Deeming Regulations have been released!!!!

[stols001]

Oh also: "GoodRx." Many, many times, you can find a cheaper "pay" than your insurance's "copay."

As far as generics, they can go 20% UP or 20% DOWN. I pay more than I should with my mail order pharmacy, because the generics they come up with are OMG, terrible.

Don't even get me started on how I paid over 200 for a generic version of "Concerta" which has a patented time release. The freaking FDA decided "Oh, any time release will do." And, I got a time release that worked for two hours, then dumped about 90% of it's "contents meant to last all day" into my system. Thank god I had some blood pressure medicine around, to lower my pulse, LOL.

I used ONE pill, and was thinking: "Oh, no worries, I can back bill to insurance" only it was a non covered medication.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF MOD I COULD HAVE BOUGHT FOR THAT?????????????

Generics can be great or awful. I now keep them "great" by figuring out which "generic" is actually made by the MANUFACTURER, and is in fact "real"

Generics are the DEVIL's tool, every time you switch, it's like starting all over again.

Thank god for Costco, man. They will order me what I want, at the lowest price possible (insurance, or GoodRx).

I believe, yes, I did mention HOW MUCH taking meds sucks.

The more I talk about this, though, the more I go, "vaping is doomed." The FDA SUCKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL.

Anna

 

[Myk]

Generics are the DEVIL's tool, every time you switch, it's like starting all over again.

True. Generics are supposed to be exact. They're not. Because they're supposed to be exact the FDA doesn't really check that thoroughly. Like the generic Wellbutrin that because one does was good they assumed they were all good. They weren't.

But we're the government, we're here to help you.
Even if it wasn't obvious the FDA were out to squash vaping they would screw it up. They can't even manage to do their real job.

I believe, yes, I did mention HOW MUCH taking meds sucks.

Best thing about getting infusions once every 8 weeks, no more pills 2-4 times a day.

 

[stols001]

No actually the FDA REGULATES plus or minus 20%. They actually think it's FINE. Plus, whatever "filler" the generic maker wants.

Yeah, I remember the whole Wellbutrin FIASCO. Man, people were having fits. T

The FDA STILL doesn't care. Plus or minus 20%. So, you can get up to a 40% VARIANCE going from one generic to another and there are FEW pharmacies who will order a specific generic for you. Walmart is one, Costco is another.

Man, I know way too much than I want to about meds and I found out most of it the hard way.

I now "take" the two days of reading offered by any new insurance company. It's a headache, but it's worth it. LOL.

Anna

 

[Myk]

No actually the FDA REGULATES plus or minus 20%. They actually think it's FINE. Plus, whatever "filler" the generic maker wants.

Yeah, I remember the whole Wellbutrin FIASCO. Man, people were having fits. T

The FDA STILL doesn't care. Plus or minus 20%. So, you can get up to a 40% VARIANCE going from one generic to another and there are FEW pharmacies who will order a specific generic for you. Walmart is one, Costco is another.

Man, I know way too much than I want to about meds and I found out most of it the hard way.

I now "take" the two days of reading offered by any new insurance company. It's a headache, but it's worth it. LOL.

Anna

I've got to deal with that on my Xanax. 13 years later Walgreens decided to change generic brands. I can't decide if it works or not but I know it's not as strong. I warned my Dr this refill may not last as long as it usually does.
Some Drs and pharmacists act like you're crazy if a generic doesn't work. They claim they're exact no matter how often they're told they're not or news stories prove they're not (Wellbutrin).

So next time (which is a new prescription so even more difficult) I have to call Walgreens to find out if it was a temporary switch or a permanent switch and if they'll get the brand I'm used to and then possibly call around to other pharmacies to see what brand of generic they have, if they'll tell. Hopefully it's just an adjustment.

I just realized how similar it is to buying nicotine. It's all nicotine but it's also different.

 

[ScottP]

Yes. Let's turn the populace into lab rats by treating them with unproven drugs they can't afford to ameliorate symptoms they've only been told they have by commercials on the television or that were side-effects of the last drug they were prescribed.

From what I heard that is NOT what is happening. This is to help people that are TERMINALLY ill and are going to 100% DIE if something isn't done, but the drugs that might help are not approved yet. Instead of just letting the patient die by doing nothing, this would give them the choice to try an unapproved drug. In these cases, even if the drug doesn't work, the worst that can happen is the patient still dies anyway.

This is not going to allow you to try some unapproved pill to prevent bunions on your feet, or general fatigue, or occasional head aches.

 

[ScottP]

Oh also: "GoodRx." Many, many times, you can find a cheaper "pay" than your insurance's "copay."

...

