For Those Taking Cholesterol Drugs

[Hawkeye]

..... you might want to read this;

http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/25/vytorin-schering-merck-biz-healthcare-cx_mh_0125enhance.html

[TheCapitalist]

History tells me this: Don't take the latest/greatest drug, or follow the latest diet or trend in "supplements". Over time, most are proven wrong. Or worse, cause harm. Better to stick to tried and true, and let others be the guinea pig!

EVERTHING in moderation is my motto. With emphasis on the everthing!

[Hawkeye]

That's the way it is with tried and true medicines that work. The patent runs out in a max of 11 years and anyone can compete so these guys have to constantly be coming out with something out of their pipeline that they claim is better, but it ain't. This is yet another example of where free market enterprise gets in the way of common sense.

[TheCapitalist]

Don't let the patent run out? Works for me and the company that created it, i'm sure.

What is the difference between free market enterprise and common sense? It is a gov. rule on the patent shirt. I'm sure the company would prefer it didn't run out! Is it the company? Or is it the system? That is the question.

[Hawkeye]

Don't let the patent run out? Works for me and the company that created it, i'm sure.

What is the difference between free market enterprise and common sense? It is a gov. rule on the patent shirt. I'm sure the company would prefer it didn't run out! Is it the company? Or is it the system? That is the question.

I think in this case they must put patent limitations to assure competition. Otherwise the drug company can continue to charge 1000% profit and don't think they won't.

I like free enterprise too Cap, but this is free enterprise greed on crack that these guys perpetrate on US guinea pigs.

[MSQueen]

I am on 20 mg of Lipitor daily and have been taking it for about 6 - 8 years, and it seems to really do what it's supposed to do. I have to have blood work about every 6 months to make sure there is no damage to my liver, and so far so good.

When I first started taking Lipitor, we had insurance and only had to pay a small co-pay. In the last 3 - 4 years, we have mostly been without insurance, and I qualified for the free medicine program for a year, and luckily, for more than a year now i have been able to get free samples from my doctor's office in Palmer's. It normally runs well over $100 for a month's supply. As long as I am able to get the free samples and have no side effects, I guess I'll stay on it.

[Nana]

What is this free medicine program? Hawkeye could definately use that. We don't have insurance and the out of pocket cost is outrageous.

[MSQueen]

What is this free medicine program? Hawkeye could definately use that. We don't have insurance and the out of pocket cost is outrageous.

You basically have to have NO income, which was how we qualified. I had lost my job and was off work for an extended period of time, and my husband went through several job changes over about a one year period.

However, I now go to the medical clinic in behind the Beverly Drive-in (I think it's on Airport Road), and you pay for your doctor's visits and lab work based on a sliding scale. I have diabetes and usually have my A1C testing done every 3 months, but now I only go every 6 months because my #s are good. My doctor there said I qualified for some sort of grant that pays for my diabetes lab work (about $120), but any other lab work I have to pay 1/2 of what the actual cost is. Also, as long as I get my prescriptions written from a doctor there, I can use their pharmacy next door and get my medicines at reduced prices (although some are still really high). Every little bit helps these days!