Dang it. I won't be able to get help with my Lyrica costs

[Guest guest]

What the heck. I thought I was barely below the income limit for Pfizer's

prescription help program. I am not. I am barely above the limit. I don't

know what to do yet. The doc just put me on Lyrica and gave me samples. What

if he does not give me samples next time because he is out or something? Then

what? I cannot afford that horrible price for this medication.

Well, there we go again. The middle class is stuck in a crunch. They treat

us all like we are the wealthy class and won't help us.

Oh, well. I might just cut back on the Lyrica to once a day until I see the

doc next month so if I need to drop it, I can taper off.

I really thought I had found a medication to help me.

love and hugs,

Debra V.

---------------------------------

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

[Guest guest]

Oh Debra,

I'm so sorry you don't qualify for the programs!!! I honestly don't

know what it costs because I have a drug card, but I still pay a nice

penny when I have to renew it.

I know that sometimes doctors get coupons (my pulmonologist is always

giving me ones when he switches my meds) for a free month - can you

check with your doctor? Can you also check with other pharmacies to

see if you can get it cheaper? I have heard that Costco pharmacy

prices are really lower compared to the " chain " pharmacies and even

the privately-owned ones. It's worth a shot to check into it if it

works for you.

(((Hugs)))

Darlene

>

> What the heck. I thought I was barely below the income limit for

Pfizer's prescription help program. I am not. I am barely above the

limit. I don't know what to do yet. The doc just put me on Lyrica

and gave me samples. What if he does not give me samples next time

because he is out or something? Then what? I cannot afford that

horrible price for this medication.

> Well, there we go again. The middle class is stuck in a crunch.

They treat us all like we are the wealthy class and won't help us.

> Oh, well. I might just cut back on the Lyrica to once a day

until I see the doc next month so if I need to drop it, I can taper

off.

> I really thought I had found a medication to help me.

> love and hugs,

> Debra V.

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I feel your pain Debra - it's not a cheap drug and I so don't understand who in

the world it can possibly be THAT darned expensive. I hate (I am lower middle

class) being taken by the #%*%* drug companies. And I tried to get off it - my

pain was so bad I could not even miss a dose. So I know I'm stuck for life.

debra van ness ladybug75901@...> wrote: What the heck. I thought I was

barely below the income limit for Pfizer's prescription help program. I am not.

I am barely above the limit. I don't know what to do yet. The doc just put me on

Lyrica and gave me samples. What if he does not give me samples next time

because he is out or something? Then what? I cannot afford that horrible price

for this medication.

Well, there we go again. The middle class is stuck in a crunch. They treat us

all like we are the wealthy class and won't help us.

Oh, well. I might just cut back on the Lyrica to once a day until I see the doc

next month so if I need to drop it, I can taper off.

I really thought I had found a medication to help me.

love and hugs,

Debra V.

---------------------------------

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

[Guest guest]

>

> What the heck. I thought I was barely below the income limit for

Pfizer's prescription help program. I am not. I am barely above the

limit. I don't know what to do yet. The doc just put me on Lyrica

and gave me samples. What if he does not give me samples next time

because he is out or something? Then what? I cannot afford that

horrible price for this medication.

> Well, there we go again. The middle class is stuck in a crunch.

They treat us all like we are the wealthy class and won't help us.

> Oh, well. I might just cut back on the Lyrica to once a day

until I see the doc next month so if I need to drop it, I can taper

off.

> I really thought I had found a medication to help me.

> love and hugs,

> Debra V.

>

>

Seems there is always that big Catch 22! You think you can get

something and you don't!! Debra, were you able to read that article

about the myths of pain/opiods and addicts? Seems like something

that Tigger should see if she can find it and take it to her doc!!!

And I am pissed because the more I work on our taxes, the more we owe

uncle sam!!! I called my cousin -- the accountant who does his

taxes, sisters and maybe both brothers', I finally realized it was

the lump sum for Social Security disability, so the largest part of

it was for 2006, small amount for 2005; Mike said I should see if I

can file amended taxes forms for those two years which would decrease

the taxes for this year!! But there are times when it doesn't help

when you have even a moderate amount of investments -- I moved some

last year because I was loosing money, but I can't find any capital

losses!!! So in some ways, I think it was better to have just our

salaries and not that inheritance. Which doesn't mean that I am not

appreciative of what my parents were able to do with the farm.

But that's my hair pulling mess at the present time. I am tempted to

jump in my SUV, take all of the stuff out to Illinois, go to Mike's

and see what we can do to reduce what we owe.

And Debra, I have to say that, while we have benefits that are good

from the state of PA (my husband's actual employer) even when you

have more than you have ever had in the past, it can cause a major

headache. And in addition to this tax quandary, we are paying 2

mortgages until we can get this house ready to sell which means

finish packing stuff, having the carpenter come back and work in the

kitchen, cleaning the floors -- I think I can do that and I also

think I can do do what someone suggested to clean the walls. But DH

is retiring in less than 3 months! And the time is going to fast.

