubby I needed to go to the ER. While there I went unconscious and vomited, at the same time. They gave me charcoal to counter the drug, but never did say that was the cause. I refused to take it anymore and haven't had a problem. Doctor insisted I needed something so he wants me to try Crestor. I just started it last night...time will tell.
Hope you like your new doc, and certainly hope you are doing better.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)How high is your cholesterol count?
madmom
(9,681 posts)it was 203, but didn't say which was which. Before, when I was first diagnosed he said I had high triglycerides, so that 203 number could be the triglycerides. I have to call him and find out for sure.
Thank you so much for your concern, I will do some research. 
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)If the dr. office hesitates, I explain sweetly that we need copies of all our medical records in case of hurricane evacuation and they automatically understand...heh heh.
200 is the cutoff number for "high" cholesterol.
Used to be 240, but it got lowered about the time statins were invented.
Mr. d's dr. was pushing statins at 204, but we went the diet route and got it down to ....173...by the next 6th month lab test.
All he did was eat oatmeal ( a small bowl at that) 4 x week, munch on celery and those baby carrot sticks, and go very light on beef, eating mostly skinless chicken and pork.
Ain't making any medical suggestions, of course, just saying what worked for us.
madmom
(9,681 posts)working on losing weight through a dietitian. She wants higher protein and more veggies, so I might be on the right track there. I'll have to start eating more oatmeal, I usually do in the winter, I like something warm in the morning.
Thanks again..
kickysnana
(3,908 posts)Their pay and advancement is tied to how many patients they have on these things. Of course they had to revise the thresholds downward due to key research.
There are two kinds of people in my building those who refuse this stuff, trust me that is not easy, and those who are constantly running to the doctor with pain and debility.
If they could they I swear they would have you ruled incompetent for refusing this gold plated poison.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)With actual history of familial hyperlipidemia, with early death, who are alive today due to statins.
Yes, there are side effects...check your bottle of Tylenol.
VenusRising
(11,252 posts)My husband only lived to be 38. His Dad died at 39 without taking statins.
Never thought I would be a widow at 33.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Thankfully they mostly do work.
My mom, and her kids.
VenusRising
(11,252 posts)I hope they continue to work for your family.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Back in the day...
We still take it as well.
I wish these things worked for all, the future will be genetic matching I think.
MADem
(135,425 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)
LeftInTX
(25,555 posts)Sounds overpriced to me.
Panasonic
(2,921 posts)for the wife.
Mine? $4 for generic Z-pak (need to start taking them today - just got sick this morning)
Started looking into Medicare Part D yesterday, and decided not to enroll for my wife or me.
My wife rarely gets sick - but last week she was sick as a dog.
We are both on Medicare at a very young age.
Part D is a major rip off from the Bush years.. it *REALLY* needs to be merged with Part B and cut the price in half.
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)Before the real negotiations on health care started.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)
tridim
(45,358 posts)Last edited Tue Nov 27, 2012, 01:23 PM - Edit history (1)
Because it's an over 100 year old medication that is cheap and easy to make. Non-medical grade versions are almost as cheap as dirt, it is used in photo processing by the gallon.
10 years ago it was $20 for her pills.
Today it is $70 for the exact same pills.
No copays here, I have to pay full price, and there is no generic alternative. I'm locked in, and they know it. $50 pure profit for the rich fucks at the pharma plant, every two months.
LeftInTX
(25,555 posts)My husband used to say, "If you want to get rich work for a pharmaceutical company".
SharonAnn
(13,778 posts)Panasonic
(2,921 posts)Just curious...
tridim
(45,358 posts)Panasonic
(2,921 posts)I also love pugs and small dogs.
My last dog was a Maltepoo - had to give him up after my wife really became hostile to animals.
She still is, but she's commenting on a cute baby mouse we found the other day - but still terrified of animals.
tridim
(45,358 posts)I've had Bostons in my life since the day I was born, so it's kind of the family breed. IMO they have a very distinct human-like personality not present in other breeds.
MADem
(135,425 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)Phenobarbital is the drug that's rising in price seemingly by the month, Potassium Bromide has doubled in price since about 5 years ago.
