can no longer afford medication... bummed.

I've taken Lamictal and Abilify for many years. They're very helpful. After constant struggle with my insurance i finally received coverage at no cost last year. Well, in the new year their policies changed and they're only covering 50% of the cost. I cannot afford $1200 a month for medication. I can afford generic Lamotrigine, but not Aripiprizole. So no more anti-psychotic for me.

I fully expect to be cycling between depression and mania within weeks, as Lamotrigine barely affects my mood swings.

Not happy about this. Called my Dr.

Your doctor may have some advice or be able to pull some strings. Medication changes, generic alternatives, pharmaceutical company discount programs have saved me hundreds of dollars of what I would consider to be necessary or maintenance drugs. Ask!
My wife had a bad reaction to one generic drug and was able to enter a program with reduced med costs (about 90% off retail) with a savings card. Her doctor gave her the information when she asked about it. Google: Aripiprizole discount.
Best of luck to you.

Son, I hope you get some help soon. Please talk to your doctor and see what they can do. Maybe ask if they can change to a medication that the insurance does cover and try that one. I took abilify and it had a generic version, but maybe I'm wrong. Hugs!

Thanks Wally and QG.

Just an update.

Saw my T and talked about what happened this weekend with me, and the whole conversation kind of broke my heart. I am very down today. Hoping it passes by tomorrow.

I was able to get brand name Ability with a discount card for the pharma company. I have tried for 4 days to get my insurance to lower the cost of brand Lamictal, without success. They will not budge. In fact my insurance tells me to contact my RX provider, who in turn tells me to contact my insurance. No one will help. No one will take responsibility. It's maddening.

So, in the mean time I have the very unhelpful-to-me generic lamotrigine. Maybe it won't be so bad...

Son, are you ok?

quietgirl2538 wrote:Son, are you ok?

just very down. i like to google synonyms for "depressed" so I can get more specific. I feel forlorn, sorrowful, despondent, and discouraged. Hopeless. I'm bummed because I'd had a really good even and stable mood for weeks and weeks. 2 or 3 months even. Now the depression demon has returned. Im sleeping more, eating less, feel drowsy. I am in the home stretch with my latest painting which I'm fairly happy with and I really hope i have the energy to finish it. That's one of the things that came back to me: the ability to create. Now Im worried and anxious it'll slip away again. Life just sucks when it's grey and colorless. I could use a good dose of hypomania right now!

I know just how you feel. Keep us updated ok, as you are able to. Hugs!

quietgirl2538 wrote:I know just how you feel. Keep us updated ok, as you are able to. Hugs!

*trigger warning*

Just checking in. I think I'm finally having a better day today. I feel resigned to the meds situation. I suppose the addition of lithium is a possible strategy if I find myself cycling through moods in a significant way.

I do have many people supporting me right now.

Last Saturday feels surreal to me. I talked at great length about it with my T. I was saying that I "almost hurt myself." He kept saying "you took a step towards killing yourself." In an attempt to inflame my aversion (as he put it) to those actions and thoughts. I was very scared. Very. In that moment with the pills. He actually helped me work through my emotions and thoughts. Taking the pills out, it seems, was an attempt to exert some kind of control during a crisis that I had no control over (not being able to get my medication). Extreme, and unnecessary for sure, but a small amount of control nonetheless.

We talked about other decisions I can make in those moments. Other ways to experience some inkling of control when I feel powerless.

I'm still processing this whole thing.

Sending many hugs, Son. You are going through a really tough time and I am very glad to know you have support in 3D. Keep us updated, please.

I had a similar situation; my husband left his job and we lost our really good insurance. I was taking Lithium & Abilify. I talked to my pdoc about the out of pocket cost - at the time there wasn’t a generic - and she switched me to Latuda so she could give me free samples. We have talked about switching back to Abilify, but AFAIK the generic is still pretty spendy.

BTW, a few months later I switched from Lithium to Cymbalta, which is also kind of soendy for a generic, and paid out of pocket for it until we got insurance again. Now it’s been two years, I think, that I’ve been taking Cymbalta & Latuda & the patent on Latuda is going to expire in July, which means no more free samples - so I’m definitely facing another med switch this year.