You’d think I, of all people, would know this one way or another, but I haven’t heard anything consistent about it.
I’m guessing that, in many cases, telling them that it costs $10,000 a month and it’s for a disease that they do not have shuts them up really fast.
It doesn’t cost them $10,000; they only pay the cost of the copay–and often there are manufacturer coupons which will cover most or all of this copay.
The only time I asked for an advertised drug the doctor asked where I went to medical school.
Turns out he was right.
Exactly the big cost of those fancy drugs turn many people back…Lots of insurances don’t cover them at all.
I imagine MD’s must love the Brandexx* commercials that end with
“Ask your Doctor if YOU can need Brandexx!”
It might, if the deductible hasn’t been met and the patient isn’t eligible for a manufacturer coupon.
Not yet.
Mr. Legend’s on a cancer drug that supposedly retails for $14,000, and they’ve sent it to him for free for almost three years. That is, they were - we got a letter that said he no longer qualified for the program and they needed documentation of income. We’re wending our way through the re-approval process now, but I’m not all that stressed just because I can’t believe there’s any way they actually get any significant numbers of people to pay that out of pocket. We are what I consider to be pretty well-off, but we don’t have “increase your budget by $168,000 next year” money.
And no, he didn’t ask for it by name. I can’t imagine suggesting a drug to the oncologist instead of the other way around.
IANARD, but I have, and I discussed it with my doctor-me being the patient of course.
Anytime they casually mention DEATH or something nearly as horrible as a possible side effect, I cross it off my list of drugs to ask about. I’m at zero.
They all have seemingly horrid side effects listed. Even the non-existent “Brandexx” has them listed, I bet 
There’s not a drug on earth that doesn’t have death as a potential side effect.
We all know that misuse of dihydrogen monoxide can even cause death.
The diseases that advertised drugs treat have some pretty dreadful symptoms.
Used to be, advertised drugs were for things like high cholesterol or allergies.
When it comes to purchases, I have 2 rules. As yet, I have never considered using any drug advertised on TV nor do I ever buy anything from anyone who knocks on my front door.
I’ll listen to my doctor on medical issues and make personal decisions on almost everything else.
Here’s some good medical advice from a comedian :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px_6ta4bMw8&t=1s
–.
–.
(Ismo is a standup comic from Finland. His English is fluent, but his delivery is a bit odd, which actually makes him funnier. He has lots of clips on youtube, and they are all good.)
I had my annual physical a couple of weeks ago, doctor I have been seeing most of my adult life (and his, we’ve gone from young professionals to near retirement together).
Two years ago he was discouraged by the idiots who refused to get vaccinated. He had lost quite a few patients to COVID.
This time he was complaining about all his overweight patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes are not concerned about dieting because of the Ozempic Effect. If they have “good” insurance (usually means Union or Government employment) they are demanding that they go on a GLP-1.
CVS’s third quarter earnings have listed as the first cause of higher sales “pharmacy drug mix”. This is the impact of Ozempic and other drugs used off-label for weight loss.
Just anecdotally I know several people who have struggled with their weight for decades who have all lost 20-40 pounds in the last year.
I know twenty five years ago people were demanding cholesterol reducing drugs, rather than controlling it with diet and exercise.
Slightly off-topic, but there’s good evidence that very few people stay on Ozempic / GLP-1s for long. They try it, they lose some weight, then they lose interest or the side effects are troubleseome, and they get off it.
It’s not clear what if any rebound effect there will be on weight. But non-expert me predicts a lot of yo-yo Ozempic-ing to go along with yo-yo dieting.
They must. When my doctor said I needed another colonoscopy, he said I could not use Colace.
He brought it up, not me, and I can only conclude that patients ask him about it pretty regularly.
ISWYDT.
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Time to mention that the US and New Zealand are the only two countries allowing direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. So, non-US dopers may be wondering about this discussion.
I am sure there are enough people persuaded to “ask their doctor” about some drug they saw a commercial for that had a cheery and energetic song (Skyrizi and Jardience come to mind), even if they dont have the condition the drug is supposed to treat. But, even if the doctor tries to acquiesce to the request, the patient’s insurance will likely require them try a less-costly generic or alternative first anyway (the doctor doesn’t have complete control). The ads never mention “ask your health insurance provider if they cover this drug.”