It’s been over a year since Rita was diagnosed with glaucoma and had already gone blind. We have to use two different drops. In the right eye, I use the drops about once every 5 days. I watch the pupil and when it gets larger than a pencil eraser or the eye starts looking cloudy, I use the drops. The vet tells me that when the pressure gets too low, that’s as painful as when the pressure is too high.
The left eye . . I have no idea if I’m keeping it near the right pressure. The last three times I’ve been to the vet (once a month in Abilene), the left eye pressure has been way too high. The vet starts talking about removing her eyes, I start crying, she pats me on the arm and says “We’ll talk about next time!” Next time is August 30. I really feel like the best thing to do for her and for us, is to remove her eyes but the tears come bolting down my cheeks and my tummy starts turning flips every time I think about it. I think I’ve made up my mind that it is the best thing to do but then my heart says no. It’s a struggle . . every hour of every day!
I have to put the drops in her left eye 5 or 6 times a day and if we’re gone, I know that eye starts to hurt her.
We started out ordering one of the drops, Dorzolamide HCL, because it was about 1/4 the price of getting them at the vet. Then the mail order supply (some vet supply) couldn’t get them. We kept plenty on hand so that if sometime they were out, we’d be fine but they were out for months so we had to check around locally and the United pharmacy had the lowest price so Vince got them there.
Latanoprost, the second drop, cost less at the local pharmacy than it did at the vet. We checked around at Walgreen’s, with the Good RX coupon, we got three bottles for $33. For a year now it’s been that price. Today we went in and it was $93. We said “WHAT? You have our Good RX member number on file. It should be around $33.” Nope, that is with the coupon. There’s been a price increase. I got online and found that it was about $14 per bottle, at CVS, making it about $42 for three. HEB was the least, then Target, then CVS. We don’t have HEB or Target. Vince said “Let’s go see Josh at United and see what his price is.” We like Josh a lot. In fact, I think he was United’s (for all their stores) pharmacy of the year. We’re very lucky to have him here.
Anyway, we went in, Vince told him what Walgreen’s was wanting. He said “No! I think it’s less than $12 a bottle!” Yep . . 3 bottles for $27. And Walgreen’s was charging $93.
When we showed the lady that we could get it at CVS for $14, we asked if they could meet the price and she said no, that’s our price. Amazing!
Linda in NE says
It’ll be Walgreen’s loss. People will shop around just like you did and buy where they get the best deal.
Carolyn says
that is amazing! as hard as it is to remove her eyes, if she can’t see anyway……. I think I would seriously think about doing it. I know it is a hard decision to make. Glad I don’t have to.
Liz says
A while back, I had a red, hot, swollen, hard spot on my leg. I called it in to my doctor and they wanted an ultrasound ASAP since I had a blood clot years earlier. It was mid afternoon and the dr’s office called around, as did I, looking for an opening for that day. The local hospital even said that they couldn’t do the test!
I found one office that would do the test, since I asked what the insurance price was and I said I would pay that in cash, no filing necessary. The doctor waited for me to come for the scan. It was just an insect bite, no clot. But, I learned the value of calling around and asking for the cash price, in instead of insurance filing.
Cheryl Budnaitis says
My mom’s cat had glaucoma in one eye – removing the eye made a huge difference in his comfort level. She didn’t realize he was in so much pain until the eye was removed and he bounced back so well. The vet stitches the lids together that you hardly noticed it was gone. Good luck with your dog – it is a hard decision to make.
Nelle Coursey says
So glad I don’t have to make that decision. I know she must be in pain but like you said, it is very hard for us to think about this! I can believe the price has gone up! The pharmaceutical companies are ripping us all off! Just because they can get the price, they do it! It makes me so mad when I see pills that cost less than a penny to make being sold for $1-$5 per pill!! Or even more!!
Pat Anderson says
There is just no rhyme or reason with prescriptions these days. Wait until you have to deal with Medicare. My husband has Type I and Type II diabetes and also takes some expensive meds because he has had two heart attacks and has 3 stents (heart attack one was 21 years ago). Well, his endocrynologist has given up on getting Medicare to pay for his testing strips for his diabetes because it is always a no. We do have really good secondary insurance, but we can’t get it to the secondary insurance unless Medicare lets it go through. So, he is going to try to have our GP write the Rx. That’s the small problem. The big problem is that we were in a bad car accident on April 1, 2016 and now they want to charge everything to the car accident–even his heart meds! He has been trying to get this straightened out for about 3 months and he is so frustrated and angry. There is a number to call on the refusal letter and he actually was told after asking for the supervisor that he needs to call someone else. These calls take a lot of time and patience. I think they hope you will just give up and pay the bill. Sadly, I’m sure there are people who do that. I’m hoping he doesn’t have another heart attack dealing with Medicare!
Susan says
I’ve gone to Walgreen’s since I was a child, but it cost me more for their little discount card than the small local drug store I go to charges for my medicine! I don’t shop there any more. I’m sad about it, but that’s how it is. I’m so glad Josh was able to get what you needed at even less than the cost at Walgreen’s previously.
teresamnj says
Poor little Rita. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you to make a decision like that. Hugs & prayers for you & Vince. What wonderful puppy parents you are! Walgreens should be ashamed of themselves!
Rosalie says
I needed a bottle of mineral oil a few weeks ago and bought it at Walgreens for $6.50 and thought it was outrageous. Checked H-E-B and WalMart apps and it was $1.98- needless to say I returned the bottle to Walgreens..