RE: Re: melt down - battling insurance co. for anti-depressants/Jeanne

March 2, 2008

Jeanne,

You're right - it makes a big difference as far as individual or group

policies. And yes, the Effexor is expensive as there is no generic so they

don't want to incur the cost. I have heard there is a generic on its way -

but not yet.

I'm really glad to hear you didn't have any problems switching from the

Effexor to the Cymbalta. That's what I'm doing now - 3 week of tapering off

the Effexor while adding the Cymbalta. I'm hoping the transition goes

smoothly. My doctor gave me tons of samples of the Cymbalta - they drug

companies are cutting down on handing out Effexor samples as they are going

shortly to a generic - from what I'm told by my doctor. I guess when they

do the same with Cymbalta - I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I'm on

day three of the switch and so far so good.

Thank you!

Teri (central Wisconsin) (who is actually in Texas now where it is 63

degrees at almost 8:00 in the morning and the birds are chirping outside and

we have the windows open and my state of mind is a lot better than a couple

of days ago)

Re: Re: melt down - battling insurance co. for

anti-depressants

I have BCBS too, through my hubby's work. Policies through companies, it is

the company that decides on what will be covered and what won't, to cut down

on their corporate expenses. The more things they allow, the higher their

costs and the higher the employee's costs as well.

As far as the drugs go, I think they really want people to use the cheapest

options available. The only ones I've been denied at this point are the

Lidoderm patches and the Provigil. My psychiatrist was able to obtain

authorization for the Provigil. I still need to file an appeal with regards

to the Lidoderm patches. Our drug coverage is through Medco. They try to get

me/us to see how we can save money by trying a cheaper alternative. For

example, I take Nexium, and they encourage me to switch to generic Prilosec.

But years ago, Prilosec did not work well for me, so I don't want to switch.

So far, I don't have to, it's only a suggestion.

It sounds like Teri's biggest problem is that she has an individual policy,

so they can say no all they want to, and she doesn't have much leverage to

fight with. And we know that each person reacts differently to the anti-d's

and has one that works the best. The insurace co's don't care, it's all

about the every lovin' dollar to them.

If it helps any Teri, I did switch from Effexor to Cymbalta without any

difficulty. I did taper off the Effexor while going on the Cymbalta. I had

had a bad experience prior to this going off Effexor to something different

without tapering off and ended up on the psych floor for a night. So do not

stop cold turkey, Teri. Take care.

Jeanne in WI

March 2, 2008

Hello All,

I was on Cymbalta. If at all possible try to get some extra. I had to go off

from it cold turkey, as my insurance co changed...and they wouldn't pay for the

prescription. It was horrible. My Dr. did everything in his power, and they

gave him such a hard time. They put my on the Lyrica for Fibromyalgia, because

that is the one that is approved for fibro. But boy have I felt horrible. Kept

me down for a week. I finally had to call the Dr. and tell him I would have to

check myself into the hospital if he couldn't do something. I just couldn't

stand it anymore. I was vomitting, dizzy, shaky, and felt my brain was be

electricuted everytime I moved! It was horrible....so just be careful with

Cymbalta. Really good stuff, but if you have to switch to stop taking it really

taper yourself

Celeste