I was laid-off from my job and I am no longer covered with health insurance. I am currently taking Concerta ER 36 Mg x2 daily and obviously will have to pay out-of-pocket and it aint cheap ($250 +/-) for a 30 day supply here in Houston, Texas.

I have enough to last me till my next doc appointment next week. Is there an alternative I maybe able to request from my treating doc to replace to ease the cost?

Anyone been in this situation? I am so worried. Financially I simply cant afford the $250 +/- but any other alternative I can within reason.

I surely appreciate any help or advice. This is my first post and a new member.

Thanks

Concerta is extended release. You might have to go with one of the immediate release versions of methylphenidate.

Wal-mart apparently sells a generic ritalin for $4 as part of their $4 prescription plan. So you'll just have to give yourself the pills 2 or 3 times a day instead of the single-dosing of Concerta.

Note: If you google the list of drugs that Wal-mart carries, ritalin will not be on the list. Apparently there is some reason for this based on it being a controlled substance. (Maybe you can't advertise availability of a controlled substance. Don't know.)

But apparently they do generic ritalin. You just have to present your prescription and ask.

I would also check Target and Costco (if you're a member) ... I bet they have low cost prescriptions of the generic as well.

Also your local pharmacy probably has a good deal on the generic.

Now, if you are stuck on Concerta, you might try to contact them. Some drug cos. have these programs for people in financial stress where they will give out free drugs (with prescriptions of course).

Good luck. I'm just starting on Concerta.

Thanks so much for your input friend! Im calling the concerta folks tomarrow morning! Also going to check out that generic Walmart etc.....and yes I am a Sams Club member and will look into that as well!

Just starting out with it? Well, I will let you know (u probebly already know) that when I first started 2 years ago, it felt like I was gonna explode from jumpyness and such, but that went away thankfully after about 1 week or so and it totally leveled me out after about a month ( i am taking 36mg x2 daily). Good luck to you as well bud! Ill follow up soon! :)


Concerta is extended release. You might have to go with one of the immediate release versions of methylphenidate.

Wal-mart apparently sells a generic ritalin for $4 as part of their $4 prescription plan. So you'll just have to give yourself the pills 2 or 3 times a day instead of the single-dosing of Concerta.

Note: If you google the list of drugs that Wal-mart carries, ritalin will not be on the list. Apparently there is some reason for this based on it being a controlled substance. (Maybe you can't advertise availability of a controlled substance. Don't know.)

But apparently they do generic ritalin. You just have to present your prescription and ask.

I would also check Target and Costco (if you're a member) ... I bet they have low cost prescriptions of the generic as well.

Also your local pharmacy probably has a good deal on the generic.

Now, if you are stuck on Concerta, you might try to contact them. Some drug cos. have these programs for people in financial stress where they will give out free drugs (with prescriptions of course).

Good luck. I'm just starting on Concerta.

Glad you found my post helpful. I figure Sam's Club probably has the same deal as Wal-mart right? ....

Yeah, just started Concerta two days ago .... today I took 54mg ... can't really tell. I've been way behind on sleep for a week now, and I don't think I have a good sense of how it works for me. I'm willing to go up and see how a higher dosage works .... Adderall was OK in that it relaxed me, but it didn't help me focus ... it sort of helped me focus in a back-handed way ... in that it so emptied the brain such that I could maybe relax more ....

I'm sure I'll be posting my observations and asking questions in a few weeks.

Hey, I just happened to be reading up on Concerta vs. ritalin a few days ago ....there's a conversion formula that will be helpful to you. You don't take the same dosage of ritalin as you take of concerta.

See this link ... for the conversion for 72 mg of Concerta ... you need ritalin 16mg 3X a day to get the equivalent of 72 mg of Concerta ....So apparently you'll need to go down a little bit to get to the equivalent dosage .... there's an explanation for this at the link ....


http://www.addadhdblog.com/concerta-getting-the-right-dose/

Just to follow-up with ya! I was approved through the manufacturer of the Concerta for assistance! They have accepted my request and will receive some Rx card via USPS this week for supply till I get back on track!

Thanks to you my friend! I would not have thought of it! Thank you very much!

Hope all is well with you! Good Luck!

wrj,
That is so wonderful!!!! I knew about the program, but I didn't know where to tell you to call or anything. But you found it!!!! Wonderful ...Man, I know losing a job is tough, but I so appreciate your resilience and foresight in making sure you could get your meds even without insurance. I definitely feel inspired.

This thread was moved to the concerta section where more people may be able to benefit from the advice given and the follow up done - excellent gentlemen

Things like this is what this site is all about !

You could try Methylin (I think this is the name) which has a generic extended release formulation. If I remember correctly it comes in 20mg tablets that release 10 mg immediately and then 10 mg in 3 hours. It is real cheap and it would only need to be taken twice a day.

When I priced it, it was $7 for 30 at Sam's Club.