In fact, I am jumping through some hoops currently to get some medication approved.
Pretty lame stuff...it's incredibly ass-backward.
So there is an old pain med called Buprenorphrine that has been used in Europe and Canada far more than the US for some reason.
It originally became available as Suboxone which also contained the drug Naloxone or "Narcan" which reverses most full-agonist opioids like Morphine and the like, but will still allow the partial-agonists like Buprenorphrine to bind the the pain receptors and work.
It was created to help addicts get off opioids and had very strict prescribing protocol.
A lot of pain doctors, including my own, prescribed this medication to me as it also is a very good pain med with long efficacy since it's only a partial-agonist it allows those receptors to still remain functional with less long term loss of receptor site efficacy.
Anyhow...the insurance companies put a stop to the "off label" use for pain and refused to pay leaving many people up shit creek - my own insurance company even went so far as to state "they would drop anyone from the insurance even if they were paying out of pocket."
W T F
Long story short...
I'm on other meds for pain now, but the docs are pushing for patients to try and switch some or all of their meds to the Buprenorphrine (aka Belbuca), which is a repackaged version of the same drug who's generic is available everywhere else but here - we only have "access" (because you don't if can't afford it) to the name brand version they've released to now gouge the group of people they got addicted to opioids in the first place!
But this is all part of the huge "opioid epidemic" the crackdown of which is gone about all wrong...chronic patients are suffering...and I would bet even more people have turned to street drugs now that many doctors withdrew their pain meds for legit pain patients because they didn't want the extra paperwork and the liability.
So...this is the new drug they have been pushing as an "alternative" to the other pain meds.
It's just as addictive as anything else out there IMHO.
It DID actually work well for my pain, that is why I was even attempting to try it.
My doctor gives me a "prescription assistance" card from the drug maker for the med....but it states very plainly that it does not cover anyone on Medicare.
So after a week of waiting to see if this med is approved to even get a price quote on and see if it's financially even viable to attempt to try this medication - it's denied.
Not because it's too expensive...lol...but get this - but because in their records I have not tried one or more of the following:
- Fentanyl Patch (Yes I have)
- Methadone (Yes I have)
- Long acting Tramadol (Yes I have)
But seriously?!
A fucking Fentanyl patch!!
Methadone!!!?
Are they insane?
What is the entire point of putting people on this "new" (not new) medication, if it's denied and too expensive for the average person to afford?
It's supposed to get people OFF the medications they are specifically suggesting I take.
UGH!
Sheer insanity.
Anyhow...even if I get them to approve it, it will most likely still not be affordable to me as a formulary brand name drug with no generic (even though they make the generic version here at US companies, they go elsewhere in the world).
I'm very sorry that you have had your own difficulties with medications!
It's a fight sometimes for sure.
As far as psych meds go...I have just never found one that has ever helped me in a noticeable way without very noticeable negative side effects.
"No, not being able to sleep because the meds have me so anxious I want to tear off my skin is super!"
Never again...nope...nope...nope....at least not for me.
Maybe they are of some legit help to some folks...I'm not saying there isn't a benefit for some - just none for me.
And back to what we were talking about regarding my Mom being depressed while I was gestating and then after I was born, I'm pretty sure this had a lot to do with it...combined with being an INFJ and having those overwhelming feels at a young age, then combined with the night terrors/OOBEs and paranormal stuff and I believe I was a very mentally stressed child...I was just unable to tell anyone why I felt like that...mostly because I didn't know why myself.
As far as I could tell - I was not normal or like anyone else or even my brother.
This quickly turned into self-hate.
I didn't view it as something unique or special...I just felt very alone in the world in spite of family support.
As for the near cardiac arrest(s), I sort of feel like I was offered an out maybe?
I very clearly thought to myself at the time "Just because I'm fascinated by near death experiences doesn't mean I want one thank you!"
Lol
Besides that, all my attention and thoughts were of my loved ones...
There was nothing else but them.
No possession was on my mind...no "thing" I dreamed about.
Only them...in the end, it's only them...to me, that's very important to always remember.
So yes, I agree...there are other alternative treatments that are viable out there.
Western medicine looks more and more like expensive poison to me every day.
Still, there are medications I rely on so I can function in a basic sense sometimes.
I wish I could just eliminate them from my life completely, but I don't think that's in my cards.
Then there are other natural medications that these situations had me in desperation seeking out - and though they are no cure all, they have made a giant difference in my life and how I interact and view the world.
We shall see.
Much love to you and I hope you are doing well currently!
Congratulations!!!
