Price of medications

[MichaelFloridaRN]

I always knew that meds can be very high but had never experienced it on myself in this manner.

I had taken antibiotics for an infection and again shortly after before getting a root canal done. So worst case sets in and I get Pseudo-membranous Enter-colitis. Stool test is positive for C-Diff. Things happen. I get put on Flagyl and am told by the doc to enjoy the week off, can not return to work till after 7 days and a negative stool sample. So far not all that bad.

Well, I do not respond to the Flagyl after 3 days, and the doc calls in the last line of defense for me. PO Vancomycin for 14 days QID. I go to the Pharmacy to pick it up and get the shock of the year so far. My co-pay for the 56 little pills is $ 285 and the insurances part is $1187. Holly crap guys, I think that is outrages. But oh well, even so it hurts, at least I am lucky enough to be able to afford it, if I were poor and uninsured, I guess I would just die of diarrhea in the next few weeks.:angryfire ok Vent done, I feel better now.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I agree, that is outrageous!

Hope you're well soon!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

A friend of mine had to purchase medication for her grandmother's ulcer; and it was about $500. She asked if there was an OTC med in the same family, and that saved her. It doesn't pay to get sick if you are uninsured. My hospital charges patients $10 per script with the max charge being $40 (IOW, even if they have 8 scripts from our doctors, they can only charge $40). Of course, our pharmacy is busting at the seams. Our pharmacy department makes no money, because this is a city hospital that serves people that are uninsured.

Another thing that can run into a considerable expense is diabetic supplies. Our hospital will provide glucometers for patients who are self pay, but the issue is not the glucometer, it is the strips! Most of them are about $80 for a month's supply. Imagine a day worker or migrant worker, home health aide or such using a week's salary to purchase strips. And, then, the doctor wonders why they are non-adherent...

[RN BSN 2009]

have you called any other pharmacies to see if there are different prices?

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

If his insurance copay is $285, then the chances are that it's going to be $285 wherever he goes. I had insurance where you paid a percentage of the price of the drug, and the company (BCBS) had a contracted price for the drug - so even at Walmart/Sam's/Costco/CVS, the copay amount was the same.

This proves that Big Pharma is NOT your friend (like any of us need to be told that, right?). That SUCKS.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Pharmaceuticals is big business, you can bet your life on that fact.

My mother had a liver transplantation 6 years ago, and must take anti-rejection meds for the rest of her life. A month's supply of her tacrolimus (Prograf) pills costs $1,000.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

That's terrible, both about the Vanc and the Prograf!

Good luck.....

[nyapa, RN]

Geez, I'm grateful we don't have to pay anything like that.

In Australia most ppl pay a standard rate of @ 35 dollars for each medication that needs to be prescribed.

My husband is on a disability pension, so we actually pay $5 per script.

I needed to have IV antibiotics at home. We have a 'Hospital in the Home' service, which is provided free of charge. The IVABs are also free...

[Runman1914, MSN, RN]

Pharmaceutical companies provide serious kick backs to doctors to write RXs. They are richer than the oil companies!!! When i was 18 i was 300 pounds. Doctor wrote me RX for bp meds and insulin. I ask him how long will I need to take these for? He said everyday for the rest of my life. At no time did he mention diet or exercise.

Long story short. I lost 125 pounds that year. Never took a single script in my life. I have maintained my weight now for 20 years. Health care is primarily focused on money. Keep the pharmaceutical companies RICH!!!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

one reason that the PO vanc was/is so expensive is that C diff is the ONLY thing that it is used for.......when i first so vanc given po, it was the IV solution and you put it in juice and drank it, because it was CHEAPER than the po variety.......

[Miami NightNurse]

Stool test is positive for C-Diff..

Usually Florastor and Flagyl are given for Cdiff.

Florastor 250mg 50caps $37.50-that's a paste and copy from internet

So it's cheaper. You probably already bought the Vanco. The cost of Medicine is abscene. I had a heart attack right after xmas and now I am spending about $900/month on medication after my PPO insurance pays their part

[MichaelFloridaRN]

I am insured by my hospitals own plan, and we have to use our hospital pharmacy, so no checking on other places for prices. But from what I have heard its not much cheaper anywhere else.