I am talking about asking for samples from the drs office?
Do you ever get samples for things?
I get a month prescription for Imitrex. With the Insurance company, they allow me 9 a month. I can refill it each month, but it has to be around the same date. Meaning for me its the 10th of the month(just when I got it for the first time). The pharmacy will let me pick up a day before, one time two days before. When I first got the prescription 2 yrs ago, I tried to refil it a week ahead of time(we were going on vacation)they said I couldnt, I had to wait for my whole prescription, but I could buy 2 pills from them(this is Walgreens)...I didnt understand, she said its just how the insurance works. Ok...I guess I sorta understand..
So I have on Imitrex left..(apparently I have been eating things I shouldnt and have gotten more headaches then Im use too LOL..darn holilday goodies)..So today I call the drs office, I explain to the recpetionist(Or whoever she was), that I had only one pill left, and I wouldnt be able to refill it until next month and could I just get a couple of sample to tide me over until the 10th of next month. She talked to me like I was crazy. She said "You cant get a refill?"... I said I do have more refils on file, but with the insurance Id have to wait..she still sounded confused. She said she would leave this message for the dr and might not be until the end of the day where I can find out if I could pick up some samples.
Does this sound crazy to you??? What is the big deal. This is only the 2nd time in 2 yrs Ive called in for samples.
Should it be this hard to get samples?

By Debbie on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 09:35 am:

I am not fimilar with Imitrex. Is it considered a narcotic, is it addictive? If so, they I would see how they would be concerned about giving out samples. I have never asked for samples, but I have been given them if our insurance doesn't cover the drug they want to give me, usually certain antibiotics. Also, when dh was really sick last month, she wanted him to take 4 different medications. She gave him samples of 2 since there were so many.

By Jackie on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 09:40 am:

No Imitrex is NOT a narcotic...No, it is not addictive. Its Sumatriptan ...I am not sure of the technical explanation. I just find it odd.
When I went to the dr in early OCt for sinus stuff(dift dr, same office)I asked for some samples, and the dr handed me 4...

By Debbie on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 09:45 am:

Well, hopefully, the doctor will give you some samples then. Maybe the girl that answered the phone just wasn't very knowledgeable about the medication. It's too bad your insurance doesn't cover a full month. I know each year our insurance coverage seems to get worse and worse. I was real upset because I had to change some of ds's medications last year. Some just weren't covered anymore. Unfortunately, with his reflux and asthma, he takes 3 different ones daily to keep everything under control.

By Vicki on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 09:47 am:

Have you ever called and actually talked to your insurance company about it? Something just doesn't sound right to me about it.

My doctor is VERY generous with samples and that is without me even asking for them. I don't think my dd's doctor has ever given me samples though.

By Debbie on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 09:53 am:

Vicki, has a good point, have you ever called your insurance company? I know with my son's Singulair, I had to go through a process to keep him on it when our coverage changed. I had to have his doctor call in, and talk to them.

By Dandjmom on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 10:26 am:

I can believe it, with the way people abuse medication these days, it makes it hard for us folks that really need it and take it for the right purposes. I hope that the doctor does get back in touch with you today and you can get some samples.

I didn't know until a few weeks ago that you can only buy three cough medicanes out the store at once. I was at Walmart, my daughter has been having head aches lately and I got her a bottle of tylenol, some nyquill for myslef, a bottle of advil for my boyfriend', and my sun in only 4 so he can't take the same medicane we take so I was getting him a bottle of childrens tylenol. the register would not let the cashier ring it all up said that I had went over the allowed quanity. so My boyfriend had to pay for his own advil good he was with us.

By Tarable on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 10:29 am:

I know exactly what you are talking about Jackie.. My insurance will only give me 5 of my migraine pills (Zomig) at a time too, but I do have it a little better. I can get a refill at anytime.. they will just only release 5 at a time. I think it is because these pills just like imitrex are so expensive and they don't want you to use them unless you really need them. I would call your ins company and see what they can do it might just be that they need some kind of note from your dr. I know that is what it took to get my sleeping pills refilled sometimes. As for samples sometimes the drs don't get the sample that you want or need. I know that sometimes I go in and they give me all samples but some times of the year they run out very quickly.

