researching medications and uses ... do you always trust the prescriber?

J

Jeni

Senior Member
Last year spouse had a issue and was diagnosed with A-fib ....
He was assigned a cardiologist in hospital .....and saw him a few times sfter discharged.......... the doctor prescribed medication ........ the co-pay for one type of medication was $2000 a month AFTER insurance.
after new year the company he was working for laid people off ....
so now with a new job and new insurance .... had to have a visit to review meds.

The new doctor said that medication was not needed and instead chose one that was $40 a month ... also the other items prescribed were NOT needed.

i know for decades some doctors prescribe specific meds for kickbacks etc... maybe first cardiologist was on that program

but I have a real hard time seeing how that big of difference is warranted on any meds... unless there was a difference in effectiveness

Makes people want to always get a second opinion / or estimates first.
 

Great thread! Yes! The medical and pharmaceutical industries are monsters. Whenever we have health issues we research A LOT, and talk to others before even talking to a Doctor. I have had 15 years of hell over the side effects and the drugs that help the side effects, that help the side effects....Plus, the cost for a drug can vary a $1000! What is that all about?
 
i researched both doctors backgrounds and there was not any real difference to attribute to one being better
i just thought we had come farther then the old cliche of kickbacks and bonus but apparently not....
$1960 per month difference and all i found is the expensive drugs are still in the running upbeat TV ad phases ...

what is hilarious to me is this expensive drug is one of those who need a " booster" or partner drug to get full benefit
so seperate prescription and an extra $400 a month for thr helper drug....
What a crock.
 

"Last year spouse had a issue and was diagnosed with A-fib ....
He was assigned a cardiologist in hospital .....and saw him a few times sfter discharged.......... the doctor prescribed medication ........ the co-pay for one type of medication was $2000 a month AFTER insurance.
after new year the company he was working for laid people off ....
so now with a new job and new insurance .... had to have a visit to review meds."

When the issue is cost, I ask for a generic. Sometimes a generic isn't available for a while, though.

To answer the question, I do trust my doctor; she earned it. I don't trust medications, and she knows it.
I always research before filling a Rx.
 
Murrmurr said:
When the issue is cost, I ask for a generic. Sometimes a generic isn't available for a while, though.

To answer the question, I do trust my doctor; she earned it. I don't trust medications, and she knows it.
I always research before filling a Rx.
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he did ask for an alternative or generic but was told "this" was the best and only option........
He had not seen this doctor except after he was hospitalized .... so no time or interaction for this doctor to earn any trust ......
win231 said:
Medicine is a business. A BIG business.
It's really a shame that intelligent patients have to be constantly thinking about financial motives for how a doctor treats patients & what medications & tests he prescribes.
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I guess from my experience i thought the payoffs/ kickbacks were not a real problem anymore
i usually have providers who lay out all options including homopathic ... and ask about or research what cost is before i leave office...

Hubby found the INSANE co-pay at pharmacy ..... there folks there say "yep Most who are prescribed do NOT buy this"
I was hoping since doctor had good reviews this was not a kickback thing but many things point to that .
 
Jeni said:
he did ask for an alternative or generic but was told "this" was the best and only option........
He had not seen this doctor except after he was hospitalized .... so no time or interaction for this doctor to earn any trust ......

I guess from my experience i thought the payoffs/ kickbacks were not a real problem anymore
i usually have providers who lay out all options including homopathic ... and ask about or research what cost is before i leave office...

Hubby found the INSANE co-pay at pharmacy ..... there folks there say "yep Most who are prescribed do NOT buy this"
I was hoping since doctor had good reviews this was not a kickback thing but many things point to that .
Click to expand...
He should ask for a generic anyway, or the next best affordable medication.

I don't think the problem is kick-backs. They are illegal now.

Doctors don't set the prices of medications.

I'm pretty sure pharmaceutical companies set high prices to off-set losses from insurances and, mainly, state-funded coverage like Medicaid and Medicare that allows people to pay just a few dollars for commonly prescribed meds.
 
Murrmurr said:
I don't think the problem is kick-backs. They are illegal now.
Click to expand...
yeah they have been illegal... but unless caught and they use creative measures......... they Still go on... had some in nearby city that the paybacks were made out to their spouse looking like it was for consulting etc / paid for items/ cars directly....

I know they do not set prices but they do have the ability to have a ball park figure on cost..... hubby thought he was being pranked at pharmacy ....
I simply do not trust or respect anyone just because a Dr. title anymore.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Great thread! Yes! The medical and pharmaceutical industries are monsters. Whenever we have health issues we research A LOT, and talk to others before even talking to a Doctor. I have had 15 years of hell over the side effects and the drugs that help the side effects, that help the side effects....Plus, the cost for a drug can vary a $1000! What is that all about?
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Don’t get me started on side effects! They are an awful thing…. We have to have such self responsibility these days, practically have to diagnose and treat ourselves. Does anyone else’s Dr sit with her nose buried in her laptop the whole 15 minutes @ $277?
 
