So it is great news that there is finally a generic medication for asthma that is much less expensive. The medication is a generic version of a recently approved brand name drug called AirDuo RespiClick. Both the generic and the brand name versions are made by Teva Pharmaceuticals. The company released them at the same time to make more affordable treatment available in the United States.
Both medications are similar to Advair, Symbicort, Dulera and Breo. And even if patients do not have to pay the full price, they may still save money.
By law, generic drugs must contain the same active ingredients as the brand name medicine. They must also work in the same way. However, in most cases the generic is much less expensive. Bandi sells them the medication at-cost. Other forms of charity also fill some access gaps. Nonprofits including the PAN Foundation , the HealthWell Foundation and the Patient Advocate Foundation , offer medication assistance funding for certain asthmatics, but most of these funds are not taking new applicants.
Community health centers are another avenue for the under- and uninsured to get their prescriptions filled. A federal program known as B allows these clinics to buy and distribute deeply discounted drugs, said Angie Kent-Mitchell, pharmacy director at the Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, which serves Hertford and the surrounding counties.
Depending on income and insurance, patients may receive additional financial help. The goal, Kent-Mitchell said, is to make sure every patient walks away with a drug that treats their condition and works for them financially. We go ahead and advocate for them on the front end. In North Carolina, low-income people without health insurance can also get some medications for free through NC MedAssist , a nonprofit pharmacy that serves an average of 18, patients a year.
There is one more hope for patients who need expensive inhalers. Many of the patents that make asthma medications so expensive are slated to expire over the next few years.
Some already have. In , the FDA approved generics for three rescue inhalers and one for the long-acting inhaler Advair, cutting the cost of these medications significantly. But not all long-acting inhalers are alike. Neither would her finances.
Republish This Story. More by Liora Engel-Smith. Skip to content Read our Coronavirus Coverage Here. Angie Kent-Mitchell, who oversees the pharmacies at Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center in Ahoskie, helps low-income patients with expensive prescriptions. The sample gives patients just enough time to work out pricing issues without feeling pressured to spend money. Neither of them assist in paying for my enhaler. Because the lobbyist, lobby against enhalers, there ruining the planet and the O Zone.
In the mean time the majority of us get screwed. Albuterol is a medication used to treat wheezing and other breathing difficulties among people with chronic lung conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The drug can also be used to prevent shortness of breath and wheezing during exercise. The generic drug is known as Salbutamol. Typical costs:. The cost varies depending upon the dosage and brand of medication. A refill will include both the albuterol and the inhaler device, so the cost will be the same as the original prescription. Physicians will prescribe albuterol treatments through a nebulizer machine for some patients, including children under age four and those with severe asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Some hospitals, urgent care clinics and pharmacies will allow patients to rent a nebulizer. Cost for rental will vary. Department of Health and Human Services. Patients with insurance will pay typical copays and coinsurance rates. Related articles: Allergy Testing , Allergy Shots. Each prescription will include an inhaler, which is a plastic device that propels the medication down into the lungs.
Most inhalers include about metered doses. The University of Illinois provides information on proper inhaler use[ 1 ]. Some prescriptions require that a nebulizer be used. Nebulizers are machines that mix air with the medication, creating a fine mist that is easily breathed deep into the lungs. Nebulizers often come with a mask or mouthpiece, a cup to hold the medication and tubing through which the air flows. Treatments with a nebulizer can take between 5 and 15 minutes, depending upon the medication and the dose.
Nebulizer solutions should include a dosage tool to determine how much medication to place in the nebulizer cup. In , pharmaceutical companies were required to switch from inhalers using a chemical called chloroflourocarbon as a propellant to a more environmentally friendly propellant called hydrofluoroalkane.
Inhalers using the new propellant may taste different and the spray of medication may not seem as strong. This is normal and does not mean that less medication is dispensed. Additional costs:. A peak flow meter, which measures how fast a patient can push air out of their lungs, is often needed to determine the appropriate albuterol dose.
Most physicians recommend that patients take their peak flow before each use of the medication. If a physician recommends that the patient use a peak flow meter prior to each dose, the device should be purchased before any medication is taken.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America[ 2 ] can provide assistance for people having difficulty affording their albuterol inhalers and nebulizers.
Prescription assistance for low-income individuals and families may also be available at your local health department. National prescription assistance programs for low-income families include the Partnership for Prescription Assistance[ 3 ] and the Together RX Access Program. These programs will require that patients prove their income.
Participation requirements vary. For patients over age 55, the National Council on Aging provides a program called Benefits Checkup[ 4 ] to help people find the services they need, including prescription drug coverage.
Shopping for an albuterol inhaler:. Patients or guardians of patients with chronic respiratory illnesses should begin by consulting their physician regarding treatment options.
Albuterol is a medication commonly prescribed to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. It is not usually necessary to see a specialist. If a visit to a specialist is necessary, ask the patient's primary care physician for a referral. Make sure that the prescribing physician knows about any other medications the patient might be taking or any drug allergies. Also be sure to tell the doctor if the patient is pregnant. These factors may make the physician consider another form of treatment.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures. Comments CostHelper News.
Periodic exercise can extend the usable life of many items. Posted October 14 Posted November 19 Was this post helpful to you? Report prohibited or spam. Sorry America. Albuterol Inhaler RIP off. Albuterol HFA.
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