Inexpensive Mood Stabilizers/Antipsychotics

[run4you]

Long story short, I have no prescription coverage at all anymore. I'm on Lamictal and Abilify, and this is not going to work (for sure the Abilify).

I need suggestions to take to my pdoc today on inexpensive mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics. I have to be able to afford my meds in order to stay on them, and getting off them isn't an option.

Thanks for any help :)

[MoonlightTears]

Whem you say old style drugs your're probably talking about old general drugs, typical anti-psychotics, IMAO's. A generic drug doesn't mean is those medication. There are generic drugs for plenty of drugs. It´s just the same drugs that some laboratories produce witth cheap market prices. Even some of the great pharmacy industries have generic brands, like Pfizer has one.  It´s not by chance that pharmacys industries and stores make big bucks. They have huge profit margins.
Instead of the medication having some brand name, a generic it´s known by the active drug of the medication, like Prozac is fluoxetine, valum is diazepam, xanax or prazam is alprazolam, lamictal is lamotrigine, abilifly is aripiprazol.

you can check this for example

in http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/lamictal/generic-lamictal.html

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/drugnames-index/trade/a.html

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Toughy, also though have to throw in the caution of be careful when changing meds particularly if you are going down the generic route.  Not that I have anything against generic's in fact I don't it's the only way I buy drugs if I can get the generic equivalent.

What I fear is that you may be given an "old" style drug (likely to be generic and low cost) which could have some bad side effects.

I was prescribed Endep last year (old style) to help with being depressed and also my lack of sleeping.  I wasn't diagnosed as Bipolar at that time but it was the fact that I was given this old style drug which is more likely to have adverse side effects that launched me into mania for 4 months.

So in other words, just be careful, it ***** you are in that position with your country.  I also agree above best to do it in consultation with your doctor, mentioning that you need to keep cost down.

Also one more note just on the old drugs there is now a genetic test available in Australia, literally just came out, to help determine how different drugs you take are metabolised by your system.  It has been designed specifically for testing the effects on antidepressants on Bipolar patients.  Wish it had come out just a year before.

If you want to know more about it just send me a note.  When I first got on this website I put some information up because I thought it might be helpful, but it was reported to a moderator as I think people must have thought I was spamming.  (Which I wasn't, just thought it might be helpful, particularly seeing what I had gone through).  Scared me to death actually as I thought I might lose access to this site, which we be a disaster for me if I lost my mood tracker.  I'm a little fragile soul still at the moment.

Anyways, hope you go ok.

Another suggestion also, might be to try and look at other areas where you could save money.  I'm a financial planner here in Melbourne and if you are interested I could maybe put up some general advice into ways to help save money, tips and tricks.

Obviously I couldn't give you personal advice as I don't know the U.S.A system, (and I don't want to be sued) but that being said there are some ideas of different things people can do.  Any advice I give would be with the obvious caveat of you need to speak to a financial planner to check if this is appropriate for you.  In fact it's probably worth while seeing if you can find a free financial planning service somewhere nearby in the States to have a good look at your situation.  That being said I can give some tips and tricks if you like of other ways to save money.

First one is a budget, to work out exactly where your money is going.  From there you could see if there are any other areas you could trim back. You've probably already done this but if you haven't actually written it all down, maybe it's worthwhile.  You be amazed how many clients I see that find they spend tonnes of money on little things like cups of coffee when they add it all up.  They have found sometime's just by going from 5-4 cups of coffee a day save's them quite a great deal of money.

Obviously things are pretty tight already, and medication is an expensive item, so I know you aren't taking this decision lightly.

I just hope it all goes ok for you, if I can help let me know :0)

[Xila31]

Just a note that lithium is a $4 prescription in the states as a generic. It does not require you have insurance to get that price. It is just $4. Also if you need birth control they have a $9 packet of pills now, even if you have no insurance.

[wineandroses]

I was going to recommend a low cost clinic that works on a sliding scale but I'm not sure you will qualify if you have medical insurance, however, you may.  It would be worth it to google some of the low cost/free mental health clinics in your area and give them a call.
I have used the Canadian Pharmacies and it is a huge savings.  Yes, it can take awhile to get your meds but you will need to make sure you reorder well in advance.
Another option would be to call a pharmacist and ask advise for generic drugs.  If you have a Walmart near you, there a several physc drugs on the $4.00 list.

I know what you are facing as I do not have any medical insurance and just going to see a doctor is a problem for me.  Best of luck to you.  Jude

[run4you]

I don't qualify for any prescription assistance through the med company... and our state has no buy-in :(

Unfortunately, our great country has some major problems when it comes to health care. You either have good insurance and get what you need, or you don't and you struggle just to survive. Disability is an option if you qualify, but I don't qualify for that either (I take my meds, so I can function... which means I am not disabled. Not willing to see what happens if I don't take them).

I hear ya on the med promotions online... the pharmacy I found is approved in Canada, and the reviews are all positive (aside from random 'shipping took too long' complaints).

Add to it I have a $10,000 deductible to meet before my insurance pays a dime on my medical appointments, and I am just trying to tread water!

[MoonlightTears]

Well, only after posting I saw ILADVOCaTE response, ups! :)
and there seems to exist similarities in our countries and possibilities to keep your treatment.
Stay focused on that!!

[MoonlightTears]

I, i'm from Portugal. I don't Know the reality of your country, but here we have what we call "generic meds". They're the same meds, but wihtout some big label (although some big pharmarcy industries own the generic labels themselves). they're cheaper but the same drug, so same effectiveness.
I i'm also a chronic patient, so there are special discount's on meds. the doctor must indicate the the number of the law on the prescription.
For example, I take seroquel 200mg. The state takes all charges in this case (from what we give to social security / well fare from our salaries). A box of 60 pills costs here around 120 euros. With these special laws, I bring it home for free.
Anty-phicotics are the most expensive pshycotropic meds. For this drug there are still no generics I believe (seroquel : quetipine (psycoactive drug).
I also take Prozac, a box of 56 pills cost around 35 euros. Someone who takes for a "short" period of time, brings it home for at least 20 euros, I bring for 7 since I am a chronic patient.
Prozac is the drug fluoxetine.
You can investigate on line for the  brand name meds and ckeck if there generics for your drugs. it´s easy. just google you meds, you'll get there.
You can also find other comercial names for the same drugs, other laboratories that produce the drugs of the commercial names of lamictal and abilify. they might be cheaper! your doctor will know them for sure.
Here, there are also red cross pharmacies. I don't know exactly how they work, but they help people in need bring their meds home ( I believe for less money or for free, maybe...) Maybe you might have some organizations there that may give this kind of help.
Like I said I don't know your health system, but there must be something to help people keep their treatments.
Please, just DO NOT believe big promotions on meds online. Their fake meds, and can get you very ill. It's already been stated that the mayority of online med sales are from illegal companies (contraband of fake , altered drugs...). And you really can't know from the site you visit.
Try talking to your doctor, or even others that you know, and explain your situation.
Also professionals have a better knowlodge of the situation and may know ways to get around things that most public is not aware of.

[ILADVOCATE]

The medications that are less expensive are the ones that are available in generic form. Lamictal is available in generic form. With antipsychotics the latest one that is available in generic form is Risperdal. However there should be insurance options such as Medicaid or if you are working and its available in your state the Medicaid Buy in for Working People with Disabilities. There is also the Patient Assistance Program where the company that makes the medication will allow a person to obtain it without charge (some prescription companies) if a person has gaps between various forms of insurance coverage. If all the other options won't work then you should ask your psychiatrist about this as they would need to complete the requisite forms.