I've checked all the online places and the price is about the same with shipping added.
I'm going to check Costco next time I have to refill, some people have said I can get Phenobarbital cheaper there.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Make a few phone calls and see if you can get a better deal...
Not sure if these links--1st one w/coupons-- are current, but hey....this seems like a good price, ya?
https://www.goodrx.com/phenobarbital
That other drug comes in liquid version, too. Is that what you use?
http://www.vetrxdirect.com/product/view/k-brovet?gclid=CJ2N9rzm77MCFQSg4AoduisA_w
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=4464b6f5-3de2-4e9e-9288-fabd573367c4&item=287RX&ccd=IFP003&utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=287RX&adtype=pla&kwd={keyword}&gclid=CLij0ufm77MCFYZM4AodG2oA8A
Maybe you can get a few ideas from these guys: http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/
tridim
(45,358 posts)That's about 1/3 the price my vet charges. If true that means my vet lied to my face three times over the past two years.
And yes the other drug is a liquid, used to be compounded at my old vet, but now I have to buy the name brand product. The site you listed is half-price.
Regardless I bet they try to charge me to transfer my prescriptions.
Thanks for the help!
MADem
(135,425 posts)The stuff is expensive, the dog doesn't like taking the regular pills (small dog/huge pill), so I get the chewables (also pricey) when I have to leave her with someone else so it's just one pill a day for her.
Otherwise, what I do is use 'human grade' ingredients that make up the medication--milk thistle and SAM-E. I give the dog the SAM-E on an empty stomach and the milk thistle with meals, and her bloodwork is coming along just fine. It's also much, MUCH cheaper to use these ingredients.
I got the dog as a rescue, knowing she had this issue and needed the meds, but she came without any and ordering takes a few days so I started her in on the human stuff rather than have her do without for several days. When I took her for her first check up with my vet I told him what I was doing; he is a very cool guy and isn't terribly proprietary about prescriptions (in fact, I told HIM they made Denamarin in a chewable--he was only stocking the regular stuff) and he said "Keep on doing what you're doing" because it's working fine.
If your vet is overcharging you for prescriptions, you might want to find another vet. And he shouldn't charge you for the prescription shift, either--if he does, that's a real red flag. Point out you wouldn't need to change if he didn't OVERCHARGE. Maybe ask around your area and see if you can't find someone who is a bit more simpatico?
The dog I got as a rescue was going to a vet who ripped off the old lady who owned the dog (she died and the poor dog was headed to the "needle" because the relatives didn't want her) with a lot of unnecessary testing and procedures; the lady loved the dog and would do ANYTHING for the little fart. My vet isn't going to fuck with a little old, somewhat frail, dog with medical issues unless there's no other way of handling it. I'm lucky to have found a guy who doesn't rip people off--I know a lot of these places charge a fortune and try to guilt people into buying this or having that done.
Good luck to you; I hope you find an affordable source for those meds!
former-republican
(2,163 posts)zomig
cost is $340.00 for 9 pills
It's a racket for the pharmaceutical industry in the US
unblock
(52,317 posts)now we have competition from something like 6 different triptan products (imitrex, zomig, maxalt, amerge, and i think a couple more) yet the prices have come down only by a very small amount.
it's ridiculous as the production costs can't be anywhere near that, it's the research and development that arguably justifies some high price. by glaxo faced that with imitrex alone, there isn't anywhere near the development costs for the knock-off drugs like zomig.
i have a high-deductible plan and always hit it on zomig alone.
subterranean
(3,427 posts)At least where I buy it (Costco), the price of Imitrex is higher now than than before the patent expired. I don't understand why. It's now $35 a tablet, compared to about $2.50 for the generic version. Needless to say, I've switched to the generic.
unblock
(52,317 posts)generic zomig yet.
worse, i'm usually too nauseous for pills so i need the nasal spray.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)This is but one.
RegieRocker
(4,226 posts)not about being the best doctor they can be.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)They're just high-class wage slaves trapped in the corporate health care industry. Small doc-owned clinics are virtually dead.
