Hi, I have ADD and have been treated successfully with
dextroamphetamine for the last 5+ years. Over the years, copays
increased and I was forced to switch to generics. After initially
having problems with one generic manufacturer (Barr), I did some
research and discovered one that was every bit as good as the original
(mallinckrodt). I had been getting these from Eckerd for years. Since
Eckerd was bought by Rite-aid, my pharmacist is no longer allowed to
order the mallinckrodts. She said an order for those would bring in
the Barrs by default and there was nothing she could do. I have been
contacting other pharmacies and everyone seems to have the Barrs and no
other options. So far I have ruled out CVS, Eckerd, K-mart, and
Rite-Aid
I did contact a private pharmacy, who said he would be willing to "work
something out" with me but that my insurance payment would not be
enough for him to get me the Mall generics. This seems shady, but if
it is a modest amount of money as i would expect, it may be my best
option.
In any case, does anyone know if any retail chains offer the ability to
buy a specific generic? I live in Northern VA so I guess I am looking
at Giant, Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart, Shoppers.
Any thoughts?
Bob G. - 23 Sep 2006 14:38 GMT
>Hi, I have ADD and have been treated successfully with
>dextroamphetamine for the last 5+ years. Over the years, copays
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
>Any thoughts?
I am a tretired Pharmacist...live in your area, and to be honest I do
not think any of these chains actually whearhouse this class of drugs
in their own whearhouse...just too expensive to have to deal with
government regulations on storage and transfer of these drugs..so most
of them buy from a local Drug Wholesaler..and there are not a lot of
drug wholesalers that serve Northern Virginia...and I do not know of a
single chain that deals with more then a single wholesaler...So even
finding Mallinckrots brand may not be easy...as drug wholesalers like
any other business do not normally carry the same thing made by 3 or 4
suppliers...
That said... The thing that we as pharmacists are faced with is the
plain fact that Insurance compaqnies pay us using a method of Maximum
allowable cost ...plus a dispensing fee of a few bucks and if the
Mall's actual cost is more then this Maximum Cost they reimburse us
for we eat the difference (take a financial loss)... Add that with the
fact that these drugs are treated like narcotics with all the
inventory controls and paper work the pharmacy has to endure not many
"Drug Stores" are willing to ...work harder.. increase their own
inventory by duplicating stock ..and then loose money ...
Bob