11 Responses to “Obtain Free or Affordable Medications for Bipolar Disorder”

1. Cameron Van Sant on February 26th, 2009 1:41 pm

   I currently receive free Lamictal from GSK via their Bridges to Access program. It was surprisingly easy, did not require any kind of tax documents or anything, just proof of income. You get your first 60 days of meds from a pharmacy with a voucher for a $10 copay per prescription in a matter of hours, doing only a preliminary application. (The voucher is printed out online with the application, and the “patient advocate” – your prescriber – makes a phone call to GSK to activate it.) During those 60 days you can gather the rest of the information and send it to GSK and they will send 90 days of meds at a time through the mail.
   I’m still titrating up on Lamictal so I have to get extra prescriptions for 25g pills additionally because my prescriber wants me to increase very slowly (& so do I for that matter). I’m in transition between prescribers at the moment but when I see the new doctor I’ll be finding out how complicated it is to work out a dose-increase with their program, but so far it’s been really easy.
   It’s a lot easier to be bipolar and uninsured in the northeast and on the west coast than it is in less liberal states. I live in southern CT. My employer doesn’t offer insurance and I don’t qualify for state benefits, but there are sliding scale clinics and things like that in the area. I’ve been using local clinics for a year and a half. The bureaucracy and waiting lists are frustrating – it might take a few weeks to a few months to get your first appointment – but once you’re in it’s a pretty good thing. Of course, you do have to make sure you get a good practitioner, but that’s the case whether or not you have insurance. You always have the right to ask to see someone else.

2. jen brister on March 3rd, 2009 2:13 pm

   What a great resource! Thanks for the information!

3. Scott on March 6th, 2009 8:09 pm

   I have my doctor fax my prescriptions to Canada. There’s some great online pharmacies that will save you a ton of money on lamictal and other drugs.

4. Steve on April 5th, 2009 5:37 am

   Great tips, but, ummm … I’m from England and I live in Japan (where medication costs a small fortune every month). Any tips for us more international bipolars?

5. Bipolar Chik on April 21st, 2009 9:22 pm

   When I was without health insurance, I was horrified that the doctor referred to the “indigent program.” Surely they could come up with a better name? It was humiliating.

6. Donna on April 30th, 2009 11:09 am

   Recently I was talking to a friend online who with her husband earns too much to qualify for any of the programs, but not enough to pay rent, bills, groceries, etc and afford her meds too. I told her that I heard the cheapest pharmacy in the US is Costco, and no you don’t have to be a member to use their pharmacy. I wasn’t sure it was true, it was just a word of mouth thing from another forum I used to go to. Well she got back to me and said, “OMG! This is cheap! I can afford my meds again!” So that might be an option for your readers who do not qualify for the programs listed. It can’t hurt to check it out anyway.
   http://is.gd/sEHh

7. Pharmacy Affiliate on January 6th, 2010 10:33 am

   Online Pharmacy Affiliate is the best to participate and to earn money. Good to hear about it.

8. Bayscripts Pharmacy on December 19th, 2010 11:39 pm

   Hello, We just wanted to use to forum to see if We can help patients out, We are a licensed retail pharmacy located in tampa, Florida. Our pharmacy checks for assistance program for particular medications and provides the lowest prices on this medication. We accept prescriptions by fax from your Drs. Office and mail it free of charge. For a free quote email us the medication name and quantity and the lowest price you have found and we will give a free Rx Savings quote by email or you can call 8134755906 to get a free quote.

9. Frances on November 2nd, 2011 9:35 am

   I am in Ohio and I have no job and no insurance. I went to the emergency mental health clinic at the University hospital. They gave me a free 14 day perscription of Seroquel 300 which I am out of as of today. They suggested I get a perscription from a doctor i had gone to in the past going forward. I called to check on the price and it is $500 for a 30 day supply.

   Obviously I will not be able to take Seroquel 300. Now I am terrified of the withdrawal. I finally have been able to sleep for the first time in months.

   It is all so frightening.

10. Tammie Holiday on January 5th, 2012 3:34 am

    What about Walmart? Although I’ve never gone to them for BP or SA meds, (got to have a doctor first, lol) I’ve gone to them for other drugs and they’re dirt cheap!

11. Tammie Holiday on January 5th, 2012 3:36 am

    Also check and see I’d there’s an Exodus mental health clinic in your area. They gave me Abilify for free and even told me I qualified to get it @ zero to very low cost.

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