Docs are abandoning medicine at unprecedented rates as a result.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)who, in my experience, are very, very conservative in their politics.
RegieRocker
(4,226 posts)posted " My doctor prescribed ". Rational logic determines the doc did it.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)If you have insurance -- even if its an otherwise fairly crappy high deductible plan -- the pricing will be much more reasonable after they apply their negotiated discounts.
If you don't have insurance, look for a "discount pharmacist" or local independent and call around. Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc. are MUCH higher -- often by a factor of 10 or more on generic drugs.
Also, the discount cards you can get through AARP, AAA, etc. are worthwhile if you do not have drug coverage as they get you negotiated rates.
madmom
(9,681 posts)he is retired. We MUST go through Medco for all prescriptions or they pay nothing.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)
Yavin4
(35,445 posts)If you want to sell to Canadians, then it's at a certain price. Take it or leave it. Big pharma is not going to walk away from millions of customers.
OkieGranny
(73 posts)It was at the very beginning of the era of overpriced drugs. Tagamet was the brand-new "miracle" ulcer drug and there was one other, I think for arthritis? Can't remember the name, but they were both priced far above any other drugs we dispensed. Customers were shocked at the prices, and many would either back away, saying they'd see if their doctor could prescribe something cheaper, or they'd ask if we could just fill half the prescription as they couldn't afford a full 30-day supply.
This was also before before the nationwide TV and print ad campaigns for prescription drugs (to convince you that you "need" a certain drug) were legalized during the Reagan era, and the cost of that advertising is now added to the per-pill price.
What a difference 30 years makes.
socialindependocrat
(1,372 posts)Our power company in Delaware says that we are using less electricity and they want to charge a higher rate
to people who use less power.
It's all "supply and demand" until it comes to the wealthy trying to make money!
If they want us to buy American then they need to reduce our costs.
Why is heating oil more expensive when it is cheaper to produce than Gasoline?
why are diesel trucks getting screwed and making our proucts more expensive
because of higher transportation costs?
We need some legislators that will get things back in balance again!
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)socialindependocrat
(1,372 posts)Competition keeps prices down.
Back in the 80s someone introduced "don't leave any money lying on the table" to marketig.
this means you need to price your goods so the person is not happy paying the price but
will not walk away from the deal.
for some reason the Gov. allowed large businesses to buy out smaller businesses
and reduce competition which allows the pressure to move toward higher prices.
why did the gov. allow this to happen?
Why did the gov. allow the banks to go nuts?
We were supposed to have been protected from this sort of thing...
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)See? 
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)My son needs four medications for PTSD.
No insurance.
These prices are for three months worth of meds.
Costco $161.89
CVS $1,446.86
Walmart $1,198.86
Publix $1,572.80
And this is all generics.
And no Costco membership needed.
Doesn't even make sense.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Do they buy theirs from Canada?
If not, the problem may not be with the big Pharma companies, but with CVS, Walmart, etc. It looks like that's where the mark-up is being taken.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)I mean, really. 
You know Costco has to make a profit so, it is sickening to see what the others are charging in comparison.
MADem
(135,425 posts)If so, call the VA. If he has a diagnosis he may qualify for pharmacy assistance for starters, and other medical and other help as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_benefits_for_post-traumatic_stress_disorder_in_the_United_States
djean111
(14,255 posts)Knife at his throat from someone taking a test drive at a car dealership, and then a year later having a .45 pointed in his face and fired - it misfired, thank goodness, but he thought he was dead. This at a construction site.
I am very glad that our veterans get help for PTSD, but civilians are pretty much out of luck getting insurance once there is a diagnosis.
When the Costco people told me what their price was for venlafaxine HCL, I literally started crying, I was so relieved.
I think that CVS, etc. cut deals with insurance and/or make up their costs on the backs of the uninsured.
MADem
(135,425 posts)ordered to pay for the poor guy's medical care.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Our BP scripts are generic, $10.00 for 90 day supply...in my case that is 180 tabs every 90 days.
