How many generic meds do you take and how many brand name meds do you take?

If a generic is available for a brand name, do you still pay for brand name? (Some brand names have discount cards available.)

I take all generics except for Lipitor and Strattera. I think generic Lipitor is like $4.67 for me while the brand name is $5.00 even, so I just opt for the brand name. Not much more money.

[hopeless2015]

The only brand name I'm on is latuda and I have a discount card and get it for $15...without the card it would be $50 on my insurance

[jpb4815]

I get all of my generics for free with the insurance I am on, but I always opt for the name brand klonopin, it seems to work much better than the generic.

[searching4732]

I generally go with generics, however, Wellbutrin I pay for the brand name. The generic Wellbutrin XL gave me insomnia, extreme anxiety, and heart problems. I ended up in the hospital with palpitations, tachycardia, hypertension, and a partial heart block. Not a good time. I've heard that the generic extended release doesn't release properly, or the same way as the brand name or something. Once I switched back to the brand name Wellbutrin, I was fine.

"They" say that generics are exactly the same, and as far as the actual active ingredient is concerned, that's true. But generics and brand names have different fillers, binders, and coatings, and those actually can affect people differently.

[Unrigged64072835]

I have all generics except for Latuda and Viibryd. I had to get authorization to special order those. I may cancel the Viibryd because it gives me extra anxiety when I do take it.

[raspberrytorte]

I have all generics.

With lamictal I have to get the same generic or it doesn't work as well. So, as mentioned, generics are NOT all the same!

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I'm on mostly generics. My Med plan covers them really well and I only have to pay for a few of them. Unfortunately that plan has been changed and I'm scared next year I'll have to pay a lot more.

I get my 2 name brands (Emsam and Amitiza) free through patient assistance programs.

[Rjaye]

I go with generics for everything. I tolerate the fillers okay. I moved off of Lipitor because studies show that it doesn't work as well for women as simvastatin.

Since I'm paying out of pocket right now, it's the cheapest way to go until I get decent part D coverage for Medicare. My AARP plan was trash. It turned out they were only saving me like 15 dollars and a lot of grief each month. So much easier right now. I pay about 150 dollars for meds, but I also have a chronic health condition, so that's a deal for eight different prescriptions.

[bioChE]

I use generics except for Latuda and Vyvanse. Until a couple months ago, it was costing me $1,500/mo for those two. No joke. Now it's "only" costing $270/mo so I feel as if I'm getting a bargain.

The last generic I filled cost me $0.23.

[HALLIEBETH87]

All generics except Latuda and pristiq

[OctobersBlackRose]

All generics here...

[scatterbrained04]

All generic except Latuda.

[Treyfrancis21]

All generic except latuda. With my insurance it is still 200 a month so my psych nurse practitioner gives me samples every time i go in.

Preferred generics cost-wise, but always used brand name Wellbutrin XL after really bad reaction to a bad generic (that the FDA actually pulled off the shelves later). Unusual circumstance.

[whoamihere]

All generic except Latuda....my pdoc gives me samples, otherwise I could never afford the Rx

[MobiusPsyche]

All generic if they're avaliable.

[manicminer]

All genric. $5.00 each vs. 30% of the full price

[chailatte16]

All of my meds come in generic. I take the brand name of one, because I didn't find the generic as effective.

[wildflowerchild25]

I'm on meds with no generic available. It was costing me $40 each, but I used a discount card to bring the cost down to $10. Now I'm not sure if they will even be covered by my new insurance so I'm not sure what's going to happen. My pdoc said she can continue getting samples of Invega for now. Emsam I'll have to look into patient assistance if my insurance doesn't cover it.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Emsam's patient assistance has been great about making exceptions for me (my income is a little higher than their rules say and I have Med D which doesn't cover it) for many years now. They do have my doctor update them on my needs every few months but it's no big deal. I dread it going generic eventually (I think this is several years off) because during that time when generics are expensive I may be unable to afford it. But that's a worry for later.

I hope your new insurance covers it. Mine did with both policies I had when I was still working.