OT rant

[JeffH]

The last ten days I've been fighting an injured eye cornea. Painful and not fun at all. To make it worse, one of the eye drops that Doc Rx'ed me cost $65 for 5ml. That's $49,920 a gallon for this stuff. HOW can any company justify charging that for an eye anti-botic? Zymar is the drug.

JeffH

[Babette]

Oh Pookie!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry!!!! I've had bad eye stuff for years and can totally sympathize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You poor thing, here, let me cyber-kiss it and make it all better.....

BIG HUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B.

DAMN DEMON DRUG COMPANIES!!!!!!!!!!! MAY THEY BURN IN HELL WITH ALL THE OTHER DEMONS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE HEALTH AND AUTO INSURANCE INDUSTRIES AND WALT DISNEY!

If you wonder why I hate Walt Disney, drive through a McDonald's with a two year old...

[JeffH]

[quote="Babette"]Oh Pookie!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry!!!! I've had bad eye stuff for years and can totally sympathize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You poor thing, here, let me cyber-kiss it and make it all better.....

BIG HUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B.

DAMN DEMON DRUG COMPANIES!!!!!!!!!!! MAY THEY BURN IN HELL WITH ALL THE OTHER DEMONS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE HEALTH AND AUTO INSURANCE INDUSTRIES AND WALT DISNEY!

If you wonder why I hate Walt Disney, drive through a McDonald's with a two year old...

[roster]

The last ten days I've been fighting an injured eye cornea. Painful and not fun at all. To make it worse, one of the eye drops that Doc Rx'ed me cost $65 for 5ml. That's $49,920 a gallon for this stuff. HOW can any company justify charging that for an eye anti-botic? Zymar is the drug.

JeffH

Sorry about that eye and at $65 for drops, I hope it completely heals before you need a refill.

I always ask the doc about prescriptions: Is there a generic? Is this expensive? If it is expensive do I really need it or would a cheaper patent-expired drug be just as effective?

In June I was prescribed a new drug and I came straight home and researched the drug and its prices and substitutes (thank God and Al Gore for the internet). I then called the nurse back and she wrote out a different prescription for the doctor to sign. I also asked about samples and the nurse let me come to the office the next day and pick up two weeks supply of samples. This allowed me enough time to mail order a 90-day supply through my insurance company at a very reasonable price.

Usually there is no one helping us with the economics. We have to play the game hard or our money will be sucked out of us.

That said, maybe Zymar is a unique antibiotic and is exactly what you need to prevent complications. If so, it may be a bargain for you at $65 for 5 ml.

Regards.

[bookwrm63]

Hey Jeff,

I've had corneal ulcers before and know your pain. I've also asked my doctor if she has the drops in her office. Usually they get quite a bit of samples and I have yet to buy drops. It might be worth it to ask doc next time if he can give you a bottle if they have it in the office.
Good luck and try not to rub it!!

Mary

[snoregirl]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Thank God and Al Gore for the Internet"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Wait, you mean they aren't the same person?

[JeffH]

Hey Jeff,

I've had corneal ulcers before and know your pain. I've also asked my doctor if she has the drops in her office. Usually they get quite a bit of samples and I have yet to buy drops. It might be worth it to ask doc next time if he can give you a bottle if they have it in the office.
Good luck and try not to rub it!!

Mary

Doc gave me one bottle of a sample, but I used it up and needed more. He didn't offer another bottle, just wrote me a script.

To Rooster. I was in so much pain when dealing with the Doc and the scripts that I just got them filled. Wasn't in a place that I could use good critical thinking skills....besides, you ever tried to read anything on the internets (what your boy George calls it) when you can't see?

[sleepyred]

Just a suggestion - call back and talk to a nurse - ask her/him if you can get another sample. Or ask if there is another one on your forumlary -if they say no - then ask for more samples....

