I recently went to an add specilist after being off meds for 20 years. I have no insurance but splurged on this while I waited to get on the pubic mental health system. We tried a few meds before settling on addreallXR. I told her my financial situation up front and my desire to take a GENERIC. She said the new xr drugs were so much better and I wanted to try them anyway so I said ok. I ended up spending over 300 of meds before finding the right one and dose which worked approx ONE day before I ran out. My follow up appt is tommorow and I called her in advance in to say if she could not prescribe a generic I couldnt come to my appt as it would be pointless, I cant afford the adderall. I want to, I am desperate and so happy to have found something that worked. Well she called back and left a message basically saying that if I took the generic I would have to take it 4 times a day and it would end up costing the same. I decided to hear this as an agreement to my request for a generic but I dont even understand how she could have come up with this 4times a day, same cost ect. My dose of adderallXR is 60mg once a day. Isnt that 30mg TWICE a day? I called a few pharmacies and was told 60 30mg XR would cost about 400 dollars while 60 generic 30mg are about 70.

What is going on here? I really liked that Dr and she seemed very understanding about my finacial situation...I was so excited to be getting some meds I let myself not think about the fact that she so readily ignored my request for a generic, I told myself she just wanted the best for me. But now, Im not so sure. I did have an appt to get free mental health care but wont see a DR. for 3 more weeks. I told her this, and that they WILL prescibe the XR to me (which is what I want) but I would really like to stay on meds these 3 weeks but the only way is by taking generics. WHAT AM I MISSING? Seriously, is there something going on here that I dont get? I am not being rhetorical or sarcastic, but do they get kick-backs?

what is it? And what am I suppose to say to her? whats going on?

(please excuse spleeing or other errors. I am typing in the dark and had about 2 minuetes to finish this) THANKS EVERYBODY!

I dont have much time so I will offer one suggestion if money is the issue- generic Dexedrine Spansules. Adderall XR has about a year before they are available generic.

Thank you for your response, but I would like to get generic adderall and I can afford it.

Let me ask my question more plainly, is there some reason that this DR is almost refusing to prescribe me a generic other than the fact that they are "better"? (which I cannot say personally, I have heard some people prefer IR.) I feel like I am not getting something...that there is an issue here that I dont get.

I could just be paranoid but why would she be OK with prescribing me one med, but not its generic when she knows for a fact I cant pay for the brand name? What am I missing?

Either the doctor or you are confused about the availability of generic XR adderral. Assuming the doctor is right those 60 generic 30mg (for about $70)
you got the price on are not extended release. In that case 120 x 15 mg immediate release generic adderral would be the rough equivalent of 30 x 60 mg XR Adderall and explain the 4 times dosing she mentioned.

If generic instant release is available in 30mg , wouldnt taking 2 be the same as taking 60mg XR?
Extended release delivers half and another half 4 hours later according to the pamphlet.

I called the pharmacy and asked about 60 30mg generic instant release. 70 dollars. Because taking one and another 4 hours later should be (about) the same as taking 2 30mg XR at the same time. Right? Wrong?

If generic instant release is available in 30mg , wouldnt taking 2 be the same as taking 60mg XR?

I think you're right about that. You'd take 30 mg IR in the morning, and then another 30 mg pill around 4 hours later; that dosing regime should be the same as taking 2 30mg Adderall XR's in the morning (as each XR 30 pill releases 15 mgs of drug initially and 15 mgs approx 4 hours later).

You doctor may have had a bad experience with people (maybe kids) forgetting to take the IR version of Adderall. Because people have to take it multiple times a day, maybe she's had patients who have had a particularly difficult time following through on this.

Or, as I understand it, the IR version is an easier version to abuse than the XR version. (Not totally sure about this.) So maybe she prescribes usually the XR version as some kind of safety measure. Again, she may have had a bad experience with a patient on this.

Just be persistent and say plainly and repeatedly--I CANNOT AFFORD Namebrand. Not at all. Repeat it. Do not engage in conversation. I CANNOT AFFORD THE NAME BRAND! ... REPEAT!