Between myseld and Mr. dixie, we pay about 25.00 for our scripts.
djean111
(14,255 posts)
patrice
(47,992 posts)something like it makes it to market in the USA, "There might be bad side-effects" should be translated to, "Pharma doesn't like the cost to benefit ratio that eliminates all of those pregnancies and hospital stays, the consequent pressure on health care costs and, MOST importantly, the consequences of that consequent, their POWER and CONTROL over American "health" "care"."
MADem
(135,425 posts)Not in pharmacies, but through doctors. It doesn't sound like a very simple process to use this medication. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mifepristone
Mifepristone was approved for abortion in the U.S. by the FDA, in September 2000.[46] It is legal and available in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico.[47] It is a prescription drug, but it is not available to the public through pharmacies; its distribution is restricted to specially qualified licensed physicians, sold by Danco Laboratories under the tradename Mifeprex.
Medical abortions voluntarily reported by 33 U.S. states[48] to the CDC have increased as a percentage of total abortions every year since the approval of mifepristone: 1.0% in 2000, 2.9% in 2001, 5.2% in 2002, 7.9% in 2003, 9.3% in 2004, 9.9% in 2005, 10.6% in 2006, 13.1% in 2007 (20.3% of those at less than 9 weeks gestation).[49] A Guttmacher Institute survey of abortion providers estimated that medical abortions accounted for 17% of all abortions and slightly over 25% of abortions before 9 weeks gestation in the United States in 2008 (94% of nonhospital medical abortions used mifepristone and misoprostol, 6% used methotrexate and misoprostol).[50] Medical abortions accounted for 32% of first trimester abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics in the United States in 2008.[51]
...women cannot pick the drug up at a pharmacy but must now receive it directly from a doctor. Due to the possibility of adverse reactions such as excessive bleeding which may require a blood transfusion and incomplete abortion which may require surgical intervention, the drug is only considered safe if a physician who is capable of administering a blood transfusion or a surgical abortion is available to the patient in the event of such emergencies.[52] The approval of mifepristone under Subsection H included a black box warning.
patrice
(47,992 posts)slackmaster
(60,567 posts)...but it won't expire in the USA until 8/1/2016.
http://www.genericsweb.com/index.php?object_id=680
trekbiker
(768 posts)its long but worth the watching.
Is the food pyramid bullshit??
is it true statins lower cholesterol but have minor effect on mortality?
Did a govt panel of scientists (funded by industry) distort evidence to set the cholesterol limit at 220 when it should have been 300 and thereby funneled 20 million new patients to big Pharma for thier statin drugs??
obesity epidemic, type 2 diabetes epidemic... are we a nation of overstressed pancreases?
interesting stuff. Also, everyone should read the book "Wheat Belly". Blows apart the "food pyramid", heresy, I know, but then I think of my dad who died a year ago from bone cancer. He never smoked or drank his whole life, ate my mom's healthy cooking for 50 years. He was on medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, had multiple bypass heart surgery, cataracts, gout.... a good friend suffered a major heart attack at age 46 after being on statins for 6 years.... and his cholesterol was under "control" and in the acceptable range.
curiouser and curiouser...
I am taking this info with a grain of salt so decided to experiment on myself. Have lost 15 pounds in the last 2 months without even trying (only change was to eliminate all grain products, especially wheat). Will get bloodwork done in 4 more months and see what the results of this are.
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)
catrose
(5,073 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Three fields in which practitioners should only be allowed because they have a passion for it.
glowing
(12,233 posts)AND excercise. Walk 3 times per week... Short at first, and then increase the length of the walk as you feel you can. It's not the "cholesterol" that kills, it's the scarring of your artery lining that the cholesterol sticks into and causes blockage...
Some people have higher cholesterol naturally. Keeping your artery linings from scarring with unhealthy living practices should be the real goal.
Many of the cholesterol reducing medicines cause muscle break down. My husband was put on a statin (his heritage, I believe is one of the reasons he has higher cholesterol). The medicine made him shake and was poisoning him. He tried to take a natural statin (I think it's red rice or something)... That wasn't quite as bad, but eventually gave him similar muscle aches and shakes. So, the Dr had only 1 solution left, and that was to use flax seed and fish oil, combined with excercise. Within 6 months, his levels had naturally come down and his excercising reduced his triglycerides.
