free samples from Dr???

[letfuller]

Would it be unreasonable for me to call my Dr. and ask for more samples of a drug he prescribed for me? When I refill the prescription at the drug store it runs me $48.00 with insurance. Yikes it is expensive. How does one go and ask for more? I don't want to feel like a leech, but this medicine could break the bank...


~Linda

 

[Molly Meow]

Don't worry about it. My dr. does it all of the time. Just let him know that it's really working for you, and you'd like to be able to continue the treatment, but the price is beyond your reach at the moment. Doctors become doctors to help people.

ETA - by the way, if that price is your co-pay, it may save you money to have the doctor prescribe you a larger amount. My mother pays the same price for her prescriptions whether she gets 10 pills or 100.

 

[Amberle3]

I just picked up a prescription (renewed) for some migraine medication at the Dr's office. I wish they had some samples in stock - it cost me $102 for 6 pills.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Yikes. I have never paid more than $15 for generic drugs or $25 for name brand w/ my insurance. I have United.

My doctor generally gives me free samples for BC pills. I don't know why. She just does. I've told her it's not necessary but I guess it's something she does for all her female patients who want them.

 

[kidzmom3]

It never hurts to ask. Although it can be tough to get thru to your doctor. Does he have email? It may be easier to go that route, then call the office. At my doctors office, you have to leave a message, then the nurse will call you back, and then they will decide if the doctor can speak to you.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
Yikes. I have never paid more than $15 for generic drugs or $25 for name brand w/ my insurance. I have United.

My doctor generally gives me free samples for BC pills. I don't know why. She just does. I've told her it's not necessary but I guess it's something she does for all her female patients who want them.

I would never turn down a free sample. Recently I went back on b/c pills for medical reasons, and my gyn gave me a free pack of Seasonale. That's THREE months!! Yay......!!! Considering my copay for that through mail-in prescriptions is $40, I'll take it!!!

Call and ask for the sample, letfuller. It's no skin off the Dr.'s nose, and the drug company will still get it's profit. They give the samples to the Dr. for free, to get people to use them...no harm in asking.

 

[poohtown]

i would mention it to the doctor too. When I casually told my doctor (during the appointment) how expensive it was without insurance for pills, she gave me a years worth of medicine and told me she would keep giving me samples as long as they could get them.

 

[LindaR]

My sister works in a doctors office. You would not believe the things the drug reps will do! Besides the free samples, they provide buffets, take them out to dinner, get tickets to concerts/events. All part of doing business.

What I'm getting at: Go ahead and ask for the samples. If they have them they will hand them out. You are not "asking" for something inappropriate. The doctor did not pay for them. They are given to the office in the hopes that the doctor will start prescribing them to patients and therefore the drug company will get business.

 

[Royalbear]

Our State Pharmacy Board has made having samples impossible. They basically want us to run our own pharmacy.

We have to log in all samples with the lot number and expiration date and then keep detailed records as to whom we gave it to.

It has become such a problem that our hospital no longer allows us to keep free samples on hand.

We are trying to get Pharmacy companies to give vouchers to patients so that they can get the meds for free from pharmacies.

BTW we are also not permitted to particpate in the other freebies that pharm companies offer with the exception of the continuing medical education dinner.

 

[Micca]

I agree that it doesn't hurt to ask the doc for additional samples.

 

[gr8tpanther]

My Dr will hand me a script and I will say "I don't have script with my insurance" or "Thanks, but I can't afford this" and he will just get me enough samples to take care of it.

 

[ellyn2000]

My neurologist recently gave me a sample of 2 sleeping pills to take before a sleep study. I waited 30 minutes for them to "log them out". My primary care physician offers me samples of anything he has and allows me to call the office and they have a bag of samples for me to pick up. He did this when my insurance wouldn't cover the number of migraine pills I needed. I think that's what they have samples for. I'm sure it's different depending on what type of drug it is, but it's certainly worth a try. Good luck.

 

[EdiePA]

If your doctor can't help you with samples, you might want to check with the drug company. Most of the larger companies have indigent patient programs (don't let the name turn your off). If your income falls within the guidelines, you can get your prescriptions at at reduced cost. I know Eli Lilly's program is $10 for a month's supply. You can apply on-line.

Edie

 

[letfuller]

Thanks for the responses. I did call the Dr. and his nurse/wife phoned back within 30 minutes. No more free samples. I guess I will try again. The cost went up another $10. I guess I may not be continuing with this treatment.

~Linda

 

[aprilgail2]

I usually never ask for htem for myself since I have insurance and co-payments are only 5.00-10.00 but for my moms I ask them for samples for the more expensive ones...she has 2 that are over 200 each a month and the others are between 25-80 so those I pay for but the more exspensive ones I ask for samples since she is on Medicare and has no perscription coverage.

 

[mudnuri]

If your doctor can't help you with samples, you might want to check with the drug company. Most of the larger companies have indigent patient programs (don't let the name turn your off). If your income falls within the guidelines, you can get your prescriptions at at reduced cost. I know Eli Lilly's program is $10 for a month's supply. You can apply on-line

Exactly what I was going to say-

When DD7 was started on Singulair- one pill a day- it was running us about $200 a month..the doc knew we didnt have prescription coverage and first gave us samples, THEN contacted Merck for us, and got them to fax me the forms they needed filled out- we had the drugs from Merck- a 6 mo supply within 5 days- they were sent to my Doc's office...With a note that if I needed to reorder- if DD was still on the med- to contact them within 10 days of her running out.

This cost me ZERO BUCKS! At this time, Singulair had JUST been approved by the FDA for kids younger than 6 or 7...DD was 2

Brandy