WHEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD MEDICATION


          Medication for the treatment of OCSDs can be expensive, running to quite a few dollars per day for those on higher doses or drug combinations. This is fine for those with the financial resources or low cost drug plans, but not so good for sufferers with modest incomes or those who are disabled by their disorder.
An alternative is to turn to one of the assistance programs which most of the drug companies maintain for the benefit of those who cannot otherwise afford their products. In order to be accepted you and your physician will have to fill out applications, and you may have to submit financial information proving that your income and savings are below a certain level. If you are accepted into one of these programs, they will either send free medication directly to your physician to be dispensed to you, or, they will send a voucher that your physician will give you together with a prescription to take to your drug store. The voucher will then be accepted as payment.

          Your physician can obtain a comprehensive listing of these programs from The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association. Have your doctor call (202) 835-3450 to have a copy sent to them. You or your physician can then call these programs to find out how to apply.

          There is also a website known as The Medicine Program (www.themedicineprogram.com) that has been established by volunteers to help people apply for free medication programs.  They charge $5.00 for each medication you wish to make application for.  This fee is rerundable if they are unable to obtain the medication for you, or if you do not qualify.

          If you wish to go about this on your own, here is a list of some free medication programs with phone numbers that you or your doctor can call:


Celexa: Forest Pharmaceutical Company                                        (800) 678-1605
             Indigent Patient Program                                                     (physician's line)


Effexor: Wyeth-Ayerst Labs                                                                (800) 568-9936
                                                                                                                  (physician's line)


Luvox: Solvay Patient Assistance Program                                    (800) 788-0277


Paxil: SmithKline Access To Care Program                                  (800) 546-0420
                                                                                                                   (patient's line)
                                                                                          
                                                                                                                (215) 751-5722
                                                                                                                  (physician's line)


Prozac, Zyprexa: Lily Cares Program                                              (800) 545-6962


Zoloft: Pfizer Prescription Assistance                                               (800) 646-4455


Risperdal:  Janssen                                                                                  (800) 544-2987


Serzone, BuSpar:  Bristol-Meyers Squibb                                         (800) 332-2056


Clozaril:  Novartis Pharmaceuticals                                                     (800) 257-3273


Wellbutrin:  Glaxo Wellcome                                                                 (800) 722-9294


Remeron:  Organon                                                                                   (800) 241-8812