Costa Rica Expat Forum

lisa015
Joined 2019
Posts: 1

5 years ago

Uncommon medication accessibility

5 years ago

Hi! My basic question is, are ALL the medications I take in the US available in Costa Rica?

I have a constellation of autoimmune and neurological diseases and symptoms including lupus, Sjögren’s, small fiber neuropathy (same thing as diabetic neuropathy, but mine is caused by Sjögren’s, not diabetes), and narcolepsy.

Sounds like I’m on my last legs, but I’m not an invalid. I’ve had lupus for over 27 years and for the first 20, you wouldn’t have known it. In 2012, my health started to decline and I’ve been unable to work since late 2015.

I’m fortunate that no major organs have been severely damaged and none under heavy attack now, that I stashed away a lot of money in retirement funds and other investments all the years I was working as an engineer, and my disability benefit is substantial.

However, to be able to function for at least part of everyday, I take several medications that are not used commonly, and/or are quite expensive. The most difficult and expensive one is Nucynta. I’ve had allergic reactions, or severe debilitating side effects, to every other narcotic pain medication (and trust me, I went as long as possible to avoid taking controlled meds). It is relatively new with no generic available. I’ve been on the same dose for four years, and not a single medical professional has questioned my need for it, but among Obamacare, insurance companies that don’t like the cost, and the laws that supposedly address the “opioid epidemic,” the hoops I have to jump through to get what I need occasionally result in me not having my full dose available.

Ironically, it is the least addictive of all opiates and the long acting form is the first opiate that is an Abuse Deterrent Formula (ADF) meaning it is very difficult to pulverize. To buy it myself is $1300 a month.

I figure if both Nucynta and Nucynta ER are available, with a CR doctor’s prescription I’m sure is required, everything more common and less expensive is available, too.

The cost is less a concern to me than accessibility. If other monthly costs are reduced substantially, I can afford to pay for it to be able to have something resembling a life!

Thanks,
Lisa

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