One of my meds had a $487 per month copay. There is NO similar drug or generic. So, I applied directly for financial assistance, met criteria, and quite frankly their "assistance program" is less hassle, and far better, than trying to "fill" any medicine through my insurance.

Yes exactly. My wife has MS (Multiple Sclerosis). When she was first diagnosed in 2008 the only drugs were injectibles that cost like $2000/mo, thankfully with insurance plus manufacturer assistance we got it free. Now she is on a pill format that we are also getting for free direct from the manufacturer. Her other medications she gets cheaper using one of those "prescription savings cards" (Not sure if it is GoodRx or a different one) but it is quite a bit cheaper than what we would pay from insurance. I am so thankful for these services other wise we would have been in the poor house years ago.

 

[CMD-Ky]

Yes exactly. My wife has MS (Multiple Sclerosis). When she was first diagnosed in 2008 the only drugs were injectibles that cost like $2000/mo, thankfully with insurance plus manufacturer assistance we got it free. Now she is on a pill format that we are also getting for free direct from the manufacturer. Her other medications she gets cheaper using one of those "prescription savings cards" (Not sure if it is GoodRx or a different one) but it is quite a bit cheaper that what we would pay from insurance. I am so thankful for these services other wise we would have been in the poor house years ago.

Hummmm, evil big pharma?

 

[ScottP]

Hummmm, evil big pharma?

In many cases yeah. In my case, they have actually been quite helpful with costs. The way the program my wife is on works is, the manufacturer gets paid whatever the insurance is willing to pay and then they eat the part we would normally have to pay and write it off. This saves me quite a bit of money. Without these programs I could see her pharma bill easily being similar to, or bigger than my home mortgage payments. Who can afford that?

 

[CMD-Ky]

In many cases yeah. In my case, they have actually been quite helpful with costs. The way the program my wife is on works is, the manufacturer gets paid whatever the insurance is willing to pay and then they eat the part we would normally have to pay and write it off. This saves me quite a bit of money. Without these programs I could see her pharma bill easily being similar to, or bigger than my home mortgage payments. Who can afford that?

No one, I am glad this worked for you. I have heard of these programs but never spoke (typed) with someone who had first hand experience. Excellent!

[I was trying to be somewhat funny in my first post, I hope that came through.]

 

[Myk]

Yes exactly. My wife has MS (Multiple Sclerosis). When she was first diagnosed in 2008 the only drugs were injectibles that cost like $2000/mo, thankfully with insurance plus manufacturer assistance we got it free. Now she is on a pill format that we are also getting for free direct from the manufacturer. Her other medications she gets cheaper using one of those "prescription savings cards" (Not sure if it is GoodRx or a different one) but it is quite a bit cheaper than what we would pay from insurance. I am so thankful for these services other wise we would have been in the poor house years ago.

Friend of mine with MS is going down hill. She's trying the biologic for MS (new when she went on it). I was paired up with a guy getting it my last infusion, it's a long one and they had him stick around for an hour observation after. So far my friend sounds like she has less short term side effects than I get from mine. I would wait until it's in common use if possible, otherwise it is a guinea pig issue, but there are promising drugs in the pipelines for many autoimmune diseases.
Good thing for the MS one is it's one infusion every 6 months. Bad thing is it's a long one. And because it's an administered drug there's no Good Rx (but my insurance considers it a medical procedure so they pay 100%). My company wanted to kick me off their assistance program because I never use it, I said I'd like to stay on it because odds are if I lose this insurance the next one won't be as good and I'll need to meet my deductible and max out of pocket 1-8 weeks into the new year.

Hummmm, evil big pharma?

Evil social medicine? They give some people discounts by charging others more. Same thing with hospitals.
Even the people who work at the FDA aren't all evil.

 

[ScottP]

Friend of mine with MS is going down hill. She's trying the biologic for MS (new when she went on it). I was paired up with a guy getting it my last infusion, it's a long one and they had him stick around for an hour observation after. So far my friend sounds like she has less short term side effects than I get from mine. I would wait until it's in common use if possible, otherwise it is a guinea pig issue, but there are promising drugs in the pipelines for many autoimmune diseases.
Good thing for the MS one is it's one infusion every 6 months. Bad thing is it's a long one. And because it's an administered drug there's no Good Rx (but my insurance considers it a medical procedure so they pay 100%). My company wanted to kick me off their assistance program because I never use it, I said I'd like to stay on it because odds are if I lose this insurance the next one won't be as good and I'll need to meet my deductible and max out of pocket 1-8 weeks into the new year.

Hmm my wife isn't on an infusion. She is taking a pill 2x/day called Tecfidera.
Tecfidera® (dimethyl fumarate)

 

[Bronze]

Hmm my wife isn't on an infusion. She is taking a pill 2x/day called Tecfidera.
Tecfidera® (dimethyl fumarate)

Got a friend whose wife takes some kind of drug that came from hamster ovaries. Not sure if she's still doing that.

