I went to the p-doc yesterday. Ritalin didn't help, so he wants me to try Adderall. Rx: Two XR 10mg, in the morning, 1 or 2 5mg in the afternoon. He said to judge the need for that.

So I went to the pharmacy today.

The IR is cheap $10 for 60 of them (30 days).

The XR was over $300 ! ! !

This is at Albertsons/Osco. I said "no way". They said my insurance (United) would pay for 15 days but not 30, so I had to pay full cost.

From reading on here, I know there are cheaper places. But it's still expensive.

But why on earth would they pay for 15 days, but not 30? This isn't an antibiotic where I'm cured after 15 days and done with it. Do they think it makes sense for me to be "normal" for half the month, and back to ADD the other half?

It's even worse when you consider that finding the right ADHD med is an individualized "crap shoot". {Mods: feel free to change that to guessing game, if that offends}. I'd be stupid to pay over $300, take a few and find they don't work and I throw them away, like other meds that didn't work.

Also, does Shire have like a "trial pack" of this? I know some drugs have them, some don't.

thats insane...thank god my insurance covers anything over $60...and I thought that was expensive...my prozac is on the $4 list....how do they expect people to pay for that?


dont know if it will help in your case, in my case its either insurance or a coupon not both...but found this thread
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30695

I appreciate that a TON. But when I complete the "survey" and click submit, I get "cannot display the page". I tried several times and it failed. I called Shire after I got home from the pharmacy to see if there's a rebate, trial, etc. I was told there isn't one currently. But there is for Vyvanse or whatever it is.

Argggg....that sucks. I also tried to google for a coupon but it took me to that same page only. Maybe you can ask the doc for sample packs and see if they have them....and hopefully he can give you a bunch ;-) I hate killing myself on my bank account to be semi-normal...thats not fair.

I left him a voice mail telling him what the deal was. I also asked if I should just go ahead with the IR and see if it even works before I worry. If he has sample packs, I hope he calls back. Or a "starter discount".

Maybe I'll just find a job with better insurance. lol

The pharmacist today said "you should work here".

lol - good luck....thats funny the pharmacist said that...


I left him a voice mail telling him what the deal was. I also asked if I should just go ahead with the IR and see if it even works before I worry.

Maybe I'll just find a job with better insurance. lol

The pharmacist today said "you should work here".

Update:

This is weird. The pharmacy contacted the p-doc and told him what the deal was. He contacted the insurance company. Somehow, now I can get it for 20-some dollars for the 30-day supply. He called me and told me. I called the pharmacy and they said to come and get it.

What kind of sense does this make?

Strange....maybe is it possible he gave them a different RX? that may allow coverage for the insurance....just a thought...GLAD you got it lower cost tho!!

Dave

I don't know if you have a Walmart around you, But I get my Adderall xr there, it cost me $163.00 and i don't have insurance. still not a great price but its better than $300.

P.S. Read your last post $20 is better yet how did you manage that?

Veggymel - it's the same prescription.
Rgi625 - it ended up being $25.

The p-doc talked to the insurance company. They allowed it.

I asked the pharmacist what was going on. He said "I have no idea why insurance companies do that".

Did they think maybe I didn't really need it? If so, why would he have written a prescription for it in the first place? And why did his conversation with them change it? I have no idea. I wonder if we'll go through the same process if he prescribes it again.

From my perspective it just seem like some kind of power trip or something.

It was too late to take it today, since it says to take it in the morning.

Dave....I just noticed I said RX lol..I meant diagnosis..wonder if that would make a diff. Glad you got it pretty low cost ;-)

The label still reads "...for attention", so I assume the DX is the same. What else is Adderall used for? (I mean legally)

Yeah, don't take it at night. You won't be able to sleep.

From what I've read about it, I knew that to be possible. Since I already have trouble sleeping some times, I didn't want to make it worse.

I'm going to start out being very cautious with it, as I am with any new thing.

The reason they covered 15 days is because they cover 1XR pill per day.

Simply 60 10mg XR pills is nearly twice as expensive as 30 20mg XR.

In many Adderall XR can be taken once per day. I personally tried 2x 15mg XR/day vs 1x30mg XR/day and found 1x30mg worked better.

So far i've only seen this issue come up on the Vyvanse fourms which is designed to be a once a day drug.

BobC

Dexedrine (regular and long lasting ) is way cheaper. Talk to your doctor.