Pill Splitting Agreement Possible

[bodypilot90 0]

Here is an example of the savings involved just by 'splitting pills':

A patient, who receives a 30 days supply of 30 pills, each containing 50 mg. of Zoloft at a cost of $75.00; would instead, receive only 15 pills of 100 mg. of Zoloft at a cost of $94.00.

Do the 'splitting' and do the math: You spend $94.00 for 15 pills of 100 mg's each. Then simply cut them in half. That comes out to $47.00 for a 30 days supply of pills- while maintaining the proper and exact dosage of 50 mg. a day.

Versus you spend $75.00 for a 30 day supply of straight 50 mg. pills- and pay the druggist $28.00 dollars TOO MUCH!

Does anyone see a problem here- saving $28.00 'ain't no problem' that I can see. It makes perfect sense to me- if only because the Druggists are the only ones fighting this.

So, you can save $28.00 just by cutting a pill in half?? Who knew??? Now you do. The secret's out. Don't say I didn't tell you.

[arlo 0]

Quote

A patient, who receives a 30 days supply of 30 pills, each containing 50 mg. of Zoloft at a cost of $75.00; would instead, receive only 15 pills of 100 mg. of Zoloft at a cost of $94.00.

Do the 'splitting' and do the math: You spend $94.00 for 15 pills of 100 mg's each. Then simply cut them in half. That comes out to $47.00 for a 30 days supply of pills- while maintaining the proper and exact dosage of 50 mg. a day.

Versus you spend $75.00 for a 30 day supply of straight 50 mg. pills- and pay the druggist $28.00 dollars TOO MUCH!

Does anyone see a problem here- saving $28.00 'ain't no problem' that I can see. It makes perfect sense to me- if only because the Druggists are the only ones fighting this.

there are a couple problems. Did you mean that 15 pills were $94 or was that a typo? If you got 30 pills for $94, THEN you'd have a 2-month supply of them for the cost-savings of $28. But if you got 15 pills (total of 1500 mg) for $94, then they cost more per 30-day supply than the $75 50-mg pills (still 1500 mg total).

Too, make sure they're not time-released. Some pills are time released and are not splittable. Splitting some time-released pills can be BAD JU-JU!! You end up getting i.e. 12 hrs worth of medicine like right now.

On that note, ask your doc. :)

a

[Squeak 17]

also you are assuming that the active ingredient in the pill is evenly ditributed throughout, this may not be the case always and 0.5 of the pill my not be 0.5 of the medication

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[Jayruss 0]

You’re also assuming the patient is smart enough to split their pills. There are enough problems getting patients to take the correct meds let a lone having them split them.

__________________________________________________
"Beware how you take away hope from another human being."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

[Jib 0]

Your also assuming (and I have no idea about Zoloft specifically), that the pill isn't time release and by breaking it in half, you'll be getting a big dose all at once rather than over time.

--------------------------------------------------
the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[smiles 0]

Unless actual pill is scored down the center- ease of splitting in half yourself is negotiable as far as precise dose.
Regardless, cost should not be less when buying 100mg.

I live in Canada and pharmacare this year covered 100% over $2,000 cost for medicine. I also have blue cross which covers 100% over $1,000.
When I was perscribed Remicade treatment (100 mg) which is infused--Cost to me upfront was $1,733.00 Total cost of one treatment is $4,300.
I will need 3 treatments a year and thanking muchly our medical coverage I can almost understand the cost of this monoclonal antibody but cannot understand why the cost increased by $1,000 bucks in one year.

Cannot believe how or why a prescription of anti-biotics such as Ciprol the cost is $168.62 for 30 pills 500mg. Is this liquid gold or what?? What is the ingredients that is so expensive compared to other anti-biotics?? All I was told is it is easier on the stomach than others???????

....

SMiles

[airann 1]

Here is a topic right up my alley.

Liquid Gold? If it saves your life - then it is liquid platinum. Or more like liquid life.

Cipro says bye bye to many critters and its kinda like a little machine gun. There are more who kick Major ass and are more like napalm. Biaxin, Zipromax .... etc. and they cost plenty. When your body bugs get immune to one drug you have to change it for the big guns.

