Monday, August 2, 2010

I love generic drugs!

I have had acid reflux for a couple of years. Well, I had it longer than that, but didn't realize it. I never had heartburn, but it often felt like I had a lump in my throat. I thought it might be my thyroid, since I am hypo, so went to see an ENT to have it checked. During the exam, he said, "That feeling is caused by your acid reflux." I said, "I don't have reflux." He said, "Yes, you do."

So, we started the quest to find medicine to treat it. After 5 or 6 different prescriptions, we found one that worked. Zegerid 40 mg 3 times a day. It is a strong medicine, but apparently my reflux was stronger. One pill is supposed to work 24 hours, but it didn't for me. I didn't like taking that much because it has a lot of sodium, but stuck with doctor's orders for a year. Then we decided that I could try 2 a day. Still a heavy dose.

The sucky part, my copay was $40/month. Fortunately, there is a $30 coupon on the Zegerid website, so I kept the copays manageble until this year. My insurance now requires that maintenance meds be bougth in 90 day supplies. The copay went up to $80/3 months. I could still use the coupon, but was still paying $50.

Saturday, I went to pick up a refill and the pharamacist got my meds and said, "That will be $10." I said, "No, it should be $80. There must be a mistake." He informed me that the generic just came out and he filled with that. I was so excited!!!

I just saved $160/year!! I love generic meds!

20 comments:

Jill said...

Awesome! don't you just love these little surprises?!
blessings,
Jill

Annie Jones said...

I love them, too, and take generics whenever possible, except for my thyroid medication. The tablets are just too inconsistent with the generic, so I have to take either Synthroid or Levoxyl to make me feel right.

Sonya Ann said...

I love generics!! That is my favorite word!! Well next to free.

Anonymous said...

haha :) I totally agree with you. Generics are getting even cheaper nowadays, so you can save more money. I take generics as well and try to convince my wife to do so. She's getting real close to giving up buying expensive brands :)

Frances said...

Hi, Jill! I DO love surprises like this!

Thanks for stopping by!

Frances said...

Annie Jones, I am with you. I will NOT take the generic of Levoxyl. My pharmacist gave me the generic several years ago and it did NOT work. I told the pharmacist to never switch me again. I will pay for Levoxyl without insurance if I have to. Of course, it is really cheap, thank goodness.

Thanks for coming to see me, Annie Jones!

Frances said...

LOL! SonyaAnn, you are so right. FREE drugs would be my favorite, but I don't see that happening.

Have a great day!

Frances said...

Hi, Jason. Thanks for coming to visit my blog!

I think most generics are equivalent to the name brand and I will always buy generics when I can. (Except for thyroid meds. That is the only exception I have found.)

Together We Save said...

I love generics too...

Sonya Ann said...

Hi! So anything new in your world? The kids are making me nuts but I don't think that is anything new!

Frances said...

Hi, Together! Thanks for coming to see me!

Frances said...

SonyaAnn, I am sorry the kids were driving you nuts. Can you threaten them with chores so they disappear from sight?

Hugs.

Unknown said...

I suffer from acid reflux also, for the last 3-4 years. I also went through 3 prescriptions for going on Nexium at 30 dollars a pop. Only there still isn't a generic for Nexium or one even on the horizon. I only take one a day but try to get by with every other day.
Blessings
Diane

Frances said...

Hi, Diane. I hope Nexium goes to generic someday. But after trying other meds that didn't work, I was willing to pay whatever it took to get one that works.

McVal said...

Woohooo! Good for you! I thought they were selling illicit generic drugs now from the title. Thanks for clarifying!

Frances said...

McVal, I would never BUY illicit drugs!

Now...if they were free.....

Annie Jones said...

Illicit drugs make me sick!!!

No...really...I tried "something" once or twice in my younger days and it made me puke my guts up.

TMI?

Frances said...

No, Annie Jones, not TMI.

I won't comment on whether or not I have ever had any experience with illicit drugs.

:-)

Queenie Jeannie said...

Isabella had severe acid reflux and it took a long time, and two PICU stays to figure that out and get her meds sorted out. Luckily you can talk and you aren't drasticly changing your weight like a newborn does, lol! That was really a sucky time for us.

So glad you can get generics now!! Why can't ALL meds be for generic prices??? Stoopid, greedy buggers!

Frances said...

Hi, Jeannie! Thanks for coming to see me. Poor Bella! I am glad they finally got her meds straightened out.

Our grandson had reflux for about 6 months after he was born and it was so hard to see him in paid. Fortunately they got him on meds and it worked.