Has anyone here stopped taking blood pressure medication due to poverty

[Juche]

I've seen this concept come up a lot from various posters on this board. People would talk about how they quit taking blood pressure medications due to unemployment which is not only bad for health, but when you are unemployed and stress levels are high, and that is when you really need to watch your cardiovascular health. Over the last few months I've seen several posters allude to themselves or their spouse going w/o blood pressure medications due to unemployment.

Many classes of blood pressure medication are covered under $4/month prescription plans, including the first line drugs (drugs which have the best effects and lowest side effects) like thiazide diuretics or ACE inhibitors. There are roughly 9 classes of antihypertensive medications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihypertensive_drug


* 1.1 Diuretics
* 1.2 Adrenergic receptor antagonists
* 1.3 Adrenergic receptor agonists
* 1.4 Calcium channel blockers
* 1.5 ACE inhibitors
* 1.6 Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
* 1.7 Aldosterone antagonists
* 1.8 Vasodilators
* 1.9 Centrally acting adrenergic drugs


Of those 9 classes, several classes have various drugs available for $4/month prescription plans through Kroger, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, etc. I get my hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) for $2/month. I buy pills 2x stronger than what I need, and take half a day. So I am spending $2/month to keep my blood pressure under control.

Diuretics, ACE inhibitors and adrenergic antagonists are usually the first classes used to treat blood pressure. And all of these classes can be had for $4/month. In fact you can do what I do and buy larger doses and break those in half. Then you get blood pressure meds for $2/month.

I was once on HCTZ-lisinopril (brand name zestoretic, a combo medication of a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor in one pill) and it lowered my BP by 20-30 points. I'm only on 1 of those drugs now, but if I needed HCTZ-lisinopril that combination is covered for $4/month. So you can even get combos of diuretics and ACE inhibitors for $4/month.

I'm not a doctor. But my point is people shouldn't put their health at risk since many BP meds are dirt cheap. If you can't afford your BP meds, then going to a clinic and talking to an MD or NP if switching over to a generic on the $4 list is something they'd consider doing. Its much better than not taking any medicine anymore. Chances are pretty good a medical professional will feel a generic diuretic, ACE inhibitor or adrenergic antagonist is far better than nothing.

If you have a condition where you can't use any of the $4/month drugs, that is a different issue. In that case maybe buying large doses from Canada and splitting them would be best. But I think for many people who are not using their BP meds due to poverty, it is unnecessary.

[JDPriestly]

1. Juche, you are right. Some medications for high blood pressure

are very inexpensive -- almost nothing. Unfortunately, each person has to find the right medication for his or her needs. I tried several before I settled on the one I now use -- which happens to be really cheap.

[Juche]

3. True

I tried to write my post w/o sounding like I was giving unsolicited medical advice since it depends on the person and what their medical professional says. However there are several classes of anti-hypertensives available for $4/month or less which people can always talk to a physician or nurse practitioner about if they are on more expensive medication and find themselves unemployed or uninsured. So if a person can't afford their current BP meds, they really need to get to a doctor or NP and see if a generic, low cost alternative can be used instead.

And the most popular and common anti-hypertensives (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, adrenergic antagonists) all have several drugs in those classes for $4/month.

[timeforpeace]

28. Any pharmacist is your best source for this info. And $4/mo is not a plan but just regular retail

at most chain pharmacies, thanks to Wal-Mart who started it about five years ago and has forced it's competition to do the same. Ash your pharmacist for their list of $4/mo generics and give it to your doctor.

[freeplessinseattle]

2. also try discount rx card- can save 30-75%

My $150/mo migraine meds (this is the generic rate, seriously) are now only $27 (twenty-seven), a new pharmacist clued me into this great program just recently, I posted on it a couple months ago but was thinking I should maybe repost now and then, it could help so much.


"UNA RX CARD is a “FREE” discount prescription drug card delivered through a joint effort by RESTAT and United Networks of America. This program is made possible through the participation of U.S. pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. UNA Rx Card provides members with average savings of 32%-35% off U&C Pricing with savings as high as 75% on some medications. UNA Rx Card is designed as a stand alone benefit program but it may also be used as a supplement for insured prescription plans to cover non-formulary prescriptions. It can also be used as a Medicare Part D supplement by covering drugs once participants reach the “donut hole”!

The UNA Rx Card network includes most major pharmacy chains nationwide.

http://unarxcard.com/index.php

[sabrina 1]

4. Thank you for this information.

I have been trying to help an elderly family member who has fallen into the donut hole. I checked the link and will tell her about it. Do you know where they might have a list of medications they cover? Two of her meds have no generic version and are very expensive. I appreciate you, and the OP thinking of helping others like this :hi:

[freeplessinseattle]

8. So great if it helps!

First I've seen of anything current to help that dreaded donut hole. The discount can take effect immediately, too, just print it out and there you go. The pharmacist did everything for me, actually, nothing at all to fill out, so nice and simple-and free!

