Rx-only drugs for an out-of-country visitor? - Page 3

evolver · #21 01-02-2009, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statdoc

Again, we have not been told by the OP what the actual medication in question is. If it is something as simple as a blood pressure med or heart rhythm pill, I cannot imagine the family doctor or internist (who usually staff such doc in the boxes) being reluctant to renew that. It is done all the time. Easy money for those walk-in clinics.

It is sold in Europe as "Ekvator" (5mg of amlodipine and 10mg of lisinopril). Domestic pharmacies have these ingredients separately, which implies he'll have to take two pills instead of one.

To my understanding, these are rather common and not controlled substances. I really hope I can solve it through a walk-in clinic...

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statdoc · #22 01-02-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evolver

It is sold in Europe as "Ekvator" (5mg of amlodipine and 10mg of lisinopril). Domestic pharmacies have these ingredients separately, which implies he'll have to take two pills instead of one.

To my understanding, these are rather common and not controlled substances. I really hope I can solve it through a walk-in clinic...

Very common, and the generic versions of these two medicines are very inexpensive. Might even be on Wal-Mart's $4/month list. And you are right, in the USA that combo is not sold. There is a combo that is similar (amlodipine with benazepril), but I would simply stay with the amlodipine and lisinopril as separate pills while here.

LazyDog149 · #23 01-02-2009, 01:17 AM

it is sold here and called lotrel...

insurance fraud might work but your dr friend had better be willing to put up in case of an audit... though unlikely

norvasc and lotensin are sold here as separate generic pills and as a cash price should be much cheaper than lotrel

you said they were russian? find a pharmacy that services mostly russians, explain the situation and probably the pharmacist will fill for cash price.

don't flame me...

evolver · #24 01-02-2009, 01:21 AM

Quote:

you said they were russian? find a pharmacy that services mostly russians, explain the situation and probably the pharmacist will fill for cash price.

That's what I'm going to try first thing tomorrow morning. If it does not work out, I'll take him to PrimaCare.

Local CVS pharmacist was not willing to talk about filling for cash with no prescription

LazyDog149 · #25 01-02-2009, 01:32 AM

don't go to a chain pharmacy as that will prob be a waste of your time... go to a mom and pop pharmacy in a russian community with them and have them explain it to the pharmacist in russian

statdoc · #26 01-02-2009, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazyDog149

it is sold here and called lotrel...

Lotrel is NOT the same thing that his family member is already on. Lotrel is the amlodipine/benazepril combo I already mentioned. Benazepril and lisinopril are both ACE inhibitors, so substituting one for the other is generally possible, but why take a chance on screwing up things when the man can get the two meds he is already used to taking, in dosages that apparently work for him? He takes two pills each morning for his visit, rather than one. Big deal.

Quicksilver · #27 01-02-2009, 02:56 AM

As I said I'm no expert and things may be different in different states but
In calif people get interviewed at county hospitals regarding their condition
before they see a doctor and therefore resources are not wasted

If you explain the problem at registration no one would need to wait for 2 hours
to solve this simple issue and therefore this would not cost hundreds of dollars for this visit.
But it was just a suggestion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by statdoc

NOOOOO!! Do NOT go to the Emergency Dept for a prescription refill!!!

1. It is not an emergency, and you are tying up resources that are better applied to people with emergency medical conditions. It is NOT the convenience store of medicine.

2. Because it is not an emergency, you will be put behind those with more serious conditions, and might wait hours, depending on the place and time.

3. Because it is not an emergency, the staff working in the ED will likely treat you with less "customer service" than you would like to receive.

4. You will pay hundreds of dollars for this visit.

5. If you go to a walk-in clinic, you might pay $100 total, and they will be happy to have you there.

statdoc · #28 01-02-2009, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

As I said I'm no expert and things may be different in different states but
In calif people get interviewed at county hospitals regarding their condition
before they see a doctor and therefore resources are not wasted

If you explain the problem at registration no one would need to wait for 2 hours
to solve this simple issue and therefore this would not cost hundreds of dollars for this visit.
But it was just a suggestion.

How do you think this would play out? He takes his non-English non-US citizen into any local county hospital (Parkland in Dallas, for instance), and translates the need for the medicine to the Triage Nurse. What will you imagine will happen then?

Quicksilver · #29 01-02-2009, 04:32 AM

I have no clue. I've never been to Parkland in Dallas. But it would be my guess that if this person urgently needs to get this HP medicine then any effort one makes would be better than sitting around arguing about what might happen.

All they could say is "No we can't help you or "yes we can give you a few pills to tie you over".

If it really is as important as the OP makes it out to be what's the harm in giving it a try. As I said it's a suggestion. Take it or leave it. I was just trying to help.

Thunder22 · #30 01-02-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkbbd

It wouldn't be insurance fraud b/c the pills are prescribed to you and you would have a legitimate prescription, the issue is with the giving them away, which is illegal...so just don't say anything.

It is absolutely insurance fraud. He doesn't have a condition that requires those pills.

And people wonder why our premiums are so high, it's because people abuse the system like this.

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