By Amecmom on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 10:33 am:

Most insurance companies have a limit on the quantity they will pay for and what they consider a "month's supply". You can try and get your dr's office to get you approved for a larger supply, or you can pay out of pocket for the overage that you need, or get samples if your doc's office has them.
It's just the way these companies work to keep costs down. It's not just your insurance.
Also, you might be able to get your doc to write you another prescription for a slightly different medication which is covered and fill that to use only when you need the extra meds.
I'm sorry that this is happening. I had a similar problem with zantac for my son when he first started taking it.
Good luck,
Ame

By Luvn29 on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 11:18 am:

I think the reason you can only get so many of those a month is because if you are using more than that, then you really need a preventive medication. Those type meds are for when you only have them occasionally.

I know you were going to try Topomax at one time. Did you?

The way you have migraines, you really should try the preventives till you find one that works for you. You would feel so much better, and you also wouldn't have to worry about the insurance not paying for a month's supply because this is a daily med.

By Jackie on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 11:26 am:

Adena, I did try the Topamax...But I had a side effect that was not good, it made my eyes hurt, the pressure in my eyes was so intense. At first I had no idea it was from the Topamax. I did a lot of research on it, but that was never mentioned. Well after I had this intense eye pressure, I did a search on that and Topamax and sure enough there were warnings..the dr never mentioned them. Apparently they are not common. I stopped immediately and within days the pain/pressure in my eyes went away. Granted I was taking a small dose, first week 25mg at night..2nd week, 25mg inmorning and 25 in night..
Then I went to the neurologist...what a waste of time..This dr has been practicing for 28 yrs and was so NOT helpful. I told her the symptoms of the Topamax(My family dr prescribed it)and she said "oh really, normally kidney stones is a side effect".. I told her what I read etc..she said some people are just more sensitive to certain meds then others. She said "try" just one topamax a day. So I started again. I took one on a Friday night..By 3pm the next day I felt like somebody was poking my eyes through my skull LOL..UGH...within a couple days pain and pressure stopped...

By Jackie on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 11:53 am:

YIPPEE, the drs office just called, said my samples are ready to be picked up

By Karen~admin on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 02:14 pm:

That's good news. Just want to mention here, that not all doctors are quick to give out samples - I have no idea why, but my X-PCP NEVER gave me samples, not once, in all the years I went to her.

Also, there maybe be some meds that doctors just do NOT have samples of.

I use Maxalt for my migraines and I can only get 9 at a time as well. I think what Adena mentioned is probably right - that if you are getting them more than 9X/monthly, then possibly you should be on a preventive medication. And as was mentioned above, I'd check with the insurance co. about it.

Glad to hear you are getting your samples.

By Kay on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 02:55 pm:

I use Maxalt, too, Karen, and my insurance only lets me have 6 at a time...and that's with a $40 co-pay!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 03:06 pm:

Jackie, I'm glad it worked out for you!

By Crystal915 on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 09:50 pm:

Glad it worked out, Jackie. My doc is pretty generous with samples, which is helpful when trying out a new med. I understand your frustration with insurance and prescriptions. My BC pill is written to be dispensed 3 packs at a time, and I am supposed to take all three packs continuously, then off for a week. My insurance would not dispense it that way, they would only allow for 1 to be filled at a time, and I couldn't pick the next one up until the end of the month. I explained this was medically necessary, not a convenience thing, and had my doc call to confirm that, so then they would let me pick it up every 3 weeks, but only 1 at a time. I gave up, and started paying cash, it's about $20 more over the course of the 3 months, but SO worth it.

By Amecmom on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 10:31 pm:

Crystal, can you use a mail order pharmacy for the bcps? A mail order pharmacy dispenses three months at one time, usually for the copay of one month. Check with you insurance.
Ame

By Crystal915 on Friday, December 28, 2007 - 11:13 pm:

I can, but they will only dispense 3 months as a 28 day supply, and I take them as a 21 day supply. KWIM?

By Karen~admin on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 06:05 am:

Kay, my Maxalt has a $50 copay! Do you realize we are paying +/- $6 per pill?!

Our PCP gave both DH and I samples of Aciphex to take a couple months ago, for acid reflux. DH saw him last week and he gave him more samples, and an Rx for Aciphex. The pharmacy told us Blue Cross will not pay for the brand name, and that the generic is not available at this time. It's been a week, and we STILL have not gotten a substitution from the pharmacy/doctor. We called yesterday and there was some confusion over what Blue Cross said and who they wanted to talk to.

IMO, it's just ridiculous. PPO's and HMO's were so wonderful at one time, we could all pay co-pays, and not spend a fortune on medical/Rx costs and have to file and wait months to get reimbursed 70% or 80% of what we spent. Only now there are so many rules about what's covered, how much, etc., particularly with meds.

