Delda,
Do you have access to the World Wide Web through AOL? If so, there is
a site which might be of interest to you. On another "disease" listserv
which I monitor, I learned about a Web site called "needymeds"
(http://www.needymeds.com). I haven't seen this information posted here in
response to your query, but since I subscribe to this list in digest
form, I don't see all responses right away. Apologies if this is a
duplication.
Most pharmaceutical companies have "access to care" or "patient
assistance" programs which provide medication at low cost or free
for those patients who qualify. The Needymeds site gathers together
information about hundreds of drugs which are available through such
programs. Each program has its own rules and regulations and differs
in terms of eligibility requirements, amount of medication provided,
renewability, cost, etc.
All the information is available at the web site for no charge. I've
provided specific addresses below for the medications you listed.
Eldepryl http://www.needymeds.com/Somerset.html
Mirapex http://www.needymeds.com/Pharmacia.html
Parlodel http://www.needymeds.com/Novartis.html
Remeron http://www.needymeds.com/Organon.html
In the case of Lithium you didn't give a brand name, so I assume you're
using a generic. I found forms of Lithium Carbonate listed from two
different manufacturers. Note that some of the programs require you to
already be taking the brand name drug in order to qualify.
Lithium http://www.needymeds.com/Solvay.html (for LITHOBID, LITHONATE or
LITHOTABS)
http://www.needymeds.com/Smithkline.html (for Eskalith or
Eskalith CR)
By the way, for anyone else who may be interested, the page covering
Sinemet is as follows.
Sinemet, Symmetrel http://www.needymeds.com/Dupont.html
If you don't have Web access, they also have compiled all the information
on the Web site into a printed manual, which they sell. According to the
information at http://www.needymeds.com/Manual.html, the introductory
price for the manual is $79.95 and includes a year's worth of updates.
DISCLAIMER: I have no connection whatsoever with the folks who put up the
Needymeds site. I have not verified any of the information on the site,
and I don't stand to make any money if anyone buys the manual. In fact,
they recommend the printed manual for "professionals" which I assume to be
medical and social service personnel who might want the information in a
handier form.
PERSONAL NOTE: I've been a subscriber to this list since April of 1997.
I monitor the list on behalf of my father-in-law, who has had PD for about
12 years. I do not have PD myself. This is my first contribution to the
list.
--Richard Entlich
[log in to unmask]
>When my husband was diagnosed with PD 2 years ago, he switched his insurance
>from Medicare to Secure Horizons because with it he could (with a premium of
>about $75/month) have unlimited drug coverage. Secure Horizons and the other
>3 similar plans in our state (Mass.) have dropped the coverage. They now
>offer $600/year for drugs, which as many of you know, is precious little,
>given PD.
>
>Bob takes Eldepryl (2 x day), Parlodel (5mg. 3x day), and Mirapex (3x day).
>Our income is very, very low, so paying a lot for so-called medi-gap insurance
>is out of the question. Bob also takes lithium for manic-depression and
>remeron for insomnia.
>
>Perhaps with the $600/year plus the $75/month savings, we'll be o.k. But in
>case we're not, does anyone have any suggestions? Secure Horizons wants us to
>use their mail-order plan, but we've had so much trouble with them, we don't
>want to patronize them or their mail-order outfit.
>
>Thanks. Delda White CG Bob 66/2
