Was doing great... until

Haven't posted for a while, was doing great. Had been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency due to primary pituitary deficiency... so got put on hydrocortisone. What a miracle drug. Gave me my life back - less fatigue, more energy, etc...

SO..started my medical insurance deductible again in July so all drugs are full price until I meet my huge deductible... Well, Cymbalta is about $560/month for my 90mg dose so I decided with rheumatologist to try to wean to 60mg... Didn't go badly except after a couple weeks on the 60mg dose, the pain started returning... hands, arms, low back, shoulders, neck, etc... Have given up on the 60mg and going back to 90mg today.... sucks. I also didn't realize how much the Cymbalta was helping my interstitial cystitis as the bladder pain was coming back..

Hate to be dependent on any meds but now I realize I didn't know how well it was working until I started reducing the dose... Guess I'll reach my deductible in just a few months now... sucks.

Glad to be back though. Hope you all are feeling better...

You might want to talk to your doctor about switching to a drug that is similar to Cymbalta.  Many times you are paying for the product name.  Check these out and see if any of these are cheaper and then talk to your doctor.

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/218557-drugs-similar-to-cymbalta/

 

Also, you might be able to get help from other prescription places.  There are some links in Fibro 101 where you can get medication cheaper.

 

I do know what you mean about expense.  There is a medication my rheumy wanted me to try.  I priced it out and it was over $2,000 for one prescription!  How can anyone afford that?  But I was kind of glad because I didn't want to take it so it made a great excuse for me to say NO! 

 

Sherrine

Wow, thanks for your responses. I did talk to my rheumy about alternatives at my last visit. She said that Cymbalta, as a SNRI has helped more of her patients than the others... and yes, why change if it works well...

I will have to bite the bullet I guess, and will meet my deductible fast... at least she gave me some samples to hold me over a month...

HATE big pharma. Hate it. Hate FMS. Oh well, at least I know what works for me....

Remember, without big pharma, we wouldn't have these medications that have helped many.  You wouldn't have Cymbalta, either.  It's very expensive to develop these.  The facilities cost a lot to run, all the lab technicians and scientists involed in the development of medication are paid a good salary for their expertise, etc. should be remembered.  Producing the drugs probably doesn't cost that much but it's what lead up to the development of the drug that costs money.  Plus, I'm sure some of that money is going for the development of new medications for illnesses, too. 

 

I just hate how much this stuff costs.  I only take generics unless it's a brand new medication with no generic available.  This helps keep my prescription bill down.  Have you tried any of the cheaper brands?  You don't know if it would work for you unless you try it.  I would do that first before I would be shelling out tons of money for something that might help just a little bit more.  I think you can tell I'm on a fixed budget! 

 

Sherrine

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are generic SNRI's.  The one for Cymbalta is called Duloxetine.  Here is a link to this.

 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/MH00067

 

It is difficult trying to make ends meet...even when you don't have illnesses to deal with!  I've been there and done that.  That's why I get generics whenever possible.  I don't know why you were told there were no SNRI generics.  I'm confused as I'm sure you are!

 

Sherrine

I take paxil and it helps some of my pains. Not all but a good amount.