Barbara971 said:
Don’t get me started on side effects! They are an awful thing…. We have to have such self responsibility these days, practically have to diagnose and treat ourselves. Does anyone else’s Dr sit with her nose buried in her laptop the whole 15 minutes @ $277?
Click to expand...
Yes ... you are not alone ...... electronic charts were suppose to have all info there but they key is did they READ IT ....
i refuse to talk to someones forehead or top of head and will not answer items without eye contact.
 
Quite often doctors don’t have a clue what something costs. I was using a topical liquid that was inexpensive and worked well. Long shelf date too. When it wasn’t available, after asking me, he switched me to a cream that cost 6 times as much and had a short shelf life. I gave up after that.
 
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@Paco Dennis .... we will never address the many issues driving that cost
while the cost can be insane the reality is MOST is caused by the wonderful game of CYA ...... unneeeded tests and procedures for laibility reasons.
Many other countries have set limits on malpractice claims .... that should have been debated and added to ACA.
Here in the USA............ we think nothing is a personal responsibility and a pill can fix all sorts of self inflicted medical issues


The complete lack of patients taking any responsibilty is a issue not even mentioned .......use to be a collaborative effort between doctor/ patient
not assembly line diagnosis and medication.....

I had many instances in my previous city where doctors ... especially OB......... interviewed patients before taking them as patients ...
Some would also ....Quit seeing patients that would NOT follow instructions/ or participate in their healing....
example people did not stay off feet / try to quit smoking or lose weight etc.

i have seen stats that said about 75% of patients are not taking medications as directed / or until gone in cases of antibiotics etc....
 
NO .. I really wish I could trust doctors, but I honestly don't anymore .... at some point back in time I was more willing to listen to what I was told, about drugs and health care in general.

But over time, and some bad medical advice, and wrong diagnosis, I am totally on my own.
 
Bonnie said:
NO .. I really wish I could trust doctors, but I honestly don't anymore .... at some point back in time I was more willing to listen to what I was told, about drugs and health care in general.

But over time, and some bad medical advice, and wrong diagnosis, I am totally on my own.
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Don't trust anyone in any profession. There are sadists and incompetents in every profession. We must use our own judgement in taking drugs and using doctors. We are born alone and die alone. Try to minimize use of doctors and pharmaceuticals.
 
Mitch86 said:
Don't trust anyone in any profession. There are sadists and incompetents in every profession. We must use our own judgement in taking drugs and using doctors. We are born alone and die alone. Try to minimize use of doctors and pharmaceuticals.
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great answer...
i too find so many simply are not trustworthy in any profession
yet so many people say things like " they are a doctor/ teacher / etc" does not matter there is BAD apples in all.
 
Jeni said:
Yes ... you are not alone ...... electronic charts were suppose to have all info there but they key is did they READ IT ....
i refuse to talk to someones forehead or top of head and will not answer items without eye contact.
Click to expand...
I like what you said…”I refuse to talk to someone’s forehead or top of head”. For me, in that tiny exam room, the main sound is her fingers going 200 wpm on the keyboard. From now on, I won’t respond until she looks up. Thanks!👍🏻
 
Thanks @Jeni and others, this is a good educational thread.

So far I have had little need for prescription drugs, currently spending no more than about $100/yr. But I know my time will likely come, this helps me be more ready when it does.

I know the pharma/medical business is huge, and like all businesses they do whatever they can to maximize profits. On the other hand we have a lot of drugs that extend life and make life better as a result. A hard thing to know how to manage...
 
I trust my doc because she’s earned it. I had an old dude for several years, and at some point I realized he was just marking time until he could retire, so I switched. Up to that point I’d always considered that an older doctor would have more wisdom and experience, and also would be more familiar with geriatric complaints, and that would be a benefit. It wasn’t. He was just in a rut.

My sweet young doctor by comparison is energetic and pro active towards my health, as I am myself. She is very complimentary of my efforts to continue to stay off all medications, and actively encourages and partners with me in that effort.

Yeah, she consults with me with her computer in her lap, but it doesn’t bother me because it’s right there when she needs it to research something I’ve said, check on a symptom, answer a question etc. it’s not necessarily a bad thing!

Honestly I think some doctors just don’t take advantage of the internet to avail themselves of the most current information when they’re seeing you, resulting in exorbitantly high prescription costs, an outdated medication or some other oversight that negatively impacts your health.

Too, I think some hide behind their computers. They don’t have to fully confront or interact with their patient that way.

I think it’s important to shop for a physician who is a good fit. I sure did, she was my 3rd after switching from my old dude. Not all doctors are created equal. That “Doctor”title doesn’t imbue them with magic or humanity or even competence, they’re just people with a few years of medical studies behind them. That doesn’t automatically make them competent or compassionate, jist allows them to hang out a shingle legally!
 
I guess I'm the exception since I either trust the doctor or find a new one. I've had 6 PCPs since I retired, and only changed because I moved or changed insurances. I've never had a noticable side effect from any of the drugs I take. I do look up newly perscribed drugs on line as a precaution, but never seen anything that would cause concern. And, like the average American, most of my health issues are self inflicted - poor diet and lack of exercise. (I never met a cookie I didn't like...)

Both of my grandfathers died of heart issues that would have been easily treated today, and would have lived an additional 5 or 10 years or more. At 75, I've already outlived both of them, thanks to modern medicine.
 

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