I went to top up all our meds today and spotted that I’d been charged for 3 products, instead of two ... I queried the pharmacist and she looked and said .... “Looks like they’ve put a surcharge on it!” Yep - they’d added $5 to the scheduled PBS fee. So I’m going with a different brand for now .... Apotex (APO) Anastrozole.Has anyone else had this happen to them yet? Double check your next script fee.Fingers crossed the coating doesn’t give me bad side effects!

We hit out limit in July this year for prescriptions. Hubby is on heaps of heart meds, and I'm on a bucket load too, so aside from my one pain medication, which is not covered and costs $33.99 for 50 tabs (I take one at night), and my calcium and Vit D, our meds are free for five months...I count my blessings where I find them...

@arpie today I'm trying the generic brand of letrozeole. Don't want to pay extra $5 for the femora one. Hopefully the side effects will be minimal.

Yes, I bought my monthly Arimidex about 3 days ago and I noticed they charged me more, 10.60 instead of 5.60. I told the cashier and he said o probably got the generic brand before. I said no, I got this exact same one. He double checked, and yep, the price was 10.60 but he had no idea why 🙄. I got it anyway and left there feeling a bit pissed off. No one knows anything

A ‘sort that of’ explanation, but indicates it is the pharmacy putting the surcharge on ... but the pharmacist definitely said it was Anastrozole who whacked it on, with no consultation with them.https://www.9news.com.au/national/prescription-medications-cost-different-at-chemists/8a85da1e-9fbc-423e-92af-8372e9c36e54I’ve messaged Catherine Bronger about it

My letrozeole femera was purchased from chemist warehouse. I might try and speak with a different pharmacist when I'm down the street next.

Arimidex brand now has a $5 surcharge on top of PBS fee!

29 Replies

June1952
Member
4 years ago
Yep, but she said it was exactly the same as it is made by the same company - but it isn't. One of our generics is exactly the same and made by the same company - the same tablets in both doses as well - so I trusted her.
Afraser
Member
4 years ago
@June1952

The active ingredient (the actual
medication) will be the same (and the same amount) as your prescription but the fillers and binders used by companies vary and I’d bet your chemist doesn’t know what they are either. For many, it makes absolutely no difference but for some (and may include those who are lactose intolerant) it can.
June1952
Member
4 years ago
Yes, @arpie, it is on the pbs.
Yes, @Afraser, initially I was prescribed the name brand and I then had a repeat. The next time the prescription said the drug name and I accepted the generic but really don't think it is "exactly the same" as told by the pharmacist.
Afraser
Member
4 years ago
@June1952

That’s interesting about prescriptions, I notice my doctor is doing that now. The reason may be to stop drug companies ‘encouraging’ doctors to prescribe specific brands. However as far as I know there is nothing to stop
the patient (the most important player) for asking for a specific brand. I always do, otherwise the chemist may push a generic, after similar ‘encouragement’. Apart from price, the fillers in some brands can have different side effects.
arpie
Member
4 years ago
WOW! $10 is a bit steep, @June1952! is it on the PBS list? Put the name in & see if it shows as the 'extra fee' .... or maybe try a different chemist? They may not all charge the extra?
Good luck
June1952
Member
4 years ago
I think it is all the name brand medications these days as one of my drugs (non BC related) has a $10 extra charge.

I was told the doctors are no longer allowed to put the brand name on the prescriptions, they have to write the main ingredient only.
Locksley
Member
4 years ago
@arpie today I'm trying the generic brand of letrozeole. Don't want to pay extra $5 for the femora one. Hopefully the side effects will be minimal.
arpie
Member
4 years ago
I think I'll be going back onto the 'good oil' .... my hands and shoulders are particularly sore just now, since I stopped taking it - and at the same time I swapped from Arimidex to Anastrozole.

I found this on the PBS site - where it TELLS you that the additional charge is on the Arimidex (and not on the generics) ..... so if any chemist charges $5 extra on ANY prescription meds ..... whack it in here & see if it is 'legit'!!
https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/8179L?fbclid=IwAR0sSeMZu_BvsKgAuPZnWDEuaok2aimM6qLcbviBjmhADVucEl0ayTu4Bio
Blondy
Member
5 years ago
@arpie, never had any cheap meds, but chemist warehouse are so much more economical.
arpie
Member
5 years ago
Dang! So you can’t get it on PBS, @Blondy? Yes, anything other than Arimidex is a generic one.

I’ve been on the generic APO one for a week now ... no side effects that I am aware of yet ...