Insurance Has Changed My Generic Midodrine - Again! Frustrated!

[iheartcats]

Hello Everyone -

I've survived using Global and Apotex Midodrine. They seem to work fine and my body handled them.

I just received my new 90-day supply and my insurance has changed to Upsher-Smith and the Midodrine are purple. I am so upset about this. This is their 'new supplier' and they said they sent a letter that a 'few' generics might be changing but most people probably would not be affected. Of course I am.

Looking through the boards, I don't even see any information on this Generic provider of Midodrine. I cannot believe they can do this to us (and I cannot get brand name if a generic is available under any circumstances - yeah for health care plans).

I didn't need more stress this month, but it keeps coming. Has anyone heard of this manufacturer? I am so annoyed and can't do much. If it doesn't work I won't be able to function as well. I still have older Midodrine to use up, but will have to use this soon enough.

Does this happen to anyone else?

[Aprilmarie52]

That kept happening with my zoloft. I think I ended up using 4 different generics. My body did not handle the changes at all. My former insurance company didnt cover brand if generics were available either, but I couldnt take it anymore so we just started paying for brand out of pocket. I think all of the switches between generics contributed to zoloft not working for me anymore. When my dr switched me to celexa, I specified from the get to that I wanted brand only. Luckily, my new insurance co covers brand just with a higher co pay. Good luck!

[tinkerbella]

My doctor has written MUST HAVE then gets prior approval and it always goes through. Try it!

Bellamia~*

[iheartcats]

April - Isn't it frustrating? I hope for new insurance (another reason I am looking for work)...but yes, I hear generics are even more problematic in SSRI/SNRI, epilepsy and birth control. At least from my research. From what I understand - the generic Midodrine could be 80% - to 120% of 'effective' dose. There's wiggle room in generics. And I can see that being quite bad for something like Zoloft. I guess I'll know when I try and adjust from there.

Bella - My insurance won't do that - I was able to do that with a prior one, though. It is clearly in the big legal plan that no brand coverage is available. Of course, this is why we need health care reform! But yes, I wish I could stay on the same GENERIC at least and will make my current batch last as long as possible and have to deal with adjustments.

[tinkerbella]

I'm really sorry and sad for your situation. I wish I had my magic wand handy and I fix this whole wide world, but going over the stairs and washing my hair did me in for the night. Would you settle for some ((((((((HUGS)))))))) till I talk with our president about our health care mess. Something has to workout real soon for everyone.

love,

bellamia~*

The health care show down is in it's final hours, just announced on TV as I was ending this post.

I wonder what will happen in my state where everyone is required to have insurance.

[erik]

I had not heard of an insurance company issuing a specific generic... thought they just dealt with $ caps & such and reimbursement to a pharmacy for whatever they stocked. Seem to be new twists every day. Midodrine generics don't seem much cheaper than non-generics when I look them up. Did Upsher-Smith make a breakthrough or price-war or something?

Quite true that generics are pushed more and more. Sometimes a pharmacy is required to substitute generics (varies by state). Cutting costs is very "en vogue" it seems. Making a case for exception to your plan's policy will likely be challenging when "official government certification" defines "medical equivalency" and when state laws & momentum are biased toward generics. How does one then argue subtleties with these bureaucracies? Not really my cup of tea.

Dysautonomia & related conditions are a wee-bit out of the mainstream . I personally don't expect much if things shift even further toward bureaucracy than they already are. Boy, it took a life struggle and dumb luck to get 2 people to believe me that something was legitimately fishy. I finally did that and now I might have to convince an entire government bureaucracy? Too big a fight. I opt out! I'll just cop to a beefy psych diagnosis and ask to be gently "zoned out".

[gertie]

I have not heard of that mfg but I go thru the same thing. I finally had to start paying for my meds to get name brand. That isn't easy when on Medicare & my check is barely enough to cover insurance. I'm allergic to some dyes, especially red, & when my generic changed from white to red I refused them. What really bugs me is they add so many things to the meds that isn't necessary.