Medication Costs

LegacyUser

Not looking for medical advice, so don't worry Mods I am just after returning from the doctors who prescribed me with 3 months of Lexapro 10mg. I wonder if people could give me an idea of how much these might cost me?

Also, as an aside, I'm hoping to apply for social welfare so is there any way for me to also apply for a medical card if I get it?

Esoteric_

Used to cost me in the region of 15 euro, can't remember if that was per week or per month, though. If you see a psychiatrist, get them to write your prescription as you'll get it for free then under the mental health act.

And yes, if you're on the dole you can go for the medical card but it takes a good while to come through.

LegacyUser

It was a GP that wrote up my prescription. Will I be able to get them for free still?

Esoteric_

No, they only come free with a psychiatrist's prescription, but if you're on anti-depressants then you could ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. They take about 6-8 weeks depending on where you are, but are free unless you go privately and they'll start doing your prescriptions for you once you see them.

LegacyUser

Lexapro costs about 70 euros for 1 months supply. Very expensive, but worth it in the long run.

Abi

LyndaMcL wrote: »

Used to cost me in the region of 15 euro, can't remember if that was per week or per month, though. If you see a psychiatrist, get them to write your prescription as you'll get it for free then under the mental health act.

I think thats per month, I was prescribed them also but didn't have to pay for them for long as I was referred.

And yes, if you're on the dole you can go for the medical card but it takes a good while to come through.

Last I heard was between 6-8 months, dunno how accurate that is now though.


OP, did your doctor refer you?

LegacyUser

This may sound stupid, but how do you mean by "did my doctor refer me?"? To where, exactly?

sam34

LyndaMcL wrote: »

If you see a psychiatrist, get them to write your prescription as you'll get it for free then under the mental health act.

LyndaMcL wrote: »

No, they only come free with a psychiatrist's prescription

psychiatric meds are only free in a certain part of the country, iirc its the old eastern healthboard area. i cant recall the circumstances that led to this, but anyway, it doesnt apply nationally and its nothing to do with the mental health act.

if you dont have a medical card, and dont live in the area above, then you will have to pay for your meds.

Novella

Yeah, I have always had to pay for my medication and the prescription is written by a psychiatrist.

You should apply for a medical card, OP. I applied in January and am still waiting so it does take quite a while but I guess it'll be worth it in the end.

As for the cost of Lexapro, I think I was only on it for a month or two so I'm not exactly sure. I don't imagine a months worth would be 15 euro though, that sounds more like a weekly cost to me.

LegacyUser

One thing that really annoys me about this country is that at the moment mental health is on the forefront, which is excellent, but anti-depressants and the like are still extremely expensive. There should be something in place for people who have no choice but to go on these.

Esoteric_

Sorry Sam, I thought it was all over Ireland that the free mental health act applied. My bad.

calex71

OP if you do not have a medical card yet ( I applied 3 times so far heard nothing back and sending a 4th application via registered post) it will take months as said and your dole some weeks, do not go without your medication!!!!!!

If you find yourself in a position where you cannot afford to pay for it, go and see the community welfare officer in the local HSE Health Center, and present your case. They can give emergency funding at their discretion to cover your meds. You may have to pay it back once the dole comes through.

Don't feel like you are begging either , they deal with this kind of thing a lot these days, and will likely be very ready to help , just bring the prescription with you and find out in a chemist exactly how much it is.

Oh you can get the form you need for the medical card while there

skooterblue

Stop where you are. My medical card ran out over Christmas and only found out it lasts for a year . Luckily the very nice pharmacist at an English chain of Chemist advised me what to do. Go to your HSE Medical Card office (it takes a while to get the right person). They should be able to issue an emergency medical card until the proper one comes thru. Happened to me, the side effects of coming off Effexor can be tough and I emphasised that (I may have layed it on a little thick). The pharmacist filled my prescription soon afterwards and I was grand. The Actual medical card came thru a week later. It takes 5 weeks minimum to renew a medical card so keep on top of it.

Only a callous person would deny a patient medication and a worse one a mental health patient.

Edgedinblue

my months supply of lexapro costs me €43, thats in galway though. im also waiting on medical card to come through, and i have been referred to the psychiatrist aswell. was told theres nothing i can do about the costs until i get my medical card, €100 a month is horrible for prescriptions when i'm only getting €140 a week

Cottontail

look into the drugs payment scheme as well, it might help save a few euro for you!

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/entitlements/Drugs_Payment_Scheme/

iguana

Apply for the medical card as soon as you are approved for your social welfare payment. I know they are taking for ever for some people, but you could get lucky. I know someone who got their card within 3 weeks of sending off the application. It probably depends what area you are in. Once you get your medical card you will need to go back to your doctor and have him/her re-write the prescription as in order to be free* it has to be written from a special prescription pad.

*Actually it's not free any more, I think it's 50c per type of medication.

LegacyUser

I got the prescription earlier - luckily it was a repeat prescription, so I only got one month, which came to €43. I'm going to inquire about the medical card when I have my interview for social welfare in the coming weeks and will see what happens. I have been off the medication since Friday, which is when my past prescription ran out, and as soon as I took another pill, I started feeling a bit more relaxed, though I know this is probably just the placebo effect more than anything else.

