[cmlwtcos]

I don't know which section I should post this in but I hope some one can help me! I'm getting forced off my medication and I don't know what to do!!

I've always known my parents couldn't honestly give a **** about how I feel but this is just cruel. I'm getting taken off my anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medicine because my dad doesn't believe in mental disorders. Now my mom is agreeing with him since she's scared of what he'll do if she defies him. (My dad verbally abuses her and she can't go against him since he is a traditionalist, his culture also believe death to be adequate treatment for any mental instability...) My mom knew that I've always a little messed up and have been on medication but she did a good job ignoring it. She said I was just being dramatic and need to stop acting like a child but never actively tried to get me off my medicine. But the other day, my dad had to pick up my medications so now he has found out about my anxiety and depression

Since 3rd grade, when I was diagnosed with ADHD and got on medication, he would make a huge deal about buying my pills and just got so pissed at the idea that his child isn't normal. So when my dad got my medicine, he asked the pharmacist about the medication and why i would be taking it. Now he won't get it refilled. He hasn't shut up about over-diagnosed mental disorders, drug-dependence and how everything is just in my mind and that I am a victim of the placebo effect. I realize that many meds get do over prescribed and some people fake it for the pills but before Celexa, I could not function at all!

Half the time I couldn't even get out of my bed for days on end and tried to kill myself twice in six years, with eleven half-assed attempts and constant thoughts of suicide. The other half was just as bad but different. I'd freak myself out from having any social interaction, including going to class, because I'm afraid that people won't like me. I thought about all the ways I could be killed in any situation and got panic attacks with alarming frequency. I wouldn't stay home alone for fear of someone breaking in, I didn't drive because I couldn't deal with the uncertainty on the road, Iand some days I wouldn't do anything because I was afraid that I might not like it or it'd trigger me back into depression.

Thankfully, I now take 40mg of Celexa daily since early 2011. A few months ago I returned early from Madrid after failing out of a study abroad program. During my time in Madrid, I ran out of Celexa and couldn't get a refill in Spain when my doctor practices in The United States. Off my medication, I left my apartment three times in a total of two and a half months, which was only for groceries. I failed out of the university and had to return to my original school.

After getting back on Celexa, I started school again and began getting better. I transferred to a college that is a few hour drive from my hometown, I bought a car, I rented an apartment with my new boyfriend, I got a part time job at a Starbucks on our campus and I have so many friends that I love spending time with. I have got my life back on track for the most part. I've been attending my classes on campus (none of them are just online!) and even got my grades up, well enough to get off of academic probation and regain my financial aid!

I'll be 20 years old in a little over two weeks so I know my parents don't have a say in my treatment. But since I am still in school and don't yet have a job with benefits, I'm still a dependent on their insurance. I'm so scared to be taken off my medication because I know how bad I can get without it.

How do I deal with this? Do I just not take it anymore? I don't even know if there is anything I can do... I have enough for the next 13 days but after that, I'll be out and I can't afford to get anymore without my parents' insurance.

[-jimi-]

Are you sure you cannot afford it? I assume you are on the brand name Celexa, and while many docs and patients do not recommend switching to a generic it can sometimes work. Not sure what it costs where you are, but over here where I am your dosage of a generic citalopram is only 15 US dollars a month. Don't know how much more the brand name is but it is an old med and fairly cheap. Also different generics have different reputations so you might want to investigate. If you still cannot afford it, maybe look into buying it from abroad, not from any shady site but a real business who needs your prescriptions and give you real documentation. It shouldn't be more than pizza money really.

[-jimi-]

Since I'm not in USA (I assume the OP is there? Or I'm guessing wrongly?) it would be nice to know what this med costs over there. I know there can be huge differences between here and there.

[cmlwtcos]

Originally Posted by jimi...

Are you sure you cannot afford it? I assume you are on the brand name Celexa, and while many docs and patients do not recommend switching to a generic it can sometimes work. Not sure what it costs where you are, but over here where I am your dosage of a generic citalopram is only 15 US dollars a month. Don't know how much more the brand name is but it is an old med and fairly cheap. Also different generics have different reputations so you might want to investigate. If you still cannot afford it, maybe look into buying it from abroad, not from any shady site but a real business who needs your prescriptions and give you real documentation. It shouldn't be more than pizza money really.

I literally spend all my money on bills but any spending money I ever have goes directly towards cigarettes... I'm on brand name Celexa, though I did try two different generics. One didn't work as well and the other that gave me some really undesirable side effects. I did look into buying online but most of the sites I've found are so not legitimate. I really don't think I'd be comfortable with taking such an important medication that I purchased off an illegal site... Maybe I'll see if I can start working more hours at Starbucks so I get money for my medication but I am already in 19 hours of classes.

Thanks for the suggestions though. Do you know if there are people I should talk to about my situation?

[cmlwtcos]

Originally Posted by jimi...