Sorry for my b@tching, but it is all so upsetting and never before

have I had this bad of a mess, we have sent the files to Philly

electronically at 11:30pm on one or two occasions. I may just have

to see if I can pay in instalments.

So I guess my point in all of this is that you can be damned if you

make too much to fall in the range a drug company will accept as a

basis for providing you with the meds you need (even if it is just a

small percentage) but having more isn't always good either!

Forgive my rant!!!

[Guest guest]

>

> I feel your pain Debra - it's not a cheap drug and I so don't

understand who in the world it can possibly be THAT darned expensive.

I hate (I am lower middle class) being taken by the #%*%* drug

companies. And I tried to get off it - my pain was so bad I could

not even miss a dose. So I know I'm stuck for life.

>

>, I realize that I have a different view of the drug companies,

having worked at two BIGGIES. I know that many drugs are very

expensive; but unless you have spent even three months working in one

small BUT important area of getting the required info to the FDA for

approval, you probably can't imagine how many people, how long the

process is just to submit a drug --- maybe for human trials! One

company that I worked for had 10 of us working in a space that had

rolling, lockable file cabinets full of their research in them. That

was half of the space, and the other half was taken up by

workstations for 10 people, at least one very big and powerful copy

machine and a set of shelves down the middle of the room where we

would also work to put binders together to send to the FDA. I

couldn't even begin to tell you what that drug was now but almost all

of us in that room were temps and we had a decent hourly rate,

we could, if necessary work overtime -- which of course was time and

a half. Then, you added whatever added to the bill for each of

us in that tiny little room. That drug giant could hve been paying

$10,000 a week for we temps. And I started there on that job in the

early fall and we finally got all of the books bounded, packaged,

delivered to the area where the boxes were then put on pallets,

wrapped in shrink wrap and loaded on to a Fedex, UPS whatever truck,

overnight to the FDA area where their staff reviews all of these

stacks of material, and if that was just to get permission to start

human studies, then you had your clinical scientists who worked with

institutions around the country doing double blind studies, reporting

to the research scientists on a weekly basis the status, and if there

happened to be one adverse reaction, there was a number of forms to

be written up, signed and sent out to a variety of places within in a

certain period of time following the receipt of that reaction. That

could shutdown the whole study, all of the time spent in the labs

developing the formulas, all the time collating and preparing the

info to be sent to the FAD was down the drain.

I can understand why the general population thinks that the big drug

companies are making big bucks because you are paying a very high

price for the Lyrica; but I can also tell you that if you were to

take one particular major highway from the just north of Philadephia

and drive northeast across New Jersey, you would discover yourself in

the middle of what I can only think of as one of the largest grouping

of drug company buildings in the country. And they are building more

as the need for new meds increases.

The reason I know about the clinical scientist side of a drug is that

I worked for another major company in the research area --- the drug

has been out there for a number of years now but there are constantly

new uses being discovered for that drug. I also worked in other

areas of that company and you would really be amazed at what it takes

to get even one drug on the market. I know I did work with one

department that was in about the 2nd stage of the study, and my job

was to type up reports every week --- one small thing they forgot to

tell me was that when I updated the previous week's reports and

numbers, I was to save the old ones. So we had to have the computer

specialist come and restore what I had deleted. Before I left that

company and we moved to western PA, that drug did get approval and

some of you may take it --- but there could have been hundreds of

people involved in getting that approved and available. So while I

know the expense is very high, it could go down eventually once the

company is seeing a return on the investment they had put into

getting, for example Lyrica approved and available.

My husband likes to tell people when he hears someone complaining

about the cost that they should see how many pallets will be sent to

the FDA to get the drug approved. And then, you have certain drugs,

such as Duract, that was very effective for me -- I only took it on

weekends and usually only one on a Saturday morning and I was pain

free and had the energy to work in our very large yard and my

rose/lavender garden, my perennials. Unfortunately, it some how was

found to help dental patients, and that's were the problem happened.

Either the dentists did not read or get the info that it was NOT to

be taken for more than 10 days (and that meant 3 a day, not the one I

would take some Saturdays) It caused liver damage when used for

longer periods (or it could cause such damage). So, the company

voluntarily withdrew the drug! I am waiting for someone to buy the

patent, tweek it and discover that it is back out there for docs to

prescribe.

And I know some of you have read this same info from me in the past,

but I have seen both sides of the coin as far as the drug companies

go. They could spend millions on one drug and suddenly find it did

not do what it was supposed to do. So, they have lost both time and

money.

