- This topic has 13 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I was reading MerCops blog today, looing back a few articles and found Medications Deserations. It really makes you think.
(http://mail.myptsmail.com/mercop/blog/?p=656) I hope it ok I post this.I am one of many who need meds to stay alive. I had my thyroid removed 3 years ago and now I need to take synthroid everyday. The effect of not taking it will result in a loss of energy in the beginning to coma then death in about a 8-10 week period(depending on pyhsical exertion, maybe longer). The only thing I do to keep a supply of it is do the insurance mail in pharmacy, where I get 3 months worth at a time. That may not be enough in the event that the stuff hits the fan when I’m nearing the end of my supply. I know I can make a month supply strech out longer by taking it every other day or even skipping 2 days at a time(NOT advised by Dr. but I would have to do what is needed)
I worry about this alot. Not only because of the self preservation factor, but I cant protect my family if I’m unconscious or dead.
Are there any of you who are in the same or similar situation? What do you?
Medications Deserations
One way you may be able to solve this is to sit down with your doctor and explain the situation. Ask him if he will supply you with an additional 3 month supply to keep on hand. This would mean that you would have a 3-6 month supply on hand as you take your medications. My doctor simply wrote me a second prescription for 3 months. He was very understanding. Taking med’s that are life savers are in a unique category (versus normal types of med’s that you can live without). Doctor’s themselves are also beginning to understand that we live in a much more fragile/dangerous society these days. Hope that help
I’m in the same situation pretty much. I have a heart condition and have to take 4 different meds. 2 I could easily substitute with cheap over the counter meds, but the other two are a little more expensive and harder to come by. I’m really not sure how long I could go without my meds, but really don’t want to have to try.
Ever since I was put on the meds, I’ve thought about what I would do if things got really bad in the world? Even with a supply of My meds, I’d probably just slow my family and friends down more than anything. I guess it helps that I’m single, but It bothers me that I might not be of much help to my friends and family if the need arises.I generally have no problem writing a script for 6 months (or more), depending on the drug (no for any narcotics, of course). There are times when it’s not appropriate however.
Also, many large pharmacies (Walgreens, Walmart, Target, etc) have deep discounts on common generic drugs. For example, $4 for a ‘months’ supply of tetracycline, or $10 for a ‘3-month’ supply. If a patient asks for these drugs I’ll usually accommodate them, if the drugs are appropriate for their condition or they have half a story about why they need them and know when to use them.
Lots of patients will still complain about the $10 charge, but thats just too bad, as far as I’m concerned. They can skip a trip to McDonalds this week and cover it, or give up smoking or drinking for a week.
Flight-ER-Doc said: ↑
Lots of patients will still complain about the $10 charge, but thats just too bad, as far as I’m concerned. They can skip a trip to McDonalds this week and cover it, or give up smoking or drinking for a week.
Generally these are the same people who clog the ERs for a simple cold since it’s “free”.no doubt about it there would be huge medication problem. I bet millions would die just do to distribution problems.
as it stand now even with a large prescription form a physician many insurance companies will only fill minimal amounts based on the calender.Although my meds’ are not for a life threatening condition, my spine injury significantly degrades when I run out of them. Unfortunately, I know this through running out of them!
Sitting down with my Doctor and discussing the situation resulted in my being able to have as many as I request, and as often. My Doctor has helped me with my spine and hip injuries (and everything else too) for over a decade, so is fully aware that I have mobility problems and he is happy that I have as many as I think I may need, plus x amount ‘spare’. This usually equates to two months (minimum) reserve.
I know this problem all too well. I am on several meds that are considered “maintenance” medications. In other words, I will be on them for the rest of my life. Given the frailty of today’s supply system’s dependency on air, ship, and truck transportation and use of mini/max inventories, exacerbated by the fact I reside on a small island in the middle of the Pacific, my nervousness about having sufficient meds, I think, is well-founded.
Hence, the heart-to-heart with my primary care physician. She is willing to write extra scrips to provide the assurance that I need, but, as JCummings pointed out above, the insurance companies will only cover the prescriptions according to their calendar. This is why I have to pay the full price (and some of those little suckers are expensive!) on my extra prescriptions. Once they are obtained, then they are cycled into my regular schedule of drugs to avoid expirations.
I have also been playing with expanding my pill counts by skipping a day every now and then of taking certain pills. This has allowed me to build up a four-month surplus, including the three-month assurance pills I paid full price for. Some might question this practice, but I have squared it with my doctor who has told me which I can do that with and how often and which ones I don’t want to mess with. It’s unfortunate that I have to do this, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
I justify the extra expense and hassle by saying it is just as valid as the other preps I have undertaken to ensure, or at least increase, the likelihood of survival. The keys to success here are: (1) find a sympathetic physician; (2) have the means to pay the full price for the meds; (3) be willing to explore somewhat with suffering the effects of not taking some meds as prescribed (but only with the doc’s permission); and (4) be willing to practice extra diligence and organization to ensure accuracy and safety.
Nothing in the above message should be considered as medical advice: I am not a doctor (although I did play one when I was little boy).
I know this problem all too well. I am on several meds that are considered “maintenance” medications. In other words, I will be on them for the rest of my life. Given the frailty of today’s supply system’s dependency on air, ship, and truck transportation and use of mini/max inventories, exacerbated by the fact I reside on a small island in the middle of the Pacific, my nervousness about having sufficient meds, I think, is well-founded.