I should stop before I really get on a rant about healthcare, period. LOL

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 06:44 am:

And then there's the "step" programs. I had been taking a med for 3 years when my employer switched health insurance carriers, and the new carrier has a "step" program. I was supposed to take two other meds for 3 months each, first one and then the second one, before they would approve payment for the med I had been taking successfully for 3 years. My doc was good enouogh to work his way through the rules and claim it as medically necessary and a medication I had been using, but that took a month. I had the same issue with an anti-depressant I was taking for about 6 months, with the change in carriers happening after the first 3 months, and that doc tells me he had to yell at the people in the approval department and explain to them that you can't just switch anti-depressants at the drop of a hat to meet a "step" program's rules.

And, *please*, don't get me started on healthcare. I am waiting anxiously to find out what the copay is for Scott's ER visit, as he is on individual health insurance, having quit his job to go back to school. COBRAing his employer-paid insurance was $360 a month. It took almost 8 months for him to get an individual plan with a reliable insurance company, at $180 a month. I think they are OK on co-pays, meaning the ER visit will only be $100, but I don't know.

By Debbie on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 10:47 am:

Karen, my ds takes Aciphex, it is a VERY expensive drug. I went through a lot of hassle to keep ds on it. I know Prevacid is the same type of drug. Maybe that is covered. Ds was taking this, but then they stopped paying for it, so we had to switch to Aciphex. But, they will only cover it for an 8 week treatment. I had to jump through hoops to keep ds on it.

I, like Ginny, don't even want to get started on health care, and insurance. Every year, our insurance gets worse, and our payment goes up.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 04:17 pm:

I haven't read all the posts, but I don't see why this would be a problem for the drs. office. My insurance works the same way - can't do refills until 3 days before. I think they do have to get the ok from the doctor, that the nurse just couldn't say she would give them to you, but then it should be fine. When I've gotten samples (which has been often) it is signed out by the doctor.

Debbie & Karen- DH has been on Aciphex for over 5 years. It is very expensive, although we only have to pay $30/month for it. There is FINALLY a generic for it though - omeprazole - and the doctor just cleared the change to that one for us within the last few weeks. WE've been asking for years and now it's finally here and much cheaper! Maybe you could look into it? Now it will only be $20 for a 3mth supply. (We have to do long term prescriptions online and get them through the mail.)

By Debbie on Saturday, December 29, 2007 - 11:06 pm:

Deanna, I will check into this. Our copay on generic is only $15.00, instead of $35.00 for name brand. It would save us a lot of money. We go back to the doctor in January. I will have to ask her about it. Thank you!!!

By Reds9298 on Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 09:04 am:

I hope you can switch. We have to do Medco by Mail and wouldn't have known about it otherwise. It pops up with cheaper alternatives (generics) and did so for the first time with Aciphex. Now it will only be about $6-7/month for us. Yay!

By Amecmom on Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 09:46 am:

Omeprazole is the generic of Prilosec, not Aciphex. As far as I know, there is no generic of Prevacid. Zantac has a generic. All these meds work basically the same way but some work better than others for different people for some reason.
I was taking Nexium, which my insurance co no longer covers. I switched to the generic Omeprazole and found that it just didn't work the same way. Also, I had to take it twice a day as opposed to once a day.
I didn't much like the Aciphex either. I think I will call the docs office and see if they will try me on the Prevacid, which was helpful for my son.
Glad you got your samples.
I miss the days when I was working for the NYC Board of Ed. I had $2 and $5 co-pays and only 1 copay for 3 month's supply mail order and everything was covered.
Those were the days.
Ame

By Reds9298 on Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 11:45 am:

Hhhmmmmm Ame...We've been looking and asking for a generic of aciphex for so long and both the doctor and medco are telling us now that this is it. Up until now, our doc would not authorize any other generics for DH because they weren't for and didn't work like aciphex. DH takes it to keep his ulcer at bay.

By Amecmom on Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 12:45 pm:

The chemical name of Aciphex is Rabeprazole Sodium, which is not the same as Omeprazole. They work similarly, but are not the same. For example, Ranitidine is the generic of Zantac - they are exactly the same chemical formula or Omeprazole is the chemical name of Prilosec - again the exact same chemical formula. Like Loratadine is the generic for Claritin.
Omeprazole has been available as a generic (and OTC) for several years now, so it is not anything new.
Maybe the doc has decided that he can try something different now, but they are not exactly the same medicine - though they treat the same symptoms.
Ame