Esoteric_

When I was on Lexapro, I found it had an immediate effect on me too, unlike my other pills, so it might not just be a placebo effect. Check on google to see if your area is eligible for free mental health treatment, too.

ebixa82

Medication Costs wrote: »

Not looking for medical advice, so don't worry Mods I am just after returning from the doctors who prescribed me with 3 months of Lexapro 10mg. I wonder if people could give me an idea of how much these might cost me?

Also, as an aside, I'm hoping to apply for social welfare so is there any way for me to also apply for a medical card if I get it?

If you wanted to know the price of a something surely the most appropriate place to ask would be where you buy them, i.e. a pharmacy, not on the internet.
Do this next time:
1) Phone up any pharmacy you want
2) Ask for the pharmacist
3) Ask him/her how much a month's supply of x costs
4) The pharmacist will tell you how much x costs
5) This is how much it will costs

ebixa82

LyndaMcL wrote: »

No, they only come free with a psychiatrist's prescription, but if you're on anti-depressants then you could ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. They take about 6-8 weeks depending on where you are, but are free unless you go privately and they'll start doing your prescriptions for you once you see them.

This is not correct. Private psych. Rx's must be paid for.

Lexapro lady wrote: »

Lexapro costs about 70 euros for 1 months supply. Very expensive, but worth it in the long run.

Not true. Depends on the dose. 5mg is barely half that price.

Medication Costs wrote: »

One thing that really annoys me about this country is that at the moment mental health is on the forefront, which is excellent, but anti-depressants and the like are still extremely expensive. There should be something in place for people who have no choice but to go on these.

Lexapro is a relatively new drug and so there are no generics of it on the market. Cipramil (citalopram) came off patent recently. A drug similiar to lexapro (escitalopram) and a months supply is less than 20e per month.

Edgedinblue wrote: »

my months supply of lexapro costs me €43, thats in galway though. im also waiting on medical card to come through, and i have been referred to the psychiatrist aswell. was told theres nothing i can do about the costs until i get my medical card, €100 a month is horrible for prescriptions when i'm only getting €140 a week

Prices are more or less universal throughout the state. Boots in Galway will have the same prices as those in Dublin.

Medication Costs wrote: »

I got the prescription earlier - luckily it was a repeat prescription, so I only got one month, which came to €43. I'm going to inquire about the medical card when I have my interview for social welfare in the coming weeks and will see what happens. I have been off the medication since Friday, which is when my past prescription ran out, and as soon as I took another pill, I started feeling a bit more relaxed, though I know this is probably just the placebo effect more than anything else.

NEVER, EVER stop psych. medication abruptly like that. It is very danferous. If your Rx runs out and you haven't had a chance to see your Dr. go back to your pharmacy and they will give you a small supply to tie you over.

LyndaMcL wrote: »

When I was on Lexapro,I found it had an immediate effect on me too, unlike my other pills, so it might not just be a placebo effect. Check on google to see if your area is eligible for free mental health treatment, too.

Almost certainly a placebo effect. SSRI's usually take upto two weeks to start producing effects.

Joey the lips

I checked out the free medication claim made here with citizens information the HSE and my local pharmacy.

Citizens information said there is nothing in the mental health act to say this so its not true.

The HSE just said no thats not the case.

My local pharmacy discovered if your living in some parts of Dublin and kildare it is free. However this is an old scheme that dates back to the 70's and is being phased out.

Just thought i would offer this as i have a family member on such medicines.

ps: this is not the case for medical card holders and if your medicine is costing you a lot you can apeal for it free(under the hardship schee- dont hold your breath or go with the 120 drug limit a month)

ebixa82

Joey the lips wrote: »

I checked out the free medication claim made here with citizens information the HSE and my local pharmacy.

Citizens information said there is nothing in the mental health act to say this so its not true.

The HSE just said no thats not the case.

My local pharmacy discovered if your living in some parts of Dublin and kildare it is free. However this is an old scheme that dates back to the 70's and is being phased out.

Just thought i would offer this as i have a family member on such medicines.

ps: this is not the case for medical card holders and if your medicine is costing you a lot you can apeal for it free(under the hardship schee- dont hold your breath or go with the 120 drug limit a month)

Hardship scheme is only for people who already have a medical card but the medicine is not covered on the medical card scheme as it has no licence. It is very unlikely for a patient to be put on an unlicenced anti-depressant. i.e. if you have a med card, your drugs are free. (excluding 50c charge)

sam34

Joey the lips wrote: »

I checked out the free medication claim made here with citizens information the HSE and my local pharmacy.

Citizens information said there is nothing in the mental health act to say this so its not true.

The HSE just said no thats not the case.

My local pharmacy discovered if your living in some parts of Dublin and kildare it is free. However this is an old scheme that dates back to the 70's and is being phased out.

yep, as i posted earlier its got nothing whatsoever to do with the mental health act (which deals with the admission of people to hospital on an involuntary basis). its to do with a policy in certain areas of the old eastern health board.