Hence, the heart-to-heart with my primary care physician. She is willing to write extra scrips to provide the assurance that I need, but, as JCummings pointed out above, the insurance companies will only cover the prescriptions according to their calendar. This is why I have to pay the full price (and some of those little suckers are expensive!) on my extra prescriptions. Once they are obtained, then they are cycled into my regular schedule of drugs to avoid expirations.
I have also been playing with expanding my pill counts by skipping a day every now and then of taking certain pills. This has allowed me to build up a four-month surplus, including the three-month assurance pills I paid full price for. Some might question this practice, but I have squared it with my doctor who has told me which I can do that with and how often and which ones I don’t want to mess with. It’s unfortunate that I have to do this, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
I justify the extra expense and hassle by saying it is just as valid as the other preps I have undertaken to ensure, or at least increase, the likelihood of survival. The keys to success here are: (1) find a sympathetic physician; (2) have the means to pay the full price for the meds; (3) be willing to explore somewhat with suffering the effects of not taking some meds as prescribed (but only with the doc’s permission); and (4) be willing to practice extra diligence and organization to ensure accuracy and safety.
Nothing in the above message should be considered as medical advice: I am not a doctor (although I did play one when I was little boy).
This is one of the reasons I love the NHS here in the UK. Most people who need prescriptions don’t pay for them. Anyone over 60, under 16, on low income, unemployed, with certain medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, cancer etc), new mothers, and 16-18 year olds in full time education gets all of their medication for free.
The rest of us have to pay one prescription charge per item, the prescription charge currently being £3 ($4.30) in Scotland. That is, if I have both atenolol tablets and Lipitor tablets on a prescription, I would pay 2 prescription charges (£6/$8.60), no matter how many of each tablet I got. If I had a prescription for 1000 Plavix, I would only pay £3 ($4.30), a prescription for 1000 Seretide inhalers would only cost me £3 ($4.30) etc (although there’d be all sorts of questions regarding why the doctor is prescribing 1000 inhalers!).
Its also possible to buy prescription “pre-payment certificates” from any pharmacy. These are valid for either 4 months (costs £10/$14) or a year (£28/$40) and means that for either 4 months or a year, you don’t need to pay for your prescriptions. So after buying a 1 year certificate for £28 ($40), you could get 100 prescriptions from your doctor, dentist or nurse and not pay another penny. None of this applies to the medication recieved from hospitals, as no-one has to pay for this.
This is one of the reasons I love the NHS here in the UK. Most people who need prescriptions don’t pay for them. Anyone over 60, under 16, on low income, unemployed, with certain medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, cancer etc), new mothers, and 16-18 year olds in full time education gets all of their medication for free.
The rest of us have to pay one prescription charge per item, the prescription charge currently being £3 ($4.30) in Scotland. That is, if I have both atenolol tablets and Lipitor tablets on a prescription, I would pay 2 prescription charges (£6/$8.60), no matter how many of each tablet I got. If I had a prescription for 1000 Plavix, I would only pay £3 ($4.30), a prescription for 1000 Seretide inhalers would only cost me £3 ($4.30) etc (although there’d be all sorts of questions regarding why the doctor is prescribing 1000 inhalers!).
Its also possible to buy prescription “pre-payment certificates” from any pharmacy. These are valid for either 4 months (costs £10/$14) or a year (£28/$40) and means that for either 4 months or a year, you don’t need to pay for your prescriptions. So after buying a 1 year certificate for £28 ($40), you could get 100 prescriptions from your doctor, dentist or nurse and not pay another penny. None of this applies to the medication recieved from hospitals, as no-one has to pay for this.
This is one of the reasons I love the NHS here in the UK. Most people who need prescriptions don’t pay for them. Anyone over 60, under 16, on low income, unemployed, with certain medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, cancer etc), new mothers, and 16-18 year olds in full time education gets all of their medication for free.
The rest of us have to pay one prescription charge per item, the prescription charge currently being £3 ($4.30) in Scotland. That is, if I have both atenolol tablets and Lipitor tablets on a prescription, I would pay 2 prescription charges (£6/$8.60), no matter how many of each tablet I got. If I had a prescription for 1000 Plavix, I would only pay £3 ($4.30), a prescription for 1000 Seretide inhalers would only cost me £3 ($4.30) etc (although there’d be all sorts of questions regarding why the doctor is prescribing 1000 inhalers!).
Its also possible to buy prescription “pre-payment certificates” from any pharmacy. These are valid for either 4 months (costs £10/$14) or a year (£28/$40) and means that for either 4 months or a year, you don’t need to pay for your prescriptions. So after buying a 1 year certificate for £28 ($40), you could get 100 prescriptions from your doctor, dentist or nurse and not pay another penny. None of this applies to the medication recieved from hospitals, as no-one has to pay for this.
Thanks for the link to Mercop’s blog posting. It definitely makes one stop and think. Chances are, if you aren’t on a necessary medicine, someone you know is. And what about those who undergo regular medical treatments, such as kidney dialysis or chemotherapy? Just getting to the clinic to have these day-to-day procedures performed would be a nightmare scenario in a disaster, whether natural or man-made.
Thanks for the link to Mercop’s blog posting. It definitely makes one stop and think. Chances are, if you aren’t on a necessary medicine, someone you know is. And what about those who undergo regular medical treatments, such as kidney dialysis or chemotherapy? Just getting to the clinic to have these day-to-day procedures performed would be a nightmare scenario in a disaster, whether natural or man-made.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.