| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| momshopsalotta |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 11:21:39 AM
I am an asthmatic and have been since birth. My asthma became so bad and my body became so depleated of oxygen (hypoxia) that I suffered four strokes in an 18 month period with resulting paralasis, right sided weakness and aphasia. I recieved social security dissability on the first try (that's how bad I was). Was told I had end stage pulmonmary disease and at 48, would probably not see 50. That was six years ago. Since then, thanks to the grace of God and proper medical care, I have my disease under control and am doing very well. I take asthma medication and an albuteral inhaller when needed.
Everyone knows that having your emergency inhaler can mean life or death for an asthmatic. Being a generic, my albuteral inhaler cost only $4.00. When I went to refill it yesterday the pharmacist at Wal-mart trys to give me a different inhaler and charge me $30.00. I explained that it was the wrong one, she explained that my albuteral had been determined to be bad for the ozone layer and effective 01/01/09 is no longer available. I said that the new spray/inhallation device is identical to the old one. I also said that my husband uses enough hairspray and spray deodorant to singlehandedly depleat the ozone layer and there is nothing being done about that. I verified this all with a pharmaciat that I trust. She said that the particles in the new formation are better for the ozone but being a new forulation does not have a generic. She said that the FDA is begining to change the formularies of different products. I wonder how many people will die because they can't afford a $26.00 dollar increase while we can continue to spray, deodorize and febreeze ourselves ad nauseum. I agree we need to protect our ozone but start with something that's not going to kill already vulnerable people. Has anyone else had this happen? |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Jan 07 2009 : 1:19:27 PM
Ahem... I know that in CALIFORNIA it is ILLEGAL for a Pharmacist to "Give" a patient another drug WITHOUT the prescribing doctor's permission!! You might want to check into that Connie.
Something smells fishy here, and MY guess is that your pharmacy (and perhaps your PHARMACIST) is getting some kind of "Incentive" from the drug company to PUSH their "Latest, Greatest, MORE EXPENSIVE PATENTED (no compitition) drugs. Let me guess... the inhaler the pharmacist tried to foist upon you is a "NEWER, BETTER" medication right? Don't fall for it.
The last doctor I worked with (young and very on top of things! AND a very good doctor!!) didn't fall for the drug companies tactics either. He REFUSED to switch patients from the old "standard" meds if the patients had no problems with them and the drugs were doing their job effectively. He told us (me and his front office girl) that some of those old drugs actually worked much BETTER than many of the new ones, and had less side affects to boot!
Oh, and the drug companies are now limiting their "Free drug samples." Once the patent runs out on the latest "Wonder Drugs" and generics start hitting the market-- there ARE no more free samples of that drug. At least not in OUR neck of the woods!! I think that policy started about 2yrs ago before I quit working in the Med field as an MA.
It started with the allergy drugs. No more Allegra samples, no more Zyrtec... I think Claritan was the FIRST to go, once it hit the "commercial" market and was sold on the shelves of drug stores. All the other drugs have slowly followed that trend. Oh, and the drug reps don't hand out all the free "goodies" anymore either-- pens, tablets, cups, nothing! But I bet those companies STILL make a killing-- despite the desperate state of the our economy! Sad. VERY sad.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| corporatefarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 07 2009 : 11:00:44 AM
That is so crazy. It is bad enough that you are sick but then you have to deal with things like this. My mother has end stage COPD and her doctor gives her 90% of her meds.
****HUGS****
live well,
Tamara
www.thegoodearthfarm.com
"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children"
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| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Jan 07 2009 : 10:44:24 AM
1. Ask your dr for free samples. They get tons of stuff from drug reps.
2. Since this is a ongoing rx, you need to ask your dr to fill out a form to the rx company where they will provide you with either free or deeply discounted rx from them, directly from them. This is a provision made by all drug companies for poor, and disabled. However you need a dr willing to just do it!
PS the form will have to be renewed once a year.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| lisamarie508 |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 8:18:05 PM
That stinks! My daughter has to have albuterol, too. I can't imagine that there is really that much going into the atmosphere from an inhaler - it's INHALED! Considering that there are so many other products out there (and unnecessary ones, at that) that are doing far worse to our atmosphere; I'm inclined to believe the pharmaceutical companies are behind this, too, in some sneaky underhanded way.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog:
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| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 6:07:04 PM
Nothing surprises me anymore. Honestly. I'm glad you were able to get your inhaler.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
www.perfectlittlemiracle.blogspot.com
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 4:31:33 PM
That is just wrong!! I have an inhaler too (Xopenex..which isn't a generic..the albuterol made my heart race..ugh) and you just need it to be there when you need it!! Crimeny!! What will they do next?
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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| Jana |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 1:12:09 PM
Ya know, that is just plain scarey. I had back surgery in Nov. and ended up with several albuterol treatments afterward. I do not have chronic asthma, but rather the acute reactive kind that can happen from having a cold with a cough or a tube down your throat, as in surgery. Anything irritating down there and things just plain want to tighten up.
I honestly don't know what my other options would be, but albuterol has always been my Dr.'s medication of choice for me. It makes me shake like crazy but it works!
In all honesty, with the economy in the situation its in, people out of work, high food prices, etc., I think the ozone layer could wait just a little bit!
Jana |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 12:17:12 PM
That does seem wrong-headed, to say the least. I've got an albuterol inhaler too, but fortunately my asthma is very mild and controllable. I almost never have to use it. I certainly hope, for the sake of people who really need it, that they get the generic version out soon.
It's weird...I just got the albuterol prescription renewed in December and nobody said anything about the drug being banned as of the New Year. Guess I won't be getting that that scrip filled... |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 12:14:32 PM
The pharmacy companies strike again!! They have to make sure they get that extra buck or two so they can wine and dine the doctors.
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PROUD FARMGIRL SISTER #100 |
| Sitnalta |
Posted - Jan 06 2009 : 12:07:40 PM
That is absolutely insane!! It's just a good way for the government ot control our meds and our money...How frustrating that had to be for you!
hugs!
Jessie
Farmgirl Sister #235
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn  hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work You don't give up.
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