How can someone get drugs for bipolar disorder for free or at a reduced cost?
Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at
6:24 pm
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If you are in America there are usually psychiatric emergency departments at a hospital. They will either give you samples, or a prescription to be filled at that hospital for low cost. It’s usually a long wait to be seen, and the hospitals are usually teaching hospitals – but she will be seen and hopefully helped.
Also, check out local agencies in your area, such as clinics, case management, and behavioral services.
First of all, check out http://www.needymeds.org/, it’s a site that indexes medication assistance programs from various sources. Most of the companies that manufacture the drugs have some sort of programs to get free or dirt cheap medications to people who can’t afford them.
For a prescribing psychiatrist (Most of these programs deliver the drugs to the prescribing doctor), check out any local county hospitals, or any university nearby with a medical school – they usually have some sort of accomadation. Remember, you can’t just get the medications and take them, lithium for example, requires regular blood tests to check the level and make sure it doesn’t get too high or low. All of them require a doctor to supervise for things like uncontrolled mania and the like. Just taking the drugs without anyone supervising would be -incredibly- dangerous.
Also, might take a look into some forms of SSI/SSD, and state level programs – in California we have things like MediCal.
Another excellent resource is http://www.crazymeds.us/, which indexes most of the medication and explains some of the literature in language people without a decade or so of experience in Bio Sci.
Best of luck to your friend.
If someone is feeling suicidal they can (and should) go to an Emergency Room to get help… They can even call 911. I have never known an emergency room turn someone down for treatment under any circumstance…. especially for this. Once there, your friend could well be given a prescription and samples and so on that could help in the short term.
You do not need any special kind of doctor to prescribe medication for any kind of mental health problem. Literally any doctor would do. I have put a link in the source box that will help you find free / low cost health care providers in your area. Again, you don’t need a specialist…. just find someone that can see your friend soon.
In terms of long term care, there are many effective Bipolar medications that are generic and very cheap (like less that $5 a month cheap). Failing that, I have put links to a couple of the major pharma companies assistance programs. Every parma company has an assistance program. The forms to fill out can be kinda drawn out, so maybe as a friend you might want to be sneaky and do it for them
Most hospitals have clinics that see patients for low fees. Most city and state-run hospitals must treat patients without income. They have very fast methods to get poor patients onto Medicaid to pay for the cost of doctor or hospital care. Also, if she is suicidal, she can go to any emergency room. Social work organizations can also help directly or give your friend suggestions on where to get treated.
In terms of medication, almost all drug companies have what are called Patient Assistance Programs. An application has to be filled out, and a doctor has to sign the form. Then your friend sounds like she qualifies for free or low cost medication.
It is ironic that I am writing this now. Tonight I am filling out a Patient Assistance Program questionnaire to get the drug Abilify. My Social Security Disability rules changed this year, and the Abilify costs nearly $600 a month without insurance.