Samples of Vytorin were given to lower cholesterol. Blood test showed cholesterol is normal now. Vytorin is..

Question

a brand name medication, and copays are high, so asked doctor for a generic med to lower cholesterol since no generic available for Vytorin. Pharmacy says there are some at certain pharmacies as cheap as $4.00 copay/month! Doctor says, "Vytorin is working fine. Either take it or go see a cholesterol specialist" rather than write a generic script to see if it would work as well as Vytorin, even though a specialist wasn't consulted before receiving samples of Vytorin to begin with. Is this doctor being bull-headed about insisting on a brand name medication? Is there any reason "why" he couldn't give a generic script and have the blood retested in two months to see if the results are similar?

Our copay for name brand is $50 per month!

Answer 1

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/vytorin.htm this class of medication were shown to be effective but with high toxic side effect so statin alone would be good nearly similar statin as in vytorin is zocor contain simvastatin so take the generic about why the doctor insist since this is new drug and the manufacturing company press on doctor to write and try propaganda and hidden business so take my advice never to be the first user as experimental rats and never to wait to be last user be intermediate wait and see first

Answer 2

Yes, you could always try a different statin, but Vytorin is not just a statin but is combined with a compound that works on fat (cholesterol distribution mechanisms) in the intestines where the combined effect of this Zetia with Zocor promotes a more aggresive Cholesterol Reduction.
Your choice. Since your cholesterol is normal now, why change?

Answer 3

Have you tried any other medications before Vytorin? If that's his first try, I can't imagine he would have a problem trying something else. Try talking to your pharmacist, sometimes they have a good working relationship with offices and perhaps more likely to get a positive reply from Doctor.

Vytorin is a combination product of Zocor (which DOES have a generic) and Zetia (which does not). I don't know that this would save you any money if you need both, but generic Zocor (Simvastatin) alone might do the trick. If doctor absolutely refuses to help you out and at least try anything else, I'd look into seeing a doctor who will.

Answer 4

All of your respondents have certainly answered your question. However, please understand that the purpose of insurance companies is not really to keep you healthy, but to make money. Ours is a profit driven industry. Drug companies have the job to sell you drugs, and as well, make a profit. The bigger the profit, the happier are the shareholders of Merck, Pfizer, Humana, and all the HMO's and the rest of them...As an example Merck knew full well what Vioxx would do. But to get that med out there, at $3 a pop?????.... it was proven in dogs... you know the rest.

Interestingly, there was a small study I read about two years ago, matching statin meds with steel cut oats as oatmeal for breakfast. By simply changing your diet to include one serving of steel cut oats, every morning, every person using this lowered their "bad" cholesterol by 30 points in 6 weeks. Steel cut oats, is also called Scottish Oats available at Trader Joe's, and about any health food section of most stores, and for sure in any Health Food store.
As a note, mine dropped 36 points. My doc dropped his jaw!!!! As well, added more spinach in salads, cut the stuff made with white flour, white wheat... (Sorta the old adage, "if it is a commercial product, don't eat it very often).
I really don't like oatmeal, but for two minutes out of my day???? I can do it. You can too. I don't have to take a statin, and my good and bad ch. levels are perfect.

Answer 5

Why not avoid this dangerous class of drugs completely and maintain your normal cholesterol level through consumption of a proper diet?

Best wishes and good luck.