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[Gravitycollapse]

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[liberal_at_heart]

1. my husband had this issue once

he went to the urgent care clinic. They wrote him a prescription for like two pills just to get him by until he could refill his prescription through his doctor. I don't remember how much it cost but being that it was only like two pills it really didn't cost that much.

[Gravitycollapse]

2. I'm actually wondering about the cost of seeing the doctor.

The generic Ativan, Lorazapam, is actually very cheap relative to other pills. So I'm not worried about the pills themselves. I just don't know how much it costs to see a doctor or nurse at an urgent care without insurance.

[liberal_at_heart]

5. oh, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you that.

Maybe you could give them a call before you head down there. I think urgent care clinics are less expensive than ERs. That's why they encourage people to go to them if they don't have a life threatening illness or injury.

[Samantha]

29. Here it is about $50 for a first-time visit for low-income people

However, there seems to be some sort of rule that doctors do not write prescriptions that normally come from psychiatrists. So they might give you a couple to hold you as someone suggested, but if I were you I would try calling the doctor. Additionally, some psychiatrists say they cannot phone in a prescription; the patient must present the literal prescription at the pharmacy.

Try to avoid stimulants like caffeine until you get this resolved and you have some medicine. It is not a substitute, but at least you won't be aggravating your nervous system.

If you have a good relationship with the doctor and know he or she won't mind giving you a refill, I would try contacting them. Otherwise, you might be told you have to go to the emergency room.

I believe that is also a muscle relaxant which TMJ patients use, but can't say that for sure.

Sam

[Gravitycollapse]

30. It was 130 and a weeks supply.

They just needed to see the empty bottle.

[Samantha]

38. I am so relieved you got this problem resolved (n/t)

[Prism]

3. Urgent care can charge per pill

I've had this problem with a Parkinson's patient and mirapex. It shouldn't cost more than your parameters. But if you're uncertain, call ahead. They should be happy to let you know.

[barbtries]

4. just go to your drugstore

and tell them the situation. they might give you one or two pills to get you through. or call your dr and have him/her call it inl. make sure you have the pharmacy number when you speak to your dr.

[liberal_at_heart]

6. those are both good ideas

Most pharmacies will give you one or two pills to get you through and if not most doctors offices have on call doctors that could give a prescription and an all night pharmacy could fill it.

[Gravitycollapse]

7. The drugstore refused an emergency refill.

Because it's a controlled substance or something like that.

I am going to try and call the doctor tomorrow but I don't think I have his number for "emergencies."

[liberal_at_heart]

9. does the after hours recording for you doctor's office give a number to call an on call doctor?

[Gravitycollapse]

11. No it doesn't unfortunately.

[liberal_at_heart]

12. well then I would give the urgent care clinic a call and then head down there

[Gravitycollapse]

13. Unfortunately they're all closed.

I'll have to call first thing in the morning.

[liberal_at_heart]

14. yeah, our 24 hr urgent care clinic just reduced its hours too

It really sucks. Be careful. I hope you stay well.

[LeftInTX]

10. Is the doctor's number on the prescription bottle?

If you call, you should get his answering service. Then have him paged.

[bananas]

19. That can be a real pain-in-the-b*tt

Google your doctor's name, call him at home if necessary.
I'm serious.

They keep tightening restrictions on these medications, doctors can't keep up.

They used to allow prescriptions to be faxed in, now they don't accept that for many medications.
Because the fax could have been photoshopped and they can't verify where it was sent from.

You might have to have the pharmacy call him at home, or you might have to drive out to his house to get a written prescription. It's f-ing ridiculous.

For future reference, a lot of pharmacies have automated services.

For example, I know someone who uses CVS, their service automatically refills prescriptions and telephones to say they are ready for pick-up, and for controlled substances, it telephones a week ahead of time and warns them to get a new written prescription from their doctor.

And sometimes it says, "This wasn't refilled because your insurance company no longer covers this drug."

So then he has to call his doctor to find a substitute which is covered by that insurance company.

And I say, "Hey, why don't you check with Costco or Target or Walgreens etc", but he's basically been terrorized into sticking with a system that gives him one week warning.

[barbtries]

24. i don't think i've ever had a doctor

who did not have an answering service when out of the office. good luck.

[LeftInTX]

8. This is what I would do

[lapislzi]

22. Maybe not.

Doctors and pharmacies are famously cautious about benzos. Ridiculously so. If you were out of your blood pressure meds, the pharmacy would have no problem selling you a pill or two. Benzos, not so much. Doctors consider them one step removed from heroin due to their potential for dependency. Three Ativan would have a street value. Nobody's out peddling Lisinopril.

[bananas]

15. You don't need to be a member to use Costco or Sam's Club pharmacies

and you can usually get prescriptions filled there cheaper than at other pharmacies.
This is because of the way pharmacies are federally regulated.
Unfortunately, even some of the store managers are unaware of this and won't believe it until they verify with the corporate office.

I think the non-member price may be slightly higher than the member price.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/money/consumer/smart_shopper/costco-vs-sam's-club%3A-savings-on-prescription-drugs

Costco vs Sam's Club: Savings on prescription drugs

Posted: 11/09/2011
By: Daphne Munro
By: Quita Jackson

Considering a membership to Costco or Sam's Club but wondering if the fee is worth it?

If you're looking for a way to save on prescription drug costs, good news -- you don't need a membership to use the pharmacy at Sam's and Costco, and you can still take advantage of their discounted prices... even if you don't have health insurance.

We took five of the more popular prescribed drugs in the U.S. and compared the cost at Sam's and Costco for non-member generic prescriptions.

