Drug reps come in

[birdmom]

I was at the doctor recently and the medicine that I was on wasn't effective, so he gave me a sample pack of something else to try. That drug currently has no generic, and it worked wonderfully for me (figures!)

When drug reps take samples to doctors, are the doctors compensated somehow by the drug companies for "pushing" that particular drug to patients? Just curious.

[justjen]

No.

Not a rep, but my husband is.

[boiler717]

I'm not a rep, but I work in medical affairs for a pharma company. Docs are not compensated for using samples, copay cards, etc.

[birdmom]

So he really had no incentive to try that particular drug on me other than he had the samples and he thought that it might help?

[justjen]

Nov 26, 2012 10:49:12 GMT -5 birdmom said:

So he really had no incentive to try that particular drug on me other than he had the samples and he thought that it might help?

Correct.

[raangoli]

It would be unethical of the drug company to try to coerce the doctor into prescribing their drug over a competitors'. There have been situations in the past where this might have occurred, but stiff fines and penalties were levied against the drug companies by the government. There are strict policies against offering any sort of compensation to doctors.

[MixedBerryJam]

Don't doctors get in trouble nowadays if they accept incentives from drug reps? I thought that was a thing now, which is why drug co's don't send doctors to the Bahamas now, or even take them to lunch anymore.

[vtdiamond]

Nov 26, 2012 10:56:24 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Don't doctors get in trouble nowadays if they accept incentives from drug reps? I thought that was a thing now, which is why drug co's don't send doctors to the Bahamas now, or even take them to lunch anymore.

Not, a drug rep but work in healthcare. Many universities and hospitals now have policies against drug companies offering such perks as vacations, lunches, etc due to the potential for coersion. I have worked for a hospital that did not allow doctors to accept drug samples from reps at all to give to patients.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I think it used to be more like you're thinking -- that certain drug companies would give doctors gifts and things, so the doctors might have been more inclined tonrecommend a particular drug. But, based on a lengthy conversation I had with DD's pediatrician, these days they can't even drop off food to a doctor's office. I've gotten samples for DD's from her ped, and he is always very clear about why he's giving it. Usually it will work slightly better/faster than the cheaper alternative -- not enough to pay out of pocket if it's not covered by insurance, but since it's free he says why not use it.

[birdmom]

Next question - copay cards. He gave me one with the sample, but I didn't really look at it. I was expecting that I'd just pay the $40 copay for the brand name. What are those all about?

(Sorry about my ignorance on this subject. I rarely have to take medicine and am healthy, so I don't have to deal with these things too often).

[casmgn]

Not a rep, but I would imagine the co-pay card is a promotional coupon the company is offering to pay the co-pay for your first prescription or something.

[mudslide]

Nov 26, 2012 11:52:53 GMT -5 birdmom said:

Next question - copay cards. He gave me one with the sample, but I didn't really look at it. I was expecting that I'd just pay the $40 copay for the brand name. What are those all about?

(Sorry about my ignorance on this subject. I rarely have to take medicine and am healthy, so I don't have to deal with these things too often).

In a word--awesome!! Some of them pay your entire portion others pay for most of them. The card should say on it how much it covers.

[birdmom]

Nov 26, 2012 14:29:58 GMT -5 mudslide said:

Nov 26, 2012 11:52:53 GMT -5 birdmom said:

Next question - copay cards. He gave me one with the sample, but I didn't really look at it. I was expecting that I'd just pay the $40 copay for the brand name. What are those all about?

(Sorry about my ignorance on this subject. I rarely have to take medicine and am healthy, so I don't have to deal with these things too often).

In a word--awesome!! Some of them pay your entire portion others pay for most of them. The card should say on it how much it covers.

So if my brand name copay is $40, and the card says it pays $50, I don't have to pay for it? (I don't remember exactly what it says, but I remember it saying something about "up to $50).

[mudslide]

Nov 26, 2012 14:41:27 GMT -5 birdmom said:

Nov 26, 2012 14:29:58 GMT -5 mudslide said:

In a word--awesome!! Some of them pay your entire portion others pay for most of them. The card should say on it how much it covers.

So if my brand name copay is $40, and the card says it pays $50, I don't have to pay for it? (I don't remember exactly what it says, but I remember it saying something about "up to $50).

Yup!!

[birdmom]

Nov 26, 2012 16:01:09 GMT -5 mudslide said:

Nov 26, 2012 14:41:27 GMT -5 birdmom said:

So if my brand name copay is $40, and the card says it pays $50, I don't have to pay for it? (I don't remember exactly what it says, but I remember it saying something about "up to $50).

Yup!!

No freaking way! That just made my day!

[mudslide]

Nov 26, 2012 16:06:51 GMT -5 birdmom said:

Nov 26, 2012 16:01:09 GMT -5 mudslide said:

Yup!!

No freaking way! That just made my day!

Oh and I'm not a drug rep. I've just these cards before. Love them!

[birdmom]

I've never had to take a medication long term before that only had a brand name and nothing else worked for me. I was going to hate to have to pay $40 every month when most things I've taken all have a generic. So I guess at least for a few months I'll get it for free.

Thanks for schooling me on that! I had pretty much figured that the card had no value to me.

[Deleted]

I miss my pens.

[bronxgirl]

Nov 26, 2012 16:56:08 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

I miss my pens.

For many years I didn't have to buy pens or note pads b/c i got them all for free from drug reps. Risperdal used to give bags of microwave popcorn, but they alwat\ys got burned much more than regular brands.

[Deleted]

Bronxgirl: best coffee cup, EVER!

[GailGoldie]

since 2001 when the PHrma guidelines went into effect, it limited what can be given to doctors in a huge way... back before that docs did often play golf, go to broadway shows, expensive dinners, etc - not as compensation for Rxing, but more of an incentive, etc.... I started in 2002 thankfully and never did any of that.

A few years back they changed the rules again and we can't give ANYTHING that isn't educational, and has a very limited $ value. No pens, pads, etc- nothing, but the occasional text book (which they track to make sure no one doc is getting more than one/year), patient literature, etc.

the copay cards are great- will save you a lot of money. Some are good for many months, some limited months, etc. the drugs i sell have them, good for all refills - and take a certain amount off the cost of the copay - so yes, if your copay is less than what the card will take off- your rx = free.

glad you found something that works!

It's like electronics... often drugs in the same class have the same mechanism of action- but a newer one will often work much better, or with less side effects... b/c they improve on things with time, etc. So an iPhone from 5 years ago isn't as good as what you can get now, etc. Or, like one doc explained to me before... a casset player and an iPod both play music- but one does it a LOT better b/c of more science, etc.

[birdmom]

I am thrilled because DS is almost 2, and I finally found something to help with my PPD (Viibryd). I am starting to feel like myself, and it is such a relief.