(Public Service Announcement) You must go the whole course with antibiotics. If you taper off and get sick again those varmits that made you sick may not respond again to that drug. Constant taking of antibiotics will leave you without a cure for what you need antibiotics for. (I hope that makes sence) A person (and a Dr) should let the bodies immune system give it a shot first. For many reasons, blah blah...

As for Zoloft, just take it. Ask your Dr for samples of Zoloft, its still being given out that way.

My Dr and I split pills and even capsules.

My Rx's per month is $827.56 and I have no Insurance.
I have to take these everyday. I cant afford the cost of these medications and I can not afford to do without them.

So... some drug companies have a way in which your Dr can fill out papers to the effect that 'AirAnn is an uninsured broke ass skydiver and needs assistance with her medications'. Then, I have to bust out income tax crap, assets and living expenses to fill out papers that proves I cant afford jumps or their highly expensive medications. Papers go back and forth and they either send my Dr. stock bottles of meds with my name on them or I get a coupon for my local pharmacy. (ps. Skydiving stuff isnt an asset, its a necessity, dont list it)

The paperwork for the medications is copious and recurring. The trade off is that I get the non FDA approved medications for free and we report how I do. Serious paperwork, I double guarantee it. The drug companies dont like to give away drugs or the coupons. Believe It. Benefits like this are very hard to get and that is why we ask for more than what my treatment dose currently is. We turn around and report the actual doses, of course, in order for the Drug company to track my illness. Nevermind what we put on the paperwork, they know good and well what we ask for and what we use. The doses change also so this is acceptable.

One or two of the Drug Companies we deal with are ultra big time stengee with frerkin coupons, SO we split meds. Example: one coupon that reads: Free one month supply of a Serious Drug. 200mgs, or 300mgs or 600mgs. .. We would write the scrip for 600mgs. And we then divide the pills down to my proper dose. This can spread my Rx's out for 2 or 4 months. Depending on if we change the dose during the course of treatment or not. One of these coupons saves me $299 a month and the other $96.57. Another sampled one is $215.99. those they send directly to my Dr for me, and so on.

While I am at my appointment, we chat and fill up my weekly boxes. These grandma boxes are the ones that say Monday-Sunday on them. I have 2 boxes, one painted black for night and one for the morning. We separate the capsules and dump the granules or crack the pills accordingly in the daily squares. This way... I will not get mixed up nor will I have to think about it. And more importantly, we can see if I miss any. You cant manage 6 types of medications and their progress if you dont know if they are taken exactly perfect. The cocktail has to be the same to avoid strange report variables. In one instance, my dose is 24 granuals of XYZ capsule drug in the am. That is some exact science sports fans.

With my litte boxes it helps so much- It wouldnt work butchering up capsules and pills 2 times a day anyhow.

I must include here that over my lifetime NO Dr. went that extra step to help a sistah out. Nor was it ever mentioned that any system like this exhisted. I formerly waltzed in got a paper prescription that I couldnt pay for and left. Perfect, I had the cure in hand, yet I couldnt fill the Rx. A Dr might miss 2 or 3 other appointments just ferkin around with the stack of papers that allow my medications to be dispensed to me free. My current Dr mentioned this process to ME. Now..., there are Drs and there are Drs.... **Did you know that about 50% of all Drs graduated in the lower 50% of their class. ??**

Now, about fibbing a little on the Rx, if you will, .. .we write the scripts to get the maximum amount of medication. YET, our responsibility for recieveing the drugs is to report back. THAT is done exactly as I take them for everyones records.

In addition, I have to keep a journal on how I am doing everyday. It usually reads... I dont feel like doing the dishes. I wish I was skydiving... so, I keep up my end of the bargan and the drug companies are happy. (I am thinking they dont read it)

Note: For anyone in a bind and in need of drugs, I can tell you how to go about the assistance programs with many drug dealers. You can start the program running without your Dr. Later, you will need he/she to fill out a part and include some records. The doctor will send them off for you. At least you can obtain the paperwork for your very busy Dr.

While writing this long ass post, I went outside to check on a puppy - I twisted my ankle looking up for blue sky. .... Tylenol beleive it or not samples packets to the general practitioners. I really need to fill up that hole with dirt. The cat will poop in the fresh dirt so I never did it. Clearly I need a doctors supervision at all times. I will go mow the yard before my ankle starts to hurt worse and swell. -No worries, I am used to it.

~AirAnn~