Epilepsy Talk
Food or medications — which would you choose? | May 1, 2023
It’s heartbreaking, but all too common…
A patient calls their doctor after repeated seizures.
He had missed his medication for about a week. He had recently been laid off and lost insurance coverage.
He couldn’t afford to refill his eslicarbazepine acetate (Aptiom) prescription.
How does this happen? Why?
Find out in this compelling article: https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/104149?xid=nl_secondopinion_2023-04-25&eun=g678261d0r
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Reblogged this on Disablities & Mental Health Issues.
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Comment by Kenneth — May 1, 2023 @ 11:58 AM
I am lucky to have people in my life that know seizures could take my like. I may not see family often but they would pay until I got new insurance. For that I am thankful.
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Comment by Bonnie — May 1, 2023 @ 2:57 PM
APTIOM is still patent protected and as a result costs well over $1,100 month. New patients can often get manufacturer’s coupons to drastically reduce the price initially but sooner or later, they will have to pay full price. But let’s be frank there are many alternative drugs available as generics, which are much less expensive. For example generic phenytoin can be as low as $25 a month. It would be a rare (but not unknown) case, when a patient can only be controlled by only one specific drug and no alternatives are available.
Did the patient inform the doctor that they were unemployed and couldn’t afford APTIOM? If so l, surely the doctor would have recommended an alternative? Of course some doctors are offered incentives to recommend new drugs and report back on Patient experience. I hope this was not such a case.
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Comment by Michael H — May 1, 2023 @ 4:12 PM
Michael, I think this was an example of a recurring experience. But I hear you. And what you’re saying makes sense.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 1, 2023 @ 4:42 PM
Well here in CA they have social services that if you make below the poverty rate you can get free medical and groceries and if needed, money.
So there are agency that will help.
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Comment by zolt — May 2, 2023 @ 10:13 PM
I choose my meds.
But I also have family that would help if needed. I have needed help before and they pulled through like champs. They have told me anytime let us know. I am truly blessed.
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Comment by Bonnie — May 16, 2023 @ 6:08 PM