 

[ScottP]

Got a friend whose wife takes some kind of drug that came from hamster ovaries. Not sure if she's still doing that.

You are thinking of the injectibles (like Rebif) that are made with interferon that comes from hamster ovaries. That was what my wife started on.

 

[Myk]

Hmm my wife isn't on an infusion. She is taking a pill 2x/day called Tecfidera.
Tecfidera® (dimethyl fumarate)

My friend is on Ocrelizumab (had to look it up). Just approved 3/17, and the FDA wants more studies. So yeah, we're already guinea pigs.

But I'm actually glad I avoided diagnosis until later in life so there are these options. Had I been diagnosed as a kid the few drugs they had were much more risky IMO, the side effects are as bad as the disease and they jumped to surgery. I would've had 20-30 years with those being my only 2 options.

Got a friend whose wife takes some kind of drug that came from hamster ovaries. Not sure if she's still doing that.

Mine is human/mouse GMO genes.
I'm doing great on it.

(Am I am in remission on it, and am not turning into a mouse/human chimera.)

 

[Bronze]

You are thinking of the injectibles (like Rebif) that are made with interferon that comes from hamster ovaries. That was what my wife started on.

It's been a number of years so she might well be on something else by now.

 

[ScottP]

It's been a number of years so she might well be on something else by now.

Probably but it's still weird to think about injecting hamster ovary cells into a person. Like who decided to even try that? "Hmm I wonder if injecting these animal ovary cells into a person can help stop MS relapses". Really? How do they even come up with this stuff?

 

[Bronze]

Probably but it's still weird to think about injecting hamster ovary cells into a person. Like who decided to even try that? "Hmm I wonder if injecting these animal ovary cells into a person can help stop MS relapses". Really? How do they even come up with this stuff?

Who ever thought of rolling up a tobacco leaf and smoking it?

 

[ScottP]

Who ever thought of rolling up a tobacco leaf and smoking it?

Native Americans.

 

[stols001]

Lets not turn this into a socialism thread. Most times, prescription costs are just "eaten" by the pharma companies. And anyone who thinks any new drug that is novel is NOT going to take advantage of high prices, is nuts. You get yourself an "orphan" drug, (the only drug approved to treat a condition) well, goldmine. Goes off patent-- NEVER. The drug companies want to make money, but regulations and pricing ALL comes from the government, the FDA etc.

Also, given the amount of research that goes into making a drug, I quite often feel that the "patent" system is protective of new drugs being made. That is kind of how it works. If you created something patentable, I'm fairly certain that you would take that patent, and make as MUCH money as possible doing so. As would any other sane person.

We can't complain about "clones" and simultaneously go on about how all meds should cost 4 cents. Nope. Nope.

I don't think Big Pharma or the FDA are "evil". They are using a system developed, and maintained ultimately by government regulation and approval and etc. I take issue with some of it, but developing a new drug is certainly EXPENSIVE.

When my dad's company got the patent (yes, that was patentable) on gene therapy, they were bought out IMMEDIATELY by Merck. Because yes, any "viable" gene therapy therapy had to pay Merck a patent fee.

It is what it is. The best one can do is know the rules, the guidelines and proceed accordingly.

And, once the FDA "completes" vaping, that will be the status of things.

You can get GREAT care with awful insurance. You have to know what you are doing, how to do it, and etc. It costs you, primarily TIME. When I was in public mental health, I had to learn the new system (like, NO, you will not schedule me 6 weeks out after my doc gives me a MONTHS prescription and refuses refills, and then I have to spend 5 days tracking down my case manager, in my case, I called her "Bambi" because of her deer in the headlight eyes, and she SUCKED. I very, very quickly (after ONE TIME) learned to snarl at the secretary until she actually gave me an appointment that came at least ONE day before my meds. It wasn't terrible care-- for me. For a paranoid schizophrenic, it probably was ONGOING horrid care. They couldn't figure out that "patient compliance" would rise if YOU know, people weren't actually running out of their meds, etc.

That's just one really unfortunate example. I mean-- the doc won't give your refills because everyone's "non compliant" and then the secretaries would screw over patients by giving them appointments AFTER their meds ran out, and not everyone was as competent or PUSHY as me, I hated going there, for many reasons, but the MOST because I was always seeing really vulnerable mentally ill folks getting messed with.

That's the part that is hard, at least for MI. Although I'd imagine many seniors don't know their benefits and options. Etc.

Anna

 

[coldgin96]

Hey stols, the more I get to know you, the more I like you but I have to disagree with you when you type you don't think Big Pharma is evil....