Tag Archives: patient assistance

Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation for any type of cancer can be extremely debilitating. Although these treatment methods are often helpful in the aid of battling cancer into remission, they bring about other health concerns. The treatments don’t only attack cancer cells; other necessary healing components of the body are attacked as well. This results in numerous side effects: a common side effect that needs addressing is Oral Mucositis. This painful side effect of cancer treatments and other medical ailments can be treated with mucositis mouthwash like MuGard, which is available for a discount through Rx Assistance Programs for those who qualify.

What is Oral Mucositis?

Oral Mucositis is specifically a condition characterized by pain caused by inflammation in the mouth. Those who experience this condition are affected by side effects of sores on the lips, gums, and tongue inside the mouth. These sores can lead to bleeding, dry mouth, pain, swelling, and itching. Cancer treatments are not the only cause of Oral Mucositis. In fact, it can also be due to:

Long-term chronic illness that reduces the efficiency of the immune system
Malnourishment
Prolonged alcohol and/or tobacco use
Neglect of dental treatments or improper dental treatments
Infection
Allergies
Mouth injury

Is there a Cure for Oral Mucositis?

Since Oral Mucositis is usually caused from an outside source like infection or cancer treatments, there is no cure. There is, however, treatment for the pain and help for a more speedy recovery. There are things you can do to help your body heal itself and there are preventative methods that you can take so Oral Mucositis does not affect you. Preventative methods include:

Brushing teeth thoroughly and completely after eating and before sleeping daily. To keep your toothbrush from growing bacteria, replace it often and store it in a dry place.
Since dental problems can be a cause of Oral Mucositis, make sure that if you have dentures, they are properly fitted into the mouth. Improper wear can cause open sores which invite bacteria growth and in turn, Oral Mucositis.
Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables that are good for the immune system. This includes anything with vitamin c (oranges, ginger, spinach), is green in color, or grows from the ground. Stay away from any foods or medicines that you may have an allergy to.

If you already have been diagnosed with Oral Mucositis, alternatives to medicine to help treat the condition include:

Stop the use of tobacco and alcohol.
Take smaller bites of food and swallow water after bites.
Do not eat foods that cause further irritation in the mouth
To rid excess bacteria build up, rinse the mouth with water frequently and gargle salt or baking soda and water solution.
Eat foods that are softer on the mouth to reduce pain while eating

Mucositis Mouthwash for the Treatment of Oral Mucositis

If your doctor diagnoses you with Oral Mucositis, he or she may prescribe you with a mucositis mouthwash to help with the pain. MuGard is a mucositis mouthwash commonly prescribed for its efficacy and zero significant side effects. It is proven to significantly reduce pain caused by oral mucositis. During clinical trials, each patient continued the use of MuGard once the trial was complete. MuGard is also great for patients just starting cancer treatment since it is proven to prevent Oral Mucositis and can be taken as early as day one of cancer treatment schedules.

Getting Help Paying for MuGard

If your doctor has prescribed you with the Mucositis mouthwash MuGard, you may be eligible to receive a discount, along with other prescription medications you may have through our patient assistance programs. We utilize over 700 patient assistance programs to bring patients discounts or coverage for their medications they would otherwise not be able to afford. Millions of Americans do not have insurance to cover prescriptions or their insurance does not cover enough to make medicines affordable. If you are one of these Americans, check out our website to go over our eligibility requirements. If you think you are eligible, applications are free to fill out and can be done from the same site. To see other medications that we cover or discount, view the medication search forum, also listed on our website. If you find yourself with any questions about our services or medications, please call us today at 855-201-0232.

Diabetes, Patient Assistance Programs, Portion