Posted by metric on March 13, 2009, at 15:32:41
In reply to Re: No insurance / No doctor / Need help - ANGRY, posted by detroitpistons on March 9, 2009, at 18:21:39
> When I went to the first appointment at this community place, I had well over a month of Effexor XR left. I had gotten the ball rolling with this place as quickly as possible, because I figured it might take a while to get an appointment and get meds, given the fact that I have no insurance, etc. I was trying to be responsible. When I told the doctor that I had a month of meds left, he basically just said, "Come back in a month."
>
> So today I go back there and, after refusing to prescribe me adderall (I'm taking classes and I really do need it) he gives me a one month prescription of Effexor XR with 1 refill, and my standard Xanax prescription (taken once in a while for general anxiety), and Remeron for sleep.
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> After my appointment with the doctor, I had an appointment with my "case worker." I'm sitting there with my Effexor prescription in my hand and I say, "So how do I get this filled?" He was sort of surprised by the question. I informed him that one month of Effexor XR at a local pharmacy runs something like $350. He actually said that he's never heard of Effexor before!! What? Don't you work in a mental health clinic?
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> You know, I really hate to complain about free service, but I tried to make it very clear in the beginning that I COULD NOT AFFORD EFFEXOR XR, and that I can't, under any circumstances, miss a single dose of Effexor XR.
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> I've got 18 days left. Even if I get accepted into Wyeth's patient assistance program, it's going to take longer than that to get the meds. The case worker said that it usually takes around 2 months. He said he would find out about getting samples for me, so there's no guarantee about that. Even so, samples only go so far. I take 3 x 75 mgs/ day. That's a lot of samples.
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> I'm frustrated. I'm angry. I'm SCARED TO DEATH of running out of Effexor, even for 1 day. This gives me a profound sense of anxiety, but hey, I've got some Xanax now, right? I wish I didn't take these stupid drugs. I wish I never started. I wish I could just stop taking them. I wish my stupid brain wasn't so messed up....Maybe it isn't. Maybe these drugs are just a crutch. Maybe I'm just weak. God, I suck.......All these thoughts start swirling around my insufferable little brain.
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> This is also very frustrating for me in a larger sense. I guess I'm a person of principle, and, aside from the Effexor problem, the fact that I'm in this situation in the first place pisses me off all by itself. It reminds me of how screwed up our healthcare system is, and how a lot of people don't really care as long as they have insurance. I'm pissed that I have to go asking for "handouts." I'm pissed that everything costs so damned much. I'm pissed that I have to feel guilty for going back to school instead of looking for a job that offers health insurance. I'm just pissed.
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> Wyeth's patient assistance form has a section that asks for your assets, including IRA's/ 401k. Ok, so I have a few thousand dollars in a couple 401k accounts. I see that question and I start to feel a little guilty because I am reminded that I do actually own something. Am I supposed to take this question to mean that I should cash out (at a terrible tax loss) my meager little life's savings to pay for Effexor XR? Do I lie about my 401k and the unemployment money that's about to run out?
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> As you can see, I'm pretty pissed off right now. I have a test tomorrow and I can't focus on studying right now because of this.A few thoughts...
Did you explain your financial situation to whomever was originally prescribing you these substances? I can't imagine why he or she would cut you off from your medications as a result of your financial hardship. Doesn't sound very ethical to me. Can you think of any other branch of medicine -- excluding psychiatry -- wherein that would happen? Some people on medications only visit their doctor at intervals of several years. Frequent office visits are wasteful of the patient's time and money, especially if nothing is being changed.
You can save a lot on the *uncontrolled* drugs you mention (Effexor and Remeron) by importing them from overseas. Also, immediate-release venlafaxine (Effexor) is available as a generic in the United States. Though it may be somewhat less convenient, it would be far less expensive.
You mention being a student and studying for exams. You should be aware that mirtazapine (Remeron) is a very potent long-acting antihistamine. You might want to be careful with
that. (I found it very impairing)Finally -- although view is probably unpopular here -- you might find it very liberating to ditch the shrinks and your psych meds. You might feel a whole lot better (but be prepared to feel worse for a little while) in many respects. You don't sound like the type of person who will flip out and lose it unmedicated.
poster:metric
thread:873209
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090313/msgs/885181.html