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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 11:01:08
Hi, does anyone have any experience with trying to get a brand name drug when your health insurance requires that your doctor fill out a PA (prior authorization)? It seems like it would be quite a hassle but I swear that brand names seem better quality, I wouldn't mind paying some extra money.
Posted by john berk on January 29, 2006, at 11:50:57
In reply to Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 11:01:08
Hi! i have been getting prior authorization from my pdoc for 2 years for brand name prozac!!
it is a bit of a hassle, takes maybe 2-3 days to go through, she would fax it to my health provider, they in turn would contact my pharmacy!!
this last time out, [authorization usually lasts 6 month's] i found even with it, i am no longer covered, so i am taking generic prozac, it seems okay, but i do hear brand works better for some..john btw, I also have to get clonazepam, instead of klonopin.
Posted by RobertDavid on January 29, 2006, at 21:45:04
In reply to Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 11:01:08
My insurance doesn't pay for brand klonon, but I went to a specialist who told me that there were definately differences with brand. I pay the money, but I can tell you for me it's been worth it. With klonopin for example generic is made in several other countries and they are allowed a 20% variance in drug strenght vs brand. My doc pointed out that meant from one perscription to the next there could be up to 40% difference in dose. I also suspect that it's probably higher. I do feel that with some drugs generic is fine, but I wouldn't opt for it particularly with head meds......
Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2006, at 22:16:33
In reply to Re: Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs, posted by RobertDavid on January 29, 2006, at 21:45:04
Funny I was paying for the brand name of valium and then tried the generic and low and behold there wasn't a difference. Now I could be wrong and I hope I'm not but I just couldn't afford $178 a monthe apposed to around $8.00. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on January 30, 2006, at 2:10:40
In reply to Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs, posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 11:01:08
> Hi, does anyone have any experience with trying to get a brand name drug when your health insurance requires that your doctor fill out a PA (prior authorization)? It seems like it would be quite a hassle but I swear that brand names seem better quality, I wouldn't mind paying some extra money.
As I posted, its a lot of extra money, and they have been around 46 years. The benzodiazepines on the market really are not any different in percentage change than the originals themselves. The FDA requires the same variation % in both.
A PA requires a few extra days, but be careful. If it is your only insurance and you request a lot of PAs, they may not want to carry you and figure out some way of dropping you even though its illegal. I don't want to scare you, that is extremely unlikely, but its something I think in the back of my mind with my company, and its a fairly good one.
Posted by fenix on January 30, 2006, at 6:10:03
In reply to Re: Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs » fenix, posted by yxibow on January 30, 2006, at 2:10:40
> > Hi, does anyone have any experience with trying to get a brand name drug when your health insurance requires that your doctor fill out a PA (prior authorization)? It seems like it would be quite a hassle but I swear that brand names seem better quality, I wouldn't mind paying some extra money.
>
> As I posted, its a lot of extra money, and they have been around 46 years. The benzodiazepines on the market really are not any different in percentage change than the originals themselves. The FDA requires the same variation % in both.
>
> A PA requires a few extra days, but be careful. If it is your only insurance and you request a lot of PAs, they may not want to carry you and figure out some way of dropping you even though its illegal. I don't want to scare you, that is extremely unlikely, but its something I think in the back of my mind with my company, and its a fairly good one.
>
>Really? Now, that is interesting that they would drop you. They must not like spending the extra money.
I sweeeeaarrr though, this purepac generic clonazepam, it is just not good! I need some kind of solution!
Posted by yxibow on January 31, 2006, at 1:10:15
In reply to Re: Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs, posted by fenix on January 30, 2006, at 6:10:03
> Really? Now, that is interesting that they would drop you. They must not like spending the extra money.Exactly. I was placing a worst case scenario, I was not trying to scare you. It is totally and completely unlikely not to mention illegal in most parts. But insurance is also there for catastrophic unpredictable hospitalizations, so one has to think. Still, a one time PA probably wouldn't matter. They could always deny it.
>
> I sweeeeaarrr though, this purepac generic clonazepam, it is just not good! I need some kind of solution!You may be sensitive enough to notice it, but in general Klonopin is a very subtle agent, you will not notice a "kick" like Xanax or Ativan. I still encourage you to try the other noncardioselective beta blockers once you've exhausted all the benzodiazepines.
But generic Valium (diazepam) might be a better route to go if you're not getting relief from Klonopin, generic, or not.
There's also some limited use of calcium channel blockers and other experimental agents for various tardive phenomenons.
Best wishes.
- J
Posted by fenix on February 3, 2006, at 3:53:49
In reply to Re: Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs » fenix, posted by yxibow on January 31, 2006, at 1:10:15
"I still encourage you to try the other noncardioselective beta blockers once you've exhausted all the benzodiazepines."
I have read that there are some people that can take clonazepam for years without diminishing effect.
Posted by yxibow on February 3, 2006, at 22:49:33
In reply to Re: Prior Authorization and Brand Name drugs, posted by fenix on February 3, 2006, at 3:53:49
> "I still encourage you to try the other noncardioselective beta blockers once you've exhausted all the benzodiazepines."
>
> I have read that there are some people that can take clonazepam for years without diminishing effect.This is quite true. Some people become habituated to benzodiazepines for whatever reason, but for a large part of the population, a particular dose can be taken for years, and there are people who have been on a steady dose since Valium came out 46 years ago.
This is the end of the thread.
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