No prescription insurance and Effexor XR??

Does anyone take Effexor XR and have to pay cash for it?

Hi.  I don't take Effexor, but I wanted to remind you that you can ask your family Dr. for samples if it's too expensive.  If you don't ask for it, someone else will.  Might as well be you that gets them.

Lisa

hi there
I just wanted to add here, that although I currently have a drug plan that I can very thankful for, there was a time when I was working for a company as a contract worker and with being a contract worker comes no benefits at all. In this situation I was crying in my Dr's office and told him the situation that I could no longer pay for my meds that I needed........effexor xr.....and he told me it was all ok. He gave me months and months worth of samples of effexor xr, as well as my birth control pill. He told me he would rather give me any samples that I needed then to see me sick and  possibley do something silly. I said I could always come there for meds when ever I needed them and for a couple years I had no choice. I didn't have the $300 to cover the script cost.
One thing that I would tell you to do, is to just get what you need. or can afford rather. If all you can afford is a weeks worth at one time, tell the pharmasist and just get a weeks worth.  You are not required to take a set amount at any one time. make it easier on yourself. do what you can with that you have.
talk to your Dr and if all else fails speak to the pharmasist to tell them about your situation. I am sure either one will be happy to help you.
Let me know how this works out for you!!!
take care Jackie

You can probably get samples from your doctor.  Also, the company that makes Effexor has a program where they give free drugs to people with low incomes.  I got free Effexor for them for a few months a few years ago.

Kelly

Thank you for all your advice!

I do have prescription insurance, I was just wondering if anyone else didn't and took this expensive drug.

 

I would just like to take this moment to remind you that XR meds do not work as they normally would in us RNYers.. so do not forget to remind your doc to switch ya so you get the full benefits from the med. They pass through us before being fully absorbes as XR meds are supposed to-- so.. just a little something to think about.
Have a good one!

I took Effexor XR for over 8 years...and thanks to RNY not absorbing it as well, I was able to wean myself off this stuff!

I have been Effexor XR free for two months now!

It did it's jobs, but the side effects if I missed a dose were killers. 

Brain zaps
Nausea
Vertigo...

and on and on.

I am SO happy to be off this stuff! 

Christina,

  If the effexor doesn't get absorbed well, didn't you still have terrible withdrawl symptoms from it?

I know you mentioned a couple of things like 'brain zaps'
If you missed a dose and felt this way,... how did you wean yourself off it?

I take effexor xr,  and like you said 'if you missed a dose, the effects were killers.'

I would love to stop taking it, but can't stand the sensory withdrawl feelings?

Do you have any advice to help me?
                                                                 Thanks, Susie

I just got weaned off Effexor a couple of months ago. The doctor had to write for taper doses because I would get such bad brain blips that it was absolutly intolerable. I was taking a large dose... I was at 150mg (2 pills) dropped down to one pill (75mg) for 2 weeks. Then moved on to a 37.5mg pill for a week and then did every other day and then every 2 days until I stopped having the headaches. Ever since I've stopped taking Effexor, I feel great!! The medicine works great when you need it, but getting off the med is a real pain. Literally.

Hope that helps :0)

I have taken Effexor XR for a number of years.  I have drug coverage now - but previously when I was self-employed it ran about $90 per month.  I am Canadian - so not sure if your drug costs are substantially different.

p.s. I haven't had any  ugly side-effects from Effexor.  I took Paxil previously for about 7 years and that was a horrible one to get off of!!