Since I'm not in USA (I assume the OP is there? Or I'm guessing wrongly?) it would be nice to know what this med costs over there. I know there can be huge differences between here and there.

With our insurance at the pharmacy we use, Celexa's co-pay is $114 a month... I barely ever have more than $20 in my account at any given day.

[-jimi-]

Good golly! That is some difference from here!!! Your copay is more than our full pay for brand name!

Are you still going to be on their insurance? If so, they really can't "force" you off your meds. They really don't have access to your medical information, even if you are on their insurance now that you are not a minor.

I have a 23-year-old son who is on our insurance, and unless he were to actually tell me he is on a specific med, I wouldn't really know it. I'm not even sure our pharmacy would share that information with us due to HIPAA; I'm a bit surprised your pharmacy could share that information about you if you are no longer a minor. We've run into situations where a medical bill for our son needed to be handled, but we couldn't even speak to billing departments about his bill without his permission even though it is our insurance and we were the ones paying the bill, so your pharmacy should not be sharing that info without your permission. If you are paying your own co-pays, I'd say be sure your prescriptions are at a different pharmacy from your parents medications and don't tell them what pharmacy you use.

[Freefall1974]

I don't know where you are either, but where I live, Citalopram ( the generic form of Celexa) is $4/month at a WalMart, $5/month at a Target,Kroger or other grocery store chain. This is without insurance. Remember that retail pharmacies (Walgreens or CVS- just to name 2 examples that I can think of-no accusation or endorsement) make their money on prescriptions, where the others I lister make their money off of other products and offer pharmacy services as a convenience to their clients. I doubt this is a local thing in my state only.

Also, you are 20 years old so you do not need your parents permission. I do understand the cultural issues though. However, if you have an established relationship with your physician, you could call the office, explain the situation, ask them to write you a new prescription, pick it up and fill it somewhere cheaper if offered where you live. Because of your age you have confidentiality. You have the right to ask that your parents not be released any information concerning your medical condition also. The office will have you sign a form. If you can do this then there will be no office visit, no charges ( hopefully if your doctor is nice) and only you know.

Good luck.

[cmlwtcos]

Just to clarify on why my co-pay is so high: my psychiatrist split up my dosage. I fill two separate prescriptions for Celexa each month, 30 pills of 20mg and another for 60 pills of 10mg. I take the 20mg everyday no matter what. Depending on how I feel, I take one or two of the 10mg pills at the same time as the 20mg pill. I do take just 20mg some days but it's usually 30mg. Though being back home for winter break has stressed me so much and I've been taking 40mg most days so I don't really have many 10mgs left over to take if I can't figure out what to do. My psychiatrist said that they usually don't medicate like that but after a long time with varying doses, this system works the best for me.

More than the financial situation, I'm worried about the cultural conflict. I really can't go around my dad's wishes... He's really old fashioned and respect means everything to him. His older brother had a love marriage against his dad's (my grandfather) will and he has been completely removed from the family. I've never even met my uncle because of that. I know my dad believes that was the right thing so I don't want to even think about what would happen to me if I secretly got my medicine and he found out. It's even worse since he doesn't believe in mental disorders, he thinks that anyone with them are just people seeking attention and should be taught a lesson by being ignored and shunned forever. He's really strict and rude to the point of maybe being sadistic so I try to never do anything that angers him... Ughhhh, this is so frustrating!!! I DON'T THINK I CAN EVEN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS! D:

Originally Posted by jimi...

Good golly! That is some difference from here!!! Your copay is more than our full pay for brand name!

It's probably because of how I'm taking it, 90 pills cost a lot.

Originally Posted by farmergirl

Are you still going to be on their insurance? If so, they really can't "force" you off your meds. They really don't have access to your medical information, even if you are on their insurance now that you are not a minor.

I have a 23-year-old son who is on our insurance, and unless he were to actually tell me he is on a specific med, I wouldn't really know it. I'm not even sure our pharmacy would share that information with us due to HIPAA; I'm a bit surprised your pharmacy could share that information about you if you are no longer a minor. We've run into situations where a medical bill for our son needed to be handled, but we couldn't even speak to billing departments about his bill without his permission even though it is our insurance and we were the ones paying the bill, so your pharmacy should not be sharing that info without your permission. If you are paying your own co-pays, I'd say be sure your prescriptions are at a different pharmacy from your parents medications and don't tell them what pharmacy you use.

My dad was just picking up a prescription that I had called in earlier. I knew I was busy for the rest of the day and wouldn't be able to pick it up. With my mom out of town, he was the only one able to pick it up so I told the pharmacist that I wanted him to be able to get it. I had no idea they would tell him why I take it (they may have just said that citalopram is prescribed for depression and anxiety with him assuming the rest).

I will be on their medical insurance until I am 26 or until I am no longer a full-time student. I normally get my medicines filled at a pharmacy near my apartment and y mom will still take care of all the co-pays and fees by letting me charge it to her credit card while I am at school and need a refill.