So, while I understand how frustrating it is not to be eligible for a

drug from the company because you are just over the income level, I

have some understanding of what is happening at Pzier. And I think I

said at the beginning of this post, that it just may be that the more

people who can take the drug, the more the company recoups on the

expenditures to put it on the market, the cost might go down.

> ------------------------------------

>

> 1. While it is wonderful to share our experiences with everyone on

the list as to what treatments do and don't work for us, pls always

check with your dr. Some treatments are dangerous when given along

with other meds as well as to certain health conditions or just

dangerous in general.

>

> 2. If you are in a difficult situation (doesn't matter what it is)

pls don't be afraid to ask for help. It is the first step to trying

to make that situation better.

>

> 3. To unsubscribe the e-mail is: Fibromyalgia_Support_Group-

unsubscribe

>

> 4. Also, it is not uncommon for more than one member to be feeling

bad at the same time when it comes to flares and b/c of that

potentially take something another member says the wrong way. And

that includes the things that one member may find funny (even if it's

laughing at fibro itself) even though we who deal with illness

whether one such as fibro or multiple illnesses try to keep a sense

of humor.

>

> 5. Pls let's be gentle with each other, and if you are having a bad

day pls let us know so that we can do our best to offer our support.

>

> Have a nice day everyone.

>

[Guest guest]

I know - I'm just thankful I have insurance.

villaridge@...> wrote: >, I realize that I have a different view

of the drug companies,

having worked at two BIGGIES. I know that many drugs are very

expensive; but unless you have spent even three months working in one

small BUT important area of getting the required info to the FDA for

approval, you probably can't imagine how many people, how long the

process is just to submit a drug ---

---------------------------------

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

[Guest guest]

Debra, I am curious what the cost of Lyrica is? I thought maybe I

still had the info that the drug store always provides when I get my

psych meds, but because of our co-pays and income level, we can't

deduct medical expenses on taxes, so I shred those. And I don't need

to read all of the effects, contra indications, possible side

effects, etc. as I have taken those drugs for so many years!! And

that income requirement for receiving drugs at lower or no cost from

Pfzier, is that a part of the program that Montiel does the

ad/public service announcement for?

I read everyone's problem about paying for their meds or not getting

them because of the cost and I can empathize and know we are

fortunate that my husband does have the benefits that he does have.

We can get " sticker " shock on how much the co-pay on some drugs

maybe, but at least we are fortunate that WE can pay for them, same

with our doctor visits.

But I will say that there is one of my scripts that I take ONLY if I

have a high level of pain --- and while the directions on the label

is always the same --- one every 8 hours --- I never do that, I start

out cutting the percocet in half, if that doesn't work in several

hours, I may take the second half. But it's not the cost of that

drug that I take it the way I do, it's that it's a controlled drug

and I don't want to be flagged or have my doctor have problems with

the DEA. (And the Pennsylvania DEA can be very aggressive in some

areas of the state!)

But I do hope your doctor will understand your financial situation

and continue to give you the samples. And with a newer drug, he/she

should have a number of samples. If I were you, I might even explain

the situation. If he is " on your side " , it could be that you would

have a better opportunity.

-- In Fibromyalgia_Support_Group , debra van ness

wrote:

>

> What the heck. I thought I was barely below the income limit for

Pfizer's prescription help program. I am not. I am barely above the

limit. I don't know what to do yet. The doc just put me on Lyrica

and gave me samples. What if he does not give me samples next time

because he is out or something? Then what? I cannot afford that

horrible price for this medication.

> Well, there we go again. The middle class is stuck in a crunch.

They treat us all like we are the wealthy class and won't help us.

> Oh, well. I might just cut back on the Lyrica to once a day

until I see the doc next month so if I need to drop it, I can taper

off.

> I really thought I had found a medication to help me.

> love and hugs,

> Debra V.

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ok, one thing I had forgotten to write is something my husband just

reminded me of === and that is the effect the government actions have

on getting a drug to you, I wrote last night about what the drug

companies go thru and did explain some of the hoops they jump through

but perhaps some of us writing to our senators, representatives on both

state and national level about why there is so much pressure placed on

the drug companies by the FDA and the DEA.

And this group could do a writing campaign, there are enough people who

could send messages to our elected officals from almost ever state in

the nation!! Tell them about how hard it is for you to get the drugs

you need and that perhaps they might do something about the income

level limits and also help drug companies get affordable drugs on the

market. All those regulations have a big impact on what you pay for

the meds.

-

-- In Fibromyalgia_Support_Group , in AZ

wrote:

>

> I know - I'm just thankful I have insurance.

>

> wrote: >, I realize that I have a

different view of the drug companies,

> having worked at two BIGGIES. I know that many drugs are very

> expensive; but unless you have spent even three months working in one

> small BUT important area of getting the required info to the FDA for

> approval, you probably can't imagine how many people, how long the

> process is just to submit a drug ---

>

> ---------------------------------

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

>

>