Question:
I suffer from anxiety/panic
attacks, and agoraphobia. I'm pretty much homebound now, which has
caused me to also suffer depression. I'm on ss disability, but
unfortunately just lost my health insurance. I was on Zoloft, xanax,
and Abilify, but theres no way I can afford all the meds anymore. The
Abilify alone was $360 a month. I don't know that much about
abilify...is anyone else here on it? I don't even really know what it's
suppose to do. Does anyone know anything abut stopping it suddenly?
Answer:
I'm on Abilfy. It's an antipsychotic medication. I'm on it because I have
severe depression, that when it gets really bad turns into psychosis. So I
have to be on something like that (I used to take Risperdal, which isn't any
cheaper). I also have an anxiety disorder with panic attacks. Ain't life a
blast?
I get free Abilify samples from my doctor, and he gave me a prescription with
a coupon on it for free Abilify, too. So far, I haven't paid for it. There's
no way I could ever afford to pay that kind of price.
Try and find out if there are any free mental health facilities in your area.
We have one downtown I used to go to. It was bad there. Lots of people with
dirty clothes on talking to themselves....but the meds were free. Right now I
go to a private practice that has a sliding scale (meaning I see the doctor and
therapist for free) and the doctor is careful to only prescribe the cheapest
medicine he can for me and give me samples.
I feel really bad for you paying all that money when you can't even work.
Really, look in the phone book and call around and find out if there's a free
facility that gives free meds.
I found this with Google, it's a mental health services locator. It may be a
place to start looking.
http://www.mentalhealth.org/databases/
I know nothing about your med it seems to me there is a site called
needymeds that gives info on how to get meds free from the maker if one
cannot afford them, I do know that not every med is available this way and
that it is something that has to be done by the doctor. Were I in your
situation I'd talk to my doctor and pharmacist to see how i could get the
meds for what I could afford to pay or free.
if you are not suffering from psychosis or a bipolar disorder you can stop
abilify. It is used to treat severe anxiety by some psychiatrists with mixed
results. You have been given the "needy meds" sites you can also contact the
manufacturer for programs for needy patients, your doc can supply you with
samples etc etc--what is most important is that you seek appropriate therapy,
preferably with a cognitive therapist to treat and learn ways to become
un-housebound. Terrap has do it at home courses but they are expensive and a
personal approach with a good doc is much better. You are entitled to medicair
benefits and since you cannot go to them, they come to you-all you need is a
docs report stating so.
I did read in the book "Prozac backlash" that some studies show higher
birth defects in mothers who take ssri's. So, if you have to take
them, try as small a dose as possible.
