Transplant Medications
Pre- or post-transplant, medications are a big part of a patient’s life. You’ll want to know as much as you can about this important aspect of your health.
Be sure to talk over your medication questions, especially side effects, with your medical team.
And if you need help to afford your medications, we have listed below some patient assistance programs you might be eligible for. Discuss this with your coordinator or social worker.
It's a big and complicated topic - there are a lot of questions. Here are some answers.
Drugs and Their Side Effects, Interactions, How They Work, What they Are For:
A National Institutes of Health list, Drug Information is at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
When You Can’t Afford Meds: Patient Assistance Programs:
The medications related to transplant are expensive. Fortunately for those who do not have coverage or who have difficulty with purchasing the drugs, there are some programs that can help.
State Programs:
Maryland has a pharmacy assistance program for residents. The phone numbers are (410) 225-5394 and (800) 492-1974. The program can be reached by mail at the Maryland State Pharmacy Assistance Program, PO Box 386, Baltimore MD 21203.
Pennsylvania’s PACE Program (Pharmacy Assistance Contracts for the Elderly) can be accessed at (800) 225-7223 or at http://www.aging.state.pa.us
Delaware’s program, Delaware-Nemours Health Clinic Program is at 1801 Rockland Road, Wilmington DE 19803 and the phone numbers are (302) 651-4400 and (800) 763-9326.
MEDBANK:
MEDBANK of Maryland, Inc. is non-profit organization that provides access to prescription medications for chronically ill, low-income, underinsured/uninsured Maryland residents. MEDBANK assists healthcare providers and patients in completing the paperwork required to enroll patients in Pharmaceutical Company Patient Assistance Programs. The phone number is (410) 821-9262 and the web site address is: http://www.medbankmd.org
Patient Assistance Programs from Pharmaceutical Companies:
Many drug companies have started programs to help patients who are having trouble affording the medicines that they need. On this page there are numbers for various Patient Assistance Programs of pharmaceutical companies.
If your drug is not on this list, keep researching. The web site listed below may have the name and phone number of the particular drug’s manufacturer.
A web site that lists the major companies and contact information so that you can inquire about their specific programs is the Medication Manufacturers Indigent Drug Program (sponsored by GE Medical Systems) at this site: http://www.hersource.com/breast/06/6a/drug_companies.cfm
Other sites have additional information and offer support. They include:
The Medicine Program, which aims to help patients who cannot afford medication through a nationwide listing of groups offering assistance:
http://www.themedicineprogram.com
A pharmaceutical industry site from the organization, PhRMA, is at::
http://www.helpingpatients.org
This government site offers patients an opportunity to investigate assistance programs at:
http://www.medicare.gov/Prescription/Home.asp