Natural supplements are items which the pharmaceutical company does not want people to use. Healthy living and the time and money to live a healthy lifestyle, coupled with less stress, would be more than enough for many people to avoid cholesterol issues or heart issues.
Our world is now so stressful, full of chemicals and poisons, Franken-foods, and the co-hesive knowledge imparted into people of healthy living... Home Econ. in schools should be teaching healthy cooking, organic gardening, and the science of the body in regards to nutritional needs that the body needs for fuel... Like what Vitamin C does.. Items like this.
One of the reasons I did some studying up on the whole issue regarding cholesterol was due to my husband having such a bad reaction to the pharmaceuticals and his Drs final way of having to deal with his higher cholesterol with natural supplements. If 6mos of putting flax seed mill into his yogurt and taking fish oil supplements, along with excercise of walking 3-4 times a week worked so well, the. Why wasn't this the first approach a Dr should take with patients. And why not suggest these supplements at an earlier age before cholesterol becomes a blockage and a heart attack? It seems that health care should not be addressed as just a pill to take away a symptom (and most of those pills have another side effect that the Dr will be prescribing another pill for down the road).
If people are educated about health, nutrition, excercise, stress, and how to make healthy foods at an early age, we would prevent a lot of illness later on down the road. I applaud Mrs Obama on her Let's Move and the organic garden. I only wish policy would catch up to the needs of people... It's hard to change out corn subsidies when Iowa is the first step to a White House victory. It's hard to change the way Drs are trained when the entire health care model is a business and the real money seems to be made once Drs become surgeons and are having to operate on unhealthy hearts, lungs, and dealing with cancer... And we have so many carcinogens in our environment, it's almost "when will u get cancer", rather than the people who seem to have a genetic pre-disposition for getting cancer. (And then, why not take an all hands approach to helping those with a genetic pre-disposition to live a lifestyle that will try to keep the carcinogens at a minimum and supplement with antioxidant rich foods?)
MADem
(135,425 posts)Panasonic
(2,921 posts)Doc says I'm healthy as a horse, after being so close to a full-blown diabetic with high cholestrol.
Now my doc tests my blood every 3 months and make sure that I take my glyburide.
I take 3 other medications, all $4 at the pharmacy except for zolpidem
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statin
The best-selling statin is atorvastatin, marketed as Lipitor (manufactured by Pfizer) and Torvast. By 2003 atorvastatin became the best-selling pharmaceutical in history,[4] with Pfizer reporting sales of US$12.4 billion in 2008.[5] As of 2010, a number of statins are on the market: atorvastatin (Lipitor and Torvast), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor, Altoprev), pitavastatin (Livalo, Pitava), pravastatin (Pravachol, Selektine, Lipostat), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor, Lipex).[6] Several combination preparations of a statin and another agent, such as ezetimibe/simvastatin, are also available.
Lots of people tolerate statins just fine. People who tolerate one statin may not tolerate a different statin. However, they all target the same biochemical system, and the difference may be related to dose, since the dose required for a given effect differs among statins. Simvastatin typically requires a higher dose than some others, e.g about twice that of rosuvastatin.
Quite a few are off patent and available as generics. Simvastatin (Zocor) was one of the first to go generic, but atorvastatin (Lipitor) is also now generic.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)
doc03
(35,366 posts)pills I paid a $20 co-pay. My employer dropped our insurance and I had to purchase a
a plan myself with less coverage for $809 a month. After going under that plan I picked up a prescription and my co-pay went to $80 for 30 pills. I called my doctor and he gave me a generic for would you believe $3.72 for 30 pills.
bbgrunt
(5,281 posts)poison statins even though they have not been shown to be particularly efficacious.
I had a terrible muscular reaction to them. The doctors kept pushing them at me to where I was taking one-half a pill twice a week. Even that was too much. I stopped taking them 6 years ago, but I still have to battle every new doctor.
And now even my insurance agency is in the business of examining my regimen and contacting my doctors to try and push them on me again.
There is something evil about this whole process.
