Talk about a budget buster!

[bpesch]

I had my blood work done last week and just got the results back. My cholesterol was high, which is not a surprise, it's a genetic thing. I've been fighting it being a little high for years and so far have managed to do it with diet and exercise.

Well this time it was much higher and the NP wanted to put me on Lipitor. OK, until I went to Wal Mart to pick up the prescription and found a 30 day supply was $115 and the insurance would only pay for $7 of it. Ouch!

Since there is no generic for Lipitor, I decided to go back to the clinic and see if there was a cheaper alternative. Haven't heard anything yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Talk about a budget buster!

 

[Marionnette]

I had my blood work done last week and just got the results back. My cholesterol was high, which is not a surprise, it's a genetic thing. I've been fighting it being a little high for years and so far have managed to do it with diet and exercise.

Well this time it was much higher and the NP wanted to put me on Lipitor. OK, until I went to Wal Mart to pick up the prescription and found a 30 day supply was $115 and the insurance would only pay for $7 of it. Ouch!

Since there is no generic for Lipitor, I decided to go back to the clinic and see if there was a cheaper alternative. Haven't heard anything yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Talk about a budget buster!

Check the Pfizer Assistance Program to see if you can get help in the form of coupons in order to lower your cost.
http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/misc/Default.aspx

Check with your insurance to see if they have a mail-order program with reduced costs for your prescription drugs.

Shop around to other pharmacies to see who has the best price.

 

[laura.anne]

I'm not sure if this will help, but I googled "Lipitor coupon" and I found this on their website: https://www.lipitor.com/patients/lipitorcopaycard.aspx. There are a bunch of terms and conditions at the bottom of the page, but it might be of help to you. Fingers crossed that you can find an affordable option!

 

[angierae]

There are cholesterol drugs that are generic - it's not Lipitor, but my husband's work just fine for him. Your NP might be able to suggest/prescribe one if you tell her the Lipitor is just too expensive.

We had to do this with my blood pressure pills. We finally found another one that had a generic that worked but I just could not keep paying $50 a month for one of my prescriptions.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Yikes. That is a budget buster.

Other posters have fabulous ideas! Go with those.

 

[ceecee]

Lipitor is very effective. My insurance company recommended that my Dr write an rx for the higher dose pill and then split it in half (twice the meds for the same price) they even sent me a pill splitter! Unfortunately I was unable to take Lipitor due to a muscle problem and the non-statins do not work for me at all.

 

[blondietink]

My PA put me on Synvastin last month. Cost me like $4.00 as it is generic. Haven't had any side effects to speak of. My DH take Lipitor and is thinking of changing to generic also because of the cost.

 

[clowe247]

Many places have discounted prices, So call around to different Pharmacies.

 

[t_daniels]

My PA put me on Synvastin last month. Cost me like $4.00 as it is generic. Haven't had any side effects to speak of. My DH take Lipitor and is thinking of changing to generic also because of the cost.

This is what my Mom takes. I don't remember if Wal Mart has the generic form, but Reasor's does.

 

[Yoshi]

I know it won't help now but I believe in the fall Lipitor is going generic.

 

[ajh88]

OK, in terms of effectiveness at lowering LDL (the bad cholesterol), the rankings go about like this:

Crestor
Lipitor
Zocor (simvastatin)
Pravachol (pravastatin) = Mevacor (lovastatin)
Fluvastatin (don't even remember this brand name - I've *never* seen it used)

This is give or take, but pretty much what the textbook says.

Honestly, depending on where your LDL is at, many people start off with pravastatin or simvastatin. Pravastatin is on the $4 list and simvastatin is NOT but is considerably less expensive (and probably just your generic co-pay). Some insurance companies will cover Lipitor *or* Crestor at a preferred tier - it is possible Crestor would be less expensive for you, but probably still at least tier 2 (like a $45 or so co-pay, depending on your plan).

It is true that Lipitor is tentatively scheduled to go generic around November of this year but I think I heard earlier that it may be pushed back a month or two to January 2012.

In my limited experience, I am a bit of a fan of pravastatin - it isn't as potent as some of the big guns, but you can always intensify the therapy later if you need to. The metabolism is independent of certain liver enzymes, which reduces certain drug interactions, and it has a relatively lower risk of rhabdomyolysis (the muscle aches and pains that are a rare but dangerous side effect of all statin drugs). It is also inexpensive, which reduces a HUGE barrier to therapeutic compliance for many patients. However, there are some doctors who don't like it for whatever reason.

I would personally avoid lovastatin (even though it is on the $4 list too). Just my personal feelings, but I'd pick pravastatin any day over lovastatin.

Others have had great suggestions too - looking for coupons, shopping around, etc. Without knowing your whole history and your lab values, it is hard to say the best therapeutic option - but there are definitely less expensive alternatives that might fit your situation.

Best of luck!