Hope someone can help. My Sweetie(procrastinator!!) has not stocked up on his Hytrin and Zocor over the past year, using the "last 10 days" method...so that our health ins covers the meds(mostly). He takes Hytrin 5mg per day andZocor 20mg per day. My receipt shows that they are charging the ins co $47.69(and me $10.00) for 30 Hytrin and $99.49 (plus my $10.00) for 30 zocor. I can get our primary phys. to give me a pres- cription for extras - but where is the most economical place to fill it? I'd like to get at least 6 mos supply. Has anyone really tried the on line pharmacy places? I don't want to drive to Mexico. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), November 02, 1999

Answers

I could not believe the price of the zocor...is there a generic equivalent?

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), November 02, 1999.

Hi Jeannie, Please take a look at the following web site. It will save you a lot of money and concern. They are VERY reputable, and are a volunteer non-profit organization. www.themedicineprogram.com They will take your doctors word that presc drugs are expensive for you and will be of great assistance. Wouldn't wait too long though. Good luck.

-- Nancy (HAYSandCO@aol.com), November 02, 1999.

I would caution you about counting too heavily on themedicineprogram.com. I work in the field of Mental Health. Many of the newer psychiatric medications are not available yet as generic medications. Zocor is also a medication which is not yet available as a generic equivalent. My experience in working with themedicineprogram.com with our indigent clients who are low income, but not low enough for Medicaid is that themedicineprogram.com is merely a group which connects you with the pharmaceutical company's patient assistance programs for low income families. These patient assistance programs are not for people who have insurance, but those who are too poor to purchase their medications. While the pharmaceutical companies do not set out to prove your family income, they do ask for family income information, and unless you are prepared to lie about it, you will have to submit that information. The doctor still has to prescribe the medication, but it would be putting a doctor in an awkward position to ask him to sign you up for a patient assistance program for the indigent, when he knows you have insurance.

I don't mean to be pessimistic, but since I work with a number of patients who desperately need these patient assistant programs in order to get medication they would have no other way of getting, I wouldn't want their ability to get the medication they need jeopardized by people who actually have insurance.

Zocor is without question an expensive medication, but you should be able to shop around. This is another thing we encourage our patients to do. You would be amazed at the price differences between pharmacies. And have you asked your doctor about samples? Many doctors have samples available in their office. Again, they often reserve these for people who are truly unable to get their medication by any other means.

Lastly, I have no idea whether the foreign pharmaceutical companies would have Zocor available at a lower cost. From what I have read medications are considerably cheaper this way, if you are willing to risk having them confiscated when entering the country. Although again, from what I have read, this really doesn't happen. I personally have no experience with the foreign pharmacies, only know what I have read.

-- Becki Hough (BeckiHough@hotmail.com), November 02, 1999.

Thanks Becki! I will not try to go through that organization because we do have insurance and I don't want to plead poverty/destitution until we actually are there!! I am in SW Oklahoma and would consider a trip to Mexico across from El Paso if I knew where to go,how to get this accomplished. I believe Mumsie went to Mexico some time back - but I think she has quit the forum. Anyone know about pharmacy opportunities in Juarez?????

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), November 06, 1999.