To find out prices, there's a red, white and black button halfway or so down the page, in between a "pharmacy locator" and "contact us" button. I would be so thrilled if this info helped them!

[sabrina 1]

26. Thank you so much, going to check out the button now ~

Will let you know if it helps ~

[katkat]

6. freeplessinseattle - migraine med

I'm in the donut hole, and when I refilled my migraine med prescription I almost fell over - $40 a dose. I had a migraine start yesterday, and instead of swooping in as soon as possible with the med, which is the best chance to stop it, I almost involuntarily held up for 2-3 hours because I kept thinking, $40! I am trying to save money as a retired person, and $40... Even normally it sometimes takes two doses to stop the migraine $80!, let alone the occasional weeks when I have 2-3 migraines in the week.

Thank God we're ticking up out of the hole in a week or two, for awhile anyway.

[freeplessinseattle]

9. oh, that is so awful, I feel for you

I know how that goes, what a torturous trap, really sorry you had to endure that. what evil power those CEOs have, profiting so much off our pain! The price is absolutely insane, even at generic rates.

Is that Imitrex? That's the med I was referring to, and I was reading something on that site about even if you have insurance that covers rx if that specific rx isn't covered you can use the card. I know Maxalt and that newish one, Relpax are pricey, too, but at least there is relief now unlike 14 years ago!

[katkat]

11. yeah, Imitrex n/t

[freeplessinseattle]

12. Hopefully this can help save you $$ and pain!

worth checking into-I have saved over $100/month, and could cry about all the money I've spent thsi year alone that I could have used at the dentist, (which would help the headaches some, too).

This program is absolutely for real, a pharmacist at a Kroger grocery store told me and I've been telling everyone I know. Makes a world of difference in my pocketbook and comfort, and productivity!

[Land Shark]

5. Quite often, Docs DO NOT KNOW how much RX costs! (every time I ask...) nt

[elocs]

7. I am on 3 BP meds, 2 of which are generic.

Last February my doctor started me on Linsinopril because he said it had worked well for his wife. I started at 5 mg, then 10, then 20, and now 40 mg. I go to Target and found that when the prescription went up to 40 mg it is no longer included under the low cost drugs so they give me 20s to make up the 40.

My BP started out in the 150s/90s-100 and have managed to get it down to the mid 130s/mid 80s. A couple months ago my doctor added the HCTZ to the mix, starting at 12.5 mg which again was not covered under the cheap drugs but the 25 mg was so that's what Target gave me and told me to cut them in half. It sure made me go, but did next to nothing to improve my BP. My doctor then upped it to twice a day so he prescribed the Lisinopril/HCTZ combo pill and Target told me that was not a generic so I opted to stay with each separately and cut the HCTZ pills in half.

After a month of that and not having it improve my BP the doctor added a third pill: 2.5 mg of Amlopidine. It is not under the cheap drugs at Target either, but with my BadgerCare prescription card it was only $8. So far it is not doing anything either.

My meds have improved my BP, but I told my doctor if I was taking several meds for hypertension I wanted better than just ok BP, I wanted good BP (consistently 120 or lower over 80 or lower) and he agreed. But there are a lot of good meds out there to treat hypertension. When I first started out last February I had no insurance and my biggest cost was the hundreds of dollars for the blood tests to get me started. Initially the Lisinopril was only $4/month and I would buy 3 months worth for $10.

Ultimately I will probably have to bite the bullet and seriously try and lose weight which would probably take care of it. The problem is that I don't look or feel seriously overweight (5'10", 190) and although I am 40 pounds heavier than when I graduated high school nearly 40 years ago my waist size is at most only 2" larger. But evidently my BP is very weight sensitive. It sure is hard to lose weight when you get older, though.

[katkat]

10. blood pressure

Let me put in a plug, for those who are physically able and whose doctor okays this, for exercise as a blood pressure lowering device. Since I started using my mini exercise bicycle (very cheap, $37, see below, and it is sturdy, I've use it for almost a year) 20-30 minutes about five days a week, I've cut 10-15 points off my blood pressure.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PEM63K/ref=oss_T15_product

[Jamastiene]

13. This is important.

Thank you.

High Blood Pressure is a silent KILLER. Most people don't know this but HBP can kill you either over the long term, or by a stroke or heart attack.

Before Eckerd switched over to RiteAid Pharmacy, I used to buy my Maxzide (37.5 mg triamterene/25 mg hydrochlorothiazide) there. It cost $25 there. My Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) 100mg was $92.

When Wal-Mart started offering generics at the reduced rates, I started getting my prescriptions there. Now, my Maxzide is $4 per month, or $10 for 3 months. And my Zoloft is $29 per month , and $58 for 3 months.

Some people might call Wal-Mart the devil (and sometimes I do too when all the stupid hits me at once, when I walk in the store), but if Wal-Mart is the devil, I guess I'll just have to be considered :evilgrin:, because I can't afford over $100/month for my prescriptions.

