Insurance says I have to try Strattera

[starrykitten]

Has anybody heard of this? My insurance had approved methlphenidate, but that wasn't working, so my doctor got a one-time prior auth for Adderall. They said they would do it one time, then I had to try Strattera (no minimum required time, I don't think) before they would authorize anything else. I'll do it; I just think it's weird.

[BR549]

I've heard of insurance companies requiring people to try a non-stimulant before trying a stimulant.

Did they tell you why they were requiring this? I think I'd have to call and talk to someone about it. Especially if there wasn't anything about it in my benefits guide.

[gatorADDe]

That is odd. But I guess you gotta do it

[silivrentoliel]

weird. did you call and ask them WHY?

[spunkysmum]

In a way it's almost too bad you didn't try Strattera first, just to "get it out of the way." I tried it first, it did nothing for me. I never had insurance telling me I had to, though. It was just the first thing my doctor tried. If you don't mind losing a month if it doesn't work, I guess you can go ahead and do it just to say you tried it. I suppose there's a chance it might work, too.

Any idea what the Adderall costs without insurance where you get it from?

[salleh]

adderall wont' cost that much at the usual dosage of a beginner to it .....using the "goodrx" card, 60 5 mg tabs will cost about 24.95 at most of the major drug stores....


go to goodrx and you print out a coupon .....easy as pie, and it works too ...I found out about it from the Huffington post .....


personally I would much rather pay a small amount like that out of pocket than waste my time with strattra

[spunkysmum]

Originally Posted by salleh

personally I would much rather pay a small amount like that out of pocket than waste my time with strattra

I tend to agree with that. I'd actually rather pay the close to $100 I've been paying for Adderall lately than waste my time with Strattera.

[spunkysmum]

Originally Posted by salleh

adderall wont' cost that much at the usual dosage of a beginner to it .....using the "goodrx" card, 60 5 mg tabs will cost about 24.95 at most of the major drug stores....


go to goodrx and you print out a coupon .....easy as pie, and it works too ...I found out about it from the Huffington post .....

Shee-oot!

THANK YOU for this tip!

I found a coupon to get my meds for $63.35 at the VERY SAME pharmacy I've been using all these years! I've been paying $25-30 more!

[starrykitten]

Yeah, I don't have high hopes for Strattera. Glad to know you guys thought this was weird too. I don't think there's a minimum I have to give it, which is good. I can't imagine having been on Adderall these past few days and having to go back to something that I don't imagine will work that well. I could be pleasantly surprised and find it works well, of course, but I have my doubts based on anecdotal evidence. I think when I see my doctor next, I will ask for a script for Strattera and another for Adderall so I can get the Strattera out of the way for a couple days (unless it helps) and then call my insurance and say "well, I tried it."

[starrykitten]

Originally Posted by BR549

I've heard of insurance companies requiring people to try a non-stimulant before trying a stimulant.

Did they tell you why they were requiring this? I think I'd have to call and talk to someone about it. Especially if there wasn't anything about it in my benefits guide.

No, and the weird thing is that I had a loooong conversation with them last week trying to figure out what was covered and what wasn't, and they didn't tell me this.

I doubt my doc knows a way around this, but I'll ask when I see her.

[Joker_Girl]

How bizarre.

If they wanted you to try a nonstimulant first, why did they approve Ritalin?

Really, also, Strattera i dont think is off its patent yet. I would think the insurance would push for the cheapest ADHD med they could find.

[TazKat]

Insurance sucks

[MrDavidAlan]

That's kinda crappy. I know my Straterra was expensive, the insurance company paid 336.00 of the prescription for me for the month.


On day one. I have a feeling tommrow at work will be a LONG rough one.

[purpleToes]

I have an acquaintance who did really well on Strattera and was happy with it. Some people do. Not the majority, I believe, but I myself wouldn't consider it a waste of time to try it, unless my doctor had a good reason to think it wouldn't work for me. Medically, it's not an option for me though at this time.

[sarahsweets]

F**k insurance companies.