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I CANNOT STAY ON MY MEDICATION FOR DEPRESSION...
It is too expensive but I am a mess without it. Emotionally, I have been a wreck for the last month... which is the longest I have been off of it in 11 years. I have no health insurance & no way of getting any for a long time from now. I enrolled in a program that takes so long to get approved for a decent price we can afford. Should I stick it out & make sure my regular shipments to my doctor arrive so I can stay on them consistently or you think it is best to take any samples my Doctor has , even if I run out again before my regular supply is shipped to him?
Thanks :)
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Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
Absolutely, yes, take any samples your doctor has, even if you feel embarrassed about it. Staying on the medication that helps you is MUCH more important than pride. Trust me - I was in a two-year battle with an insurance company over one of my meds, and just kept getting samples from my doctor. I have different insurance now, thankfully, but I couldn't be off the med - so I got samples.
In the medical world, medication samples are given or shipped to doctors free of charge, often particularly for the medications that do not have a generic available, or are extremely expensive (such as Cymbalta, Abilify, and Suboxone). If your doctor has samples, take them. It doesn't cost your doctor anything, nor should it cost you anything; there's no reason not to.
Depression medications should NEVER be suddenly stopped, especially after so long on them - you can get withdrawal symptoms, and even rebound depression or anxiety, insomnia; the list goes on. You say you've been a wreck for the last month; it's time to do something. There's no reason for you to have to feel the way you do.
Is there a reason you've been off it, if your doctor has samples? Or does your doctor not have samples? Maybe not enough samples?
Your doctor's office can arrange with their local drug rep to have a certain amount of samples given to them, specifically FOR you - I worked in a psychiatrist's office for two and a half years, and did this for several patients. All the office staff has to do is give the representative a call - or the company, depending. I managed to keep several patients on their medications that way, until they could get insurance, switch to a more affordable medication, or get on a program.
Even without insurance, there's ALWAYS a way around the system. Please feel free to inbox me, or add to your question here, if I've misunderstood, or if you have more questions.
Also - if your doctor's office doesn't know their drug rep, they need to call the company and ask them who to talk to about getting a steady supply of samples for a patient. Remember, drug companies WANT people to take their medication. They'll help you stay on it.
But yes, definitely, take the initiative, talk to your doctors' office, and get some samples.
Siren
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If I am understanding you correctly; the manufacturer of the medication you are taking is shipping the medication to your doctor for you free of charge. This medication is either not being shipped in time to reach your doctor before you run out or is getting lost in shipment. One other possibility is someone in the doctors office is not realizing this medication is dedicated to you and putting it into the doctors sample stock.
If any of what I assume is correct the first thing to do is make sure the staff at the doctors office is understanding that this medication is for you and not the doctors sample inventory. Also ask the doctor to try and monitor the arrival of your medication as it has been known to happen that employees self medicate themselves or family members with medication sent to the doctor. So make sure your doctor is aware you are not receiving your medication on time.
Next either you or the the doctors office manger should call the manufacturer to see what date they are shipping the medication and by what method. Even the Postal Service has computer tracking of parcels shipped with them so a package can be tracked from the time it leaves the manufacturer to the time the letter carrier or other service delivers. This will tell you if the medication is getting to the doctors office in time. If it is not then the manufacturer may be willing to adjust the ship date of your medication.
If the medication is shipping with enough time to reach the doctor and tracking proves that it is reaching the doctor in time to be given to you. Then the problem is in the doctors office. Once it is learned where the problem is something can be done to correct it. In the mean time you need to stay on medication. If the doctor gives you samples of your medication or an other to tide you over trust your doctor to know what he or she is doing and take the medication you are given.
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If you need your medication to continue being stable, I would suggest taking even the samples. Your doctor will have no problem in helping you with it, especially if it has helped you improve. Also, try asking if their is a generic form of this medication, as generics are much cheaper, and at many wal-marts only charge 4 dollars for generic medications. Though sometimes they charge a little extra for the generics, but this rarely ever costs too much more. But take in the samples, and continue with your dosage. But I do know what you are going through, as I too have gone through it. Also, if their are no generics for that specific medication, try to find one that's just like it, I use to be on serequel, but due to it's price, I was unable to afford it and there were no generics. I spoke with my doctor, and was put on a different medication that works better than my previous medication, and it also has a generic that I am completely capable of affording. So speak with your doctor and seek out other medication options. With today's economy, it's much more difficult for those who truly need help to fully get it.
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