[Misskittycat]

14. You can use Costco pharmacy even if you're not a member. I do.

In fact, I was just put on blood pressure meds, and they cost just a few bucks each at Costco for a month's supply. You just say "pharmacy" to the guys at the door with their clickers and then when you are ringing up at the pharmacy checkout counter and they ask for your Costco card, you say: "I'm not a member," and they swipe a universal card, and it's no problem at all. (All my meds are dramatically cheaper at Costco than anywhere else, and I have no insurance, so it's a big help.)

[Jamastiene]

19. I wonder if they'll ship to your home.

The nearest Costco to me is a long drive (approx. 70 miles). I wonder if they will send prescriptions in the mail. I appreciate the tip. I'll check into them online and see what I can find.

I don't have any insurance either. So, this thread is really helpful. I appreciate you starting it.

[Mugu]

15. I take a hand full of pills for BP and the one thing that I've learned

is be sure to get a blood test every so often if you change any. My pressure wouldn't stay down with the mix I was taking so the doctor added lisinopril. A couple of months later (because of the cough and nightmares) he decided to do a CBC. The next morning I got this panicked call informing me to go immediately to the pharmacy, get the prescription that they were phoning in, and take it, even before paying for it.

Apparently, the lisinopril had driven my potassium level to a level that they claimed to have only ever seen at an autopsy.

For some of my meds I also get the double size and break them in half. Most I can break with my thumbnail, but every so often I get a batch that I can't break so I bought a $4 pill breaker that works really well.

[katkat]

22. Mugu lisinopril potassium

My doc was going to put me on Lisinopril until I monitored my BP at home enough to convince him it wasn't necessary. I am fairly sure he told me that I'd have to have periodic blood tests for potassium if I took it. Did your doc drop the ball on that?

I get nightmares from my darn beta blocker, which I take for something else. I wonder if there is some general mechanism when lower BP -> nightmares.

[elocs]

27. I've been on Lisinopril since last Feb. since my doc prescribed it since it worked well for his wife

but it hasn't worked for me. 5-10-20 and now 40 mg combined with HCTZ and now Amlodipine and it is not helping my BP much (still around 135/85) and I've told my doctor that if I'm taking 3 meds for hypertension I want good BP and not simply ok BP.

I get blood tests again in February.

[Liberation Angel]

16. I use Hibiscus tea which works wonders for me

I buy Hibiscus flowers at the local market (it caters to Caribbean and Jamaican folks who love this drink hot or cold)

I soak them in boiled water for a few minutes and it really really works.

Some Tumeric tea with black pepper also works to reduce inflammation. Pepper is necessary for better absorption (bioavailability),

Hibiscus tea (often called "Jamaican flower") really works great and I highly recommend it.

Here is one clinicl study which documents its effectiveness (as good as one medication it compared to):

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_259-260/ai_n12417466/

TRY IT if you need it.

It is cheap online. I get it at the market for 99 cents an ounce but you can find it cheaper online.

And it tastes awesome with a little honey, maple syrup or sugar.

[peekaloo]

17. k&r

:kick:

[knitter4democracy]

18. I'm having trouble affording my asthma meds.

$163/mo for the main maintenance med and I-don't-even-want-to-ask/mo. for the inhaler I had to give up. It was really pricey with the insurance I used to have, so I can just imagine how bad it is now. I need to get more tomorrow and am hoping I can make it all work out financially to get it.

[katkat]

24. knitter

I have used granville pharmacy in Canada for some meds. They seem reliable. Some midwestern state lets its employees buy from them:
http://www.onlinecanadianpharmacy.com/

I had gotten out of the habit of using them once I went on Medicare, because Medicare was covering meds better than my old insurance, until I fell into the donut hole this year. But I just see that they have a much better price on Imitrex, for example, than the US.

I have never had a problem getting a doctor to write me a prescription knowing I was going to send it to Canada.

[knitter4democracy]

29. I'll bet I can talk my doctor into that.

She's been worried about me (we're friends from back when the ex was in residency with her). When my insurance finally kicks in ($312/mo but very, very worth it--just have to send the check on Monday to get it started), I'll see her and see what she says. Thanks!

[old mark]

20. It's very bad to discontinue BP meds - I know someone who tried it, because he had lost a lot

of weight and walked every day. He went to the hospital in an ambulance after collapsing while walking. He was lucky he survived.


mark

[Obamanaut]

21. I stopped because I started exercising more, lost several pounds,

and BP has been in the normal range for more than two years.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[emcguffie]

25. Since I was put on disability....

Since I was put on disability (against my wishes), I find I can not always afford to refill my prescriptions.

I'm trying to switch over to the three-month mail order pharmacy, where your prescriptions cost the same for three months as they did for one month from the local pharmacy. But I've been waiting a long time to receive my meds. I ran out of the diuretic over a week ago, and now I'm out of the BP medicine -- labetalol. Sorry, I don't know the category for that one. Guess I'll go look it up.

But thanks for the great idea. You have to get your MD to prescribe the stronger dosage, right? DOn't they wonder why you don't refill as often as you should?