Hey Jeff,

I've had corneal ulcers before and know your pain. I've also asked my doctor if she has the drops in her office. Usually they get quite a bit of samples and I have yet to buy drops. It might be worth it to ask doc next time if he can give you a bottle if they have it in the office.
Good luck and try not to rub it!!

Mary

Doc gave me one bottle of a sample, but I used it up and needed more. He didn't offer another bottle, just wrote me a script.

To Rooster. I was in so much pain when dealing with the Doc and the scripts that I just got them filled. Wasn't in a place that I could use good critical thinking skills....besides, you ever tried to read anything on the internets (what your boy George calls it) when you can't see?

[Snoredog]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Thank God and Al Gore for the Internats"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Wait, you mean they aren't the same person?

Corracted by G. Bush

[JeffH]

Just a suggestion - call back and talk to a nurse - ask her/him if you can get another sample. Or ask if there is another one on your forumlary -if they say no - then ask for more samples....

Hey Jeff,

I've had corneal ulcers before and know your pain. I've also asked my doctor if she has the drops in her office. Usually they get quite a bit of samples and I have yet to buy drops. It might be worth it to ask doc next time if he can give you a bottle if they have it in the office.
Good luck and try not to rub it!!

Mary

Doc gave me one bottle of a sample, but I used it up and needed more. He didn't offer another bottle, just wrote me a script.

To Rooster. I was in so much pain when dealing with the Doc and the scripts that I just got them filled. Wasn't in a place that I could use good critical thinking skills....besides, you ever tried to read anything on the internets (what your boy George calls it) when you can't see?

It's bought now.

$49,920 a gallon...

[darthlucy]

[quote="rooster"]I always ask the doc about prescriptions: Is there a generic? Is this expensive? If it is expensive do I really need it or would a cheaper patent-expired drug be just as effective?

In June I was prescribed a new drug and I came straight home and researched the drug and its prices and substitutes (thank God and Al Gore for the internet). I then called the nurse back and she wrote out a different prescription for the doctor to sign. I also asked about samples and the nurse let me come to the office the next day and pick up two weeks supply of samples. This allowed me enough time to mail order a 90-day supply through my insurance company at a very reasonable price.

Usually there is no one helping us with the economics. We have to play the game hard or our money will be sucked out of us.

That said, maybe Zymar is a unique antibiotic and is exactly what you need to prevent complications. If so, it may be a bargain for you at $65 for 5 ml.

Regards.

[Babette]

Don't forget - docs are getting perks back from their number of sales of these drugs. Those "conferences" aren't free. They are only offered to the docs that right the high sales numbers.

And before you jump all over me - my Dad's an MD, and his girlfriend is a rep for one of the major drug companies. I still love them both, but I do know how the system works. Oh, and I used to work in a medical office, and have experienced first hand the "perks" of being on the reps "hot" list. And I've also been recruited to be a drug rep. I decided against it.

LOL,
B.

[JeffH]

Don't forget - docs are getting perks back from their number of sales of these drugs. Those "conferences" aren't free. They are only offered to the docs that right the high sales numbers.

And before you jump all over me - my Dad's an MD, and his girlfriend is a rep for one of the major drug companies. I still love them both, but I do know how the system works. Oh, and I used to work in a medical office, and have experienced first hand the "perks" of being on the reps "hot" list. And I've also been recruited to be a drug rep. I decided against it.

LOL,
B.

I hear my eye Doc has a thing for show babies. Want to bet the Allergan rep is a looker?

[roster]

[quote="darthlucy"]

Rooster, you hit the nail on the head. Zymar is a newly approved product, so the Allergan sales force is really promoting it strongly these days. The drug in this product, gatifloxacin, is not very different from other quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, that are available as generics. Personally, I think docs are sometimes too quick to write the latest and greatest since they're hearing so much about them from sales reps, instead of sticking with the tried and true...and generically available.

[dieselgal]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Thank God and Al Gore for the Internet"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Wait, you mean they aren't the same person?

Al Gore Created the Internet?