I'm going to lose my meds in 4 days. Please help.

** See the updates and notes throughout for the latest on this. **

This is my Hail Mary…

Hi, I’m Minda, and my brain may not work like yours. And in 4 days, it’s going to get worse because the medication that helps me costs $945 to refill. For one month. More than $2,800 for the three months of meds it would take to meet my deductible.

 

I have Bipolar 2 disorder. Bipolar has no cure... and there are few meds that can manage it. One of them is Latuda—it costs more than $1,300 a month ($945 is after a $400 discount card from the drug company). My insurance won't help until I reach the deductible.

 

At $1,300 a month, Latuda costs more than $15,000 a year without insurance—that’s more than I make in a year for one of my part-time jobs.

 

I’m on other meds that help with anxiety and depression, but it wasn’t until my doctor finally got me to try Latuda last year that I actually felt like myself for the first time in 20 years. I’d met my deductible by then because of two surgeries earlier in the year. Now there's no way I can afford it. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do it, but I’m still paying last year’s medical bills.

 

So I’m asking for help to get me through three months. Enough funds have been raised to cover one month of meds, so I may or may not have to wean myself off of it. At least I do t have to go cold turkey like I thought I’d have to as of Feb. 1.

** Because of the generosity and caring of all of you, I have hope that I’ll be able to stay on the medication and feel like a whole person. The donations are halfway to filling the whole 3 months, after that, the deductible will kick in and the discount should take care of a large amount of what’s left. In 2023, the generic is supposed to be released. **

 

At the start of this—just days ago—I only had 4 doses of my prescription left. Only 4 days until terrible withdrawal began. I work two jobs and have a side business. I’m concerned that with the withdrawal symptoms, I could lose them. On top of that, I'll go back to struggling every day to hold myself together.

 

Just 4 pills. I have applied for financial assistance from the drug company, but I don’t know if it would go through in time––if I get approved.

** I was told by a rep from the drug company that I’m not going to be eligible for help because I have insurance, even though I still can’t afford nearly $1,000 a month. **

 

Withdrawal symptoms:

 

abnormal body movements

agitation

anxiety

diarrhea

dizziness

hallucinations

headache

loss of appetite

muscle pain

nausea

restlessness

sweating

tingling or numbness in hands or feet

tardive dyskinesia

trembling

vomiting

 

I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

 

Thanks for reading this. This is not an easy ask. I hope you or your loved ones never have to be in a position like this regarding your health.

 

My best to you all,

Minda

 

In the photo are my mom, my daughter, and me. I need to be well so they don't have to be consumed with worry about me all the time.