You may be surprised at the difference in prices.

<snip>

[bananas]

16. Target has many generics for $4

http://www.target.com/pharmacy/generics

Is there a $4 generic for my medication?
Hundreds are available.

Target offers a wide range of generics to help treat a variety of conditions and diseases. They're just as safe as their brand-name equivalents, but are available at a much lower cost—just $4 for a 30-day supply, or $10 for 90 days.

http://www.target.com/pharmacy/generics-condition

Target's $4 generic drug program information has been provided in cooperation with
the Center for Consumer Self Care, UCSF Department of Clinical Pharmacy.

[djean111]

26. Does this Target price assume you have insurance? That's the kicker.

Because Costco prices are life-alteringly lower for people without insurance.
The difference in Costco price with or without a membership is not that much, but the difference between Costco and, say, CVS, for something like venlafaxine xr is mind-bending.

[ReRe]

17. You have no refills?

Call your DR. He can call you in a prescription wherever you are, or e-mail the scrip to the drugstore. Just go to a drugstore and get their contact info so you will have it to give to your DR. Viola'! As for the cost of a UTC, depends on where you're at. Big humongous city? Forget about it. Small city? Maybe around $100. Whatever were you thinking leaving without such an important med? Good luck.

[lapislzi]

23. Again, no benzos over the phone.

It's nuts the hoops you have to go through to obtain benzos, even with a demonstrated non-psychiatric medical need.

[ReRe]

28. Yeah,

you're SOL.

[glowing]

18. Most of them around me are $120 or $125... That's in FL.

[2pooped2pop]

20. call your pharmacist

one time my pharmacist loaned me a couple of my script til I could get it refilled. I don't know if you would have such luck but if you have been with them a long time they would possibly see the need. Hell tell them your script was short two pills if you have to, then call and have your doctor refill it.

[graham4anything]

21. Go to a clinic or emergency room and explain if doctor can't be reached (or even go to the police).

and starting next year, preexisting conditions will NOT be allowed to be used as an excuse to deny insurance by any company, thanks to the great new health care President Obama is bringing forth. This is one of the major steps forward that no insurance company can deny anyone with preexisting condition.

But I never heard of a doctor not being able to be reached, or have someone who is there instead of the doctor to handle emergencies. One would think someone has to be there on the other end of the call to handle that, or the doctor could be up for some sort of legal violation should they not do that.

But call the police or fire department if necessary. EMS or whatever in whatever town will not wish to see someone get into a major problem.

[s-cubed]

25. Visit cost me $80 to get antibiotic prescription

If controlled substance they may not be able to fill it I'd call first.

[Gravitycollapse]

27. In case anybody is wondering, it's going to cost 130 dollars for the visit.

Yeah...America.

[DevonRex]

31. In future, go to HRSA.gov to find a low-cost clinic near you.

That stands for Health Resources Services Administration. They're the federal agency that funds all the clinics in the U.S. for the uninsured. Your visit and prescription costs will be determined by your income. So take a couple of pay stubs with you.

You can get all your health care there. They refer to specialists, too, who are in the program. They normally have pharmacies on site.

ETA: Take your doctor's info with you and if possible, old Rx bottles, or a printout from your regular pharmacy to show what you've been taking, the dose, and how long you've been on it. The more info they have the better.

[Gravitycollapse]

32. I will keep that in mind. Thanks.

[DevonRex]

33. You're welcome. Remember Northern Exposure?

He was HRSA doctor.

[Gravitycollapse]

34. I was only 6 months old when that show came out.

Unfortunately haven't had the opportunity to see it yet. Is it good?

[DevonRex]

36. Yeah it was. really good.

Unfortunately turned out that the female costar is a nutty RWer.

[Generic Other]

35. Call your doctor's office

They can renew scripts on the phone.

[Aristus]

37. Not for lorazepam, we don't. And almost never after hours.

Sad to say, but if someone calls me after hours requesting a refill, my first thought is that they're abusing the medication; otherwise they would have called during office hours and placed a refill request with the staff to forward to the provider. Often a patient will tell me: "I ran out a few days ago, and I really need it now!" My first question to them is why did they not request a refill when they still had a few days-worth left.

I'm not saying any of these things are the case here. I'm just pointing out the reasons why you may be having difficulty refilling your medication. It's not fair to the patients who use the medication in good faith, but providers have to be very wary of refill situations when dealing with medications with a high index for addiction and abuse.

[librechik]

39. depends on the pt status and the insuror--My United Health card says $50 for Urgent Care visit

but that's when it's covered. Have no idea what non-insured would pay--

[bananas]

40. So what happened? nt

[jambo101]

41. If you are dealing with your regular pharmacy

A fax between doctor and pharmacist will usually re-supply your prescription,at least thats the way its worked for me when a prscription has run out or been forgotten..
If you have become completetly addicted/dependant on Atavan and are looking for an extra source of the drug you might be in for a bumpy ride.
Anyway call your doctor and tell him of the problem and he should fax the pharmacy and ask them to refill your prescription.

[Sgent]

42. Call your doctor's office

many urgent care center's won't write a script for ativan (or it will only be for a couple of days) due to abuse. Your doctor's office should be able to call in or fax a script. Unless your state is different (most are not), its only a Schedule IV Federal drug so no signature is required and they can call it in. The pharmacy in question may have policies stricter than the law, so it maybe worth going to another pharmacy.

If you do go to an urgent care center, get a copy (fax, email, etc.) of your recent doctor's visit showing a diagnosis of seizures -- it will make the process much easier.

[Recursion]

43. This is the one valid conservative complaint

How much does X cost at facility Y? Nobody knows.