Feeling desperate for meds but they need "authorization"

Has it ever happened to any of you, that you need your meds, but they are first being authorized by your insurance before you can receive them? I have been off my meds for a long painful time now. And it's getting to be too much. My diagnosis is Bipolar 2, rapid cycling, with mixed episodes. I'm just feeling really out of my mind right now. I think I may have waited too long to reach out for help. It was really hard to do. But after I spoke with my psychiatrist, I felt that relief was coming soon, and so I was bearing it, just barely. Now that my pharmacist has called to tell me that they require authorization from my insurance first, I feel desperate that I will never get help. What if they don't get authorized for some reason? What will I do then? I have spoken with my psychiatrists assistant and she informed me it usually takes a couple of days for approval. That was Wednesday. This is Saturday and I'm just feeling so overwhelmed and desperate. I don't know what to do and I feel very anxious about the whole thing. Any advice?

I have paid for a few pills before to get me through. And occasionally the whole script is only a few dollars that are less than the insurance would pay anyway so I just buy it. It doesn't always work but has a few times.

Maybe you don't have to get all your scripts, either. You could just get what you think is the most important one to tide you over. Or maybe your doctor has samples. I wouldn't get a whole month's worth, at this point, if you think the insurance will go through very soon.

I would like to ask to see how much they are without insurance, but my pharmacist told me that if they are not authorized that they won't move forward. I wonder if that means that they won't fill the prescription at all or they just won't use the insurance.

I'm sorry you're having such a terrible time. Usually it only takes a day or two for authorization. You could call your doctor's office and see if they will call in a small amount that you pay cash for or see if the pharmacy will sell you a small amount or get samples at your doctor's office. I hope you get your meds soon. Best wishes.

Because I'm starting over again it's only one medication anyway for now. Depakote- it's what had worked best for me previously to manage my ups and downs, it helped me keep balanced. Although it did cause a little weight gain, but I'll take that over what I'm feeling right now. After I am on the Depakote then we'll take it from there, he said antidepressants might make me worse. I am ashamed to admit it but I am feeling suicidal lately. I wish there was something else I could do in the meantime to treat this while I wait.

Yes I could try that. Thank you.

Insurance doesn't get to authorize your script, only authorize payment. See if you can hunt down a prescription card or coupon type thing for the meds that you never want to run out of, and make sure the pharmacy never waits for insurance. And always remember you can pay the retain price if you must, or ask your doctor for a med that is affordable if you can't.

Depakote not being horrendously expensive... Goodrx suggests about $60 for a month with a coupon and no insurance.

I keep older bottles of meds that didn't work because of side effects but that I'd take in a pinch if needed. I have a pretty healthy selection from which to choose and keep them locked up in case of apocalyptic type events keeping me from getting meds when I need them. I'm paranoid about something like this happening and tend to have a stockpile of stuff on hand just in case.

I'm really sorry you are in this situation and I hope you get this sorted.

Thanks for your advice, that is good advice too. Hopefully I get them Monday.

Okay wow, thanks for the good advice. I needed this information, thanks.

Like the other poster said, Depakote is generic and isn't very expensive. If you lived close I'd give some of my old bottles of it. I haven't used it since the middle of last year and have a pile sitting around.

Depakote Savings here: https://www.depakote.com/savings-program
My co-pay was $5.00/month.

I have used this program before. It did not need insurance approval. (My insurer would not have approved the brand name version.) It worked great!

I hope this and other suggestions here help.


WC

I had the same problem with Latuda and Viibryd. My pdoc gave me samples until it was authorized.

Pdocs usually have samples of new, brand name drugs the companies are still pushing, like Latuda and Viibryd. They're not likely to have samples of older generic drugs.