It's hard to explain how my dad is forcing me off them since it's more to do with the familial hierarchy and how important that is in our culture (even though we live in America), and the stigma on mental disorders that my parents were brought up with than actual reasons. I can't go against him. So when he doesn't want me to take Celexa, I can't.

Originally Posted by Freefall1974

I don't know where you are either, but where I live, Citalopram ( the generic form of Celexa) is $4/month at a WalMart, $5/month at a Target,Kroger or other grocery store chain. This is without insurance. Remember that retail pharmacies (Walgreens or CVS- just to name 2 examples that I can think of-no accusation or endorsement) make their money on prescriptions, where the others I lister make their money off of other products and offer pharmacy services as a convenience to their clients. I doubt this is a local thing in my state only.

Also, you are 20 years old so you do not need your parents permission. I do understand the cultural issues though. However, if you have an established relationship with your physician, you could call the office, explain the situation, ask them to write you a new prescription, pick it up and fill it somewhere cheaper if offered where you live. Because of your age you have confidentiality. You have the right to ask that your parents not be released any information concerning your medical condition also. The office will have you sign a form. If you can do this then there will be no office visit, no charges ( hopefully if your doctor is nice) and only you know.

Good luck.

I live in Texas and use the CVS pharmacy. Because they already have my prescription on file I can call them and they will have it ready for me in my hometown rather than my usual location. (I think most pharmacies also do that but I mainly use CVS since it's literally in walking distance from my apartment.) There is a Target with a pharmacy near me so I'll talk to them and see what the price is there. I didn't know CVS would be more expensive, now I feel terrible for wasting money just for convenience...

I've been going to the same doctor for the four years so she does know what's up with my family. I only found out about this last night and she isn't in town again until January 3rd. She did give me her phone number but I don't want to bother her while she's on vacation. My doctor doesn't tell my parents anything unless she checks with me first.

Would your parents be more receptive to the idea if the doctor sat down with them and had a talk about mental illness/meds, etc.? I don't know, might be a bad idea or not, but if you are already resigned to having to stop your meds, could them hearing it from an actual doctor make things worse or not? (Just throwing out ideas.) Sometimes when faced with an actual authority on mental illness, people back off a bit from their prejudices and let the doctors be the experts. Might be worth at least talking to your pdoc about the idea.

[cmlwtcos]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

Would your parents be more receptive to the idea if the doctor sat down with them and had a talk about mental illness/meds, etc.? I don't know, might be a bad idea or not, but if you are already resigned to having to stop your meds, could them hearing it from an actual doctor make things worse or not? (Just throwing out ideas.) Sometimes when faced with an actual authority on mental illness, people back off a bit from their prejudices and let the doctors be the experts. Might be worth at least talking to your pdoc about the idea.

I talked to my doc and all of us are sitting down together day after tomorrow, thank you so much for you suggestion. I do believe that this may be the only way to convince him otherwise.

I hope this works for you. I doubt you parents are the first people you pdoc has encountered resistant to the idea of mental illness. Hopefully this might help the situation. Keep us informed.

[cmlwtcos]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

I hope this works for you. I doubt you parents are the first people you pdoc has encountered resistant to the idea of mental illness. Hopefully this might help the situation. Keep us informed.

My doc said she's seen this with other Indian families so she knew how to talk to my dad about it. He still is resistant to the idea but my mom actually bought my medicine for me off our insurance with cash so my dad wouldn't find out. I'm really thankful for the advice, it helped my mother understand and she's been a lot more kind and mindful about things that usually trigger me as well as no longer just ignoring me

Glad at least your mom is on board now.

[angustios101]

My dad sounds like your dad so maybe this anecdote might help you:

I found out at 25 or so that my father had specifically barred by child&adolescent psychiatrist from prescribing any medication for me from the time I was 14 till 21 years old. That's all water under the bridge now but I often wonder what could have been had I been medicated as a teen? I'm 32 now, about to go on disability, and considering inpatient hospitalization and completely dependent on my parents. Does your father want this outcome for his child?

RE your medication cost: your parents probably have an insurance plan that only covers brand name drugs once you've gone through a generic step period and once they've received documentation from your doctor that the brand is medically necessary. If you don't go through this bureaucratic nonsense you pay out the nose for brand, which it looks like you are doing. You should call your insurance and ask them about your RX benefits when brand is deemed medically necessary. You could also look into RX reduced cost programs run by the Pharma companies. You have to apply though and not all pharmas offer reduced cost drugs.

RE your dad meetin the pdoc: um, in my experience, anytime my dad has met with my pdoc which has been a total of two times over a 17 year period, it has enraged him even more and made him even more set in his ways and anti-mental health. I'm not discouraging you from meeting with the pdoc with your parents eespecially if they have never done so before, but just fyi.

Your parents thinking this is a phase and not taking you seriously is something I totally relate to. I'm sorry you have to go through this, I know where you are coming from. I hope the best for you.