Hopefully she'll come around and give you the IR generic.
If you can't change docs, and you're really having trouble and can't do it on the phone (some people aren't good at this kind of encounter), I say write a letter and send it ... then call the office and ask if they got it.

MR DR IS EITHER CRAZY OR SERIOUSLY MISINFORMED!!!

I went to my appt with every intention of walking out with a generic script I could afford, and walked out with....ADDERALLXR!!!

I really do like this Dr. and I had hoped things would work out between us but I am so totally confused and even almost freaked out by what happened...I am not sure I can even explain it. First, let me say that like a lot of folks, I can get intimidated around athourity figures. ESPECIALLY when they hold power of money, jail or meds over me. But I walked in armed with my info (the adderall insert explaining the mecanism of action, how the dose of XR is the same as a 2X a day dose with the first half released immediatly and the second 4 hours later) and conviction. But everything she said was so out there...how do you argue with someone who is basicly starting with a premise that is comleatly different from yours??

(Im not making this up)
She said,
I would have to take (stay with me) TWO 30mg instant release FOUR times a day because the IR would only last 4-5 hours. I said, uh, isnt me taking 60mg EXTENDED RELEASE the same as 30mg twice a day? She said , NO, it doesnt work like that. And that I need SIXTY mg each time because that is dose that works for me.
Now, I am sure there are some diffrences in delivery and all that, but what she was saying is that my 60mg extended release taken once a day somehow translates to TWO-HUNDRED AND FORTY mgs a day.

But her point was that it would cost the same. That was her point. She kept punching numbers into a calculator.
I hope this explains why I found it impossible to even argue.

I told her that I wouldnt need it 4X a day anyway because the adderallXR only lasts me about 8 working hours and that it took almost 2 hours for me to feel it. So I would be fine with the same amount of hours. She said it started working in 1/2 hour to 45 min and that I just didnt notice it. (If I dont notice anything...because my behavior, thoughts and actions are the same as a pre-med state...is it working?)

She also said she doesnt know one Dr. who would change someones medication if it was working. Ok that made a bit more sense to me, especially since I had had a hard time finding the right dose...But still, IF I DONT HAVE THE MONEY dont a deserve a chance to find something I can afford? Esp when that is the GENERIC of what I am taking? Also, she kept INSISTING that the adderallXR was NOT going to be as expensive as I thought. Even though I JUST filled a script from her.

So thats what happened and why I ended up walking out of there with a script I cannot pay for. I just didnt know what to say to her....it was one of the stranger conversations of my life. NOT ONCE did she come out and say I couldnt have a generic IR, she just set up the discussion so that by her reasoning, no rational person would want one. My head is spinning. If she had problems with abuse, I wish she would have just said that. Because now all I can assume is either she REALLY HAS NO IDEA what she is talking about,~OR~ she is SO smart, that she has developed a psychological snare that enslaves people to shire.

Now, I am waiting to get on my states free/reduced mental health care plan....I get to see a Dr. and get my meds with a small co-pay. It should only be 2-3 weeks. I cant wait because I definatly feel like I need a professional to screw my head back on now...

Going by what you have said, I have a hard time believing this is an ADHD specialist. If you are on two 30mg XR once a day (which is 60mg XR) and probably cost you about 200 bucks versus an equivilent IR generic dose of 30 mg taken twice daily- with a cost of approximately 50 bucks-- this is basically the same dose. 240mg WTF!

60 XR once daily = 30 IR twice daily............................................. ......

XR is brand only and expensive; IR has generic and thus much cheaper.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!


If it were me I would contact the office and maybe ask to speak to your doctors nurse about this situation. If they are not helpful and blow you off I would politely write a letter, maybe print some facts from stuff you have read etc. and take it down to the office. If this does not fix the issue contact the state medical board because you are probably not the only one experiencing this at the clinic.

Good luck

Damn. Get a new doctor pronto

http://www.askdrjones.com/2006/11/13/how-to-take-adderall/

Don't be intimidated by a doctor or lawyer or any other professional consultant that you are paying for. They work for you. That never dawned on me until a few years ago I hired an attorney when I was hit by another car.
When I was asking my attorney questions like "what happens if I don't like how you are handling the case?". He bluntly said...."Mr. xxx just remember that you hired me for my expertise and services. I am the attorney and I work for you. If you are not happy with my services then fire me". He also said that is the same methodology with doctors and so on. Now while they work for you doesn't mean you have power over their decisions but they are supposed to listen to your concerns and questions.

J

Also, for generic check with your local Costco pharmacy. You don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy. I was quoted prices for (90) tablets of generic Adderall 10mg ..... $34 and change. 90 tablets of generic Dexedrine 10mg was $33 and change. This is with no insurance.

I got a script a few months ago of (180) tablets of Adderall 5mg which I take to supplement my Vyvanse. That cost me about $55 at Costco with no insurance.

J

On the prescription that my doctor writes me, there's usually a box that says "Do Not Substitute." So long as the box isn't checked, you can ask your pharmacy if you can have the generic when you're getting it filled.

Seeing how you're from Colorado, the law goes that as long as the doc doesn't write "Dispense as Written," you can request it.

http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/statutes_by_pharmacists.html

Also - Wasn't there something about Walmart filling all rx for like $3 or $5????

Anyone?

yeah, wall-mart has a good program; the problem is a lot of meds aren't part of their plan. I looked for adderall, for example and didn't see it listed.

Target has generic IR for a pretty low price; I think about $5 - $8.

You probably would've been better off telling the doc you don't need or want long acting meds. From my experience of taking both varieties of Adderall the dosages really don't work out to be the same in the long run.

For example, with the 30mg of XR I felt the effects last about 10hrs. A supposed equal dose of 15mg IR twice a day didn't give me as long lasting effects. For me the effectiveness of IR is a 3hr time span. So if I wanted to be medicated for the same amount of time with the IR then I would need 15mg+15mg+15mg =45mg, and possibly adding another 5 or 10mg to that if I wanted the 12hr lasting effect that XR claims to have. So from my experience I would need double of the IR that's claimed to be equivalent to the XR.

I don't know how long you were taking the IR formula but most people I've encountered that do, absolutely do not get the same length of effectiveness from 2 tablets of IR which is supposed to equal 1 XR. So I do see the logic your doc was trying to present to you.

Maybe your doc was concerned about writing an Rx for the high dosage of IR tablets that would give you the same effectiveness as the XR? Who knows? A lot of docs prefer to write as few scripts for controlled meds as possible. In conjunction with the DEA many states have monitoring programs which detect "indiscriminate prescribing" as well as patients that "doctor shop".

Maybe if you made it very clear to your doc that you don't care for long acting effectiveness she would've written an rx for 30mg 2x daily. Dunno.

I guess I'm very lucky because my doc gives me the option of IR, XR, or XR with an afternoon IR boost. However I've always been kinda passive when it comes to my doctors script writing. The doc ends up giving me a script for more medication than I care to take. So depending on my daily tasks and how "with it" I want to be I can take a few IR one day, one XR the next, XR and IR, or nothing at all. Which is exactly how I prefer it! I like to dose for the demands of the day.

I think a lot of docs get suspicious when patients tell them outright that they want Xmg of this and Xmg of that. Not that that's what you were doing. It's a little late now but perhaps if you told her that you don't care to be alert and productive all day long she might have been fine giving you an rx for the IR with the understanding that you won't have the same amount of time coverage.

I just got a generic IR from Target and for 60 tablets it was 56.00 I wish it ws 5 or 8.00 dollars for no insurance.



Target has generic IR for a pretty low price; I think about $5 - $8.

Do you know who they use? Barr? CorePharm?[


quote=JR1973;590773]Also, for generic check with your local Costco pharmacy. You don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy. I was quoted prices for (90) tablets of generic Adderall 10mg ..... $34 and change. 90 tablets of generic Dexedrine 10mg was $33 and change. This is with no insurance.

I got a script a few months ago of (180) tablets of Adderall 5mg which I take to supplement my Vyvanse. That cost me about $55 at Costco with no insurance.

J[/quote]