![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by krista on November 1, 2001, at 12:35:26
Is there another drug like Modafinil. My insurance refuses to cover the drug! man I hate insurance companies! I'd even be willing to order the drug from another country if the price is less.
krista
Posted by JohnX2 on November 1, 2001, at 12:48:53
In reply to mofafinil and insurance companies, posted by krista on November 1, 2001, at 12:35:26
I had the same problem. Modafinil technically
is only approved for Narcolepsy and the maker
charges a lot of money and 80% of the
prescriptions are off-label (not for narcolepsy).
The maker of modafinil is making a lot more $$$
than anyone in the stock market expected, i'll
tell you that much.Isn't adrafinil similar?
-john
> Is there another drug like Modafinil. My insurance refuses to cover the drug! man I hate insurance companies! I'd even be willing to order the drug from another country if the price is less.
>
> krista
Posted by Rick on November 1, 2001, at 19:29:53
In reply to mofafinil and insurance companies, posted by krista on November 1, 2001, at 12:35:26
My employer's insurance plan (via United Healthcare and Merck-Medco) is pretty liberal and has been paying for my Provigil 100% for over two years -- even though it is on their non-preferred list and is being used off-label.
My guess is that this will soon come to an end, though. We just received a topline overiew of our 2002 plan, with a long explanation of how medical costs and claims are soaring, which will cause our premiums to rise 30%. I notice that no mention was made of the 2002 drug reimbursement details, which in my mind is a bad omen. Assuming my suspicions are correct (hope not!), I've been expecting this to happen.
I know that at one time Cephalon was offering some patient assitance programs, but I don't know if they still apply, or if they'd consider off-label uses. You still might want to check their Provigil website, www.provigil.com.
One strategy is to make sure you don't take more than you really need (wise for reasons other than price, too). I was prescribed 200 mg/day, but found that -- at least in tandem with my other meds -- 100 really works better. You may already know this. but the 200's are easy to snap in half.
Adrafinil may work as well, better, or worse for you. You would need quarterly liver tests. (You should probably get them twice a year anyway if you're on ANY psychotropic). And I don't know about you, but I don't feel comfortable with ordering meds from overseas.
Rick
> Is there another drug like Modafinil. My insurance refuses to cover the drug! man I hate insurance companies! I'd even be willing to order the drug from another country if the price is less.
>
> krista
Posted by Mark H. on November 2, 2001, at 1:38:52
In reply to Re: mofafinil and insurance companies, posted by JohnX2 on November 1, 2001, at 12:48:53
>
> Isn't adrafinil similar?Similar but very much less potent, worse side effect potential (can cause liver damage in some people), may take several days to work (according to one of its leading proponents on this board), and is not approved for use in the United States.
For more on the limits of this discussion, see also Dr. Bob's policy at
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#illegal
As for modafinil, at $550 for 120 tabs (100mg strength) from an overseas pharmacy (and still requiring a valid prescription from your US doctor, since it is controlled), you might be better off looking to generic Ritalin (methylphenidate) if your insurance company stops covering the modafinil.
Buying prescription drugs from overseas is rarely a bargain. You'll usually find a better deal if you call around to Costco, Walgreens, Longs and other discount chains in your area than by looking overseas. Also, if there are problems with the shipment not being delivered or with the purity of the medication you receive, you won't have much recourse with overseas pharmacies.
I hope your insurance company continues to cover Provigil.
Best Wishes,
Mark H.
Posted by krista on November 2, 2001, at 21:20:47
In reply to Re: mofafinil and insurance companies, posted by Mark H. on November 2, 2001, at 1:38:52
> >
> Hopefully they will cover it because I've been on Ritalin and it didn't help
just gave me a headache. Been on adderall rapid heart and agitation, dexedrine, felt more depressed,
cylert didn't help liver worries, wellbutrin hallucinated. so modafinil is my last resort to augment
my fatigue. I have a very delicate situation as I have depression that is both plagued by fatigue amd also alternating agitation.
I'm on Remeron right now and feel so sedated yet agitated at the same time! Hoping to find something to help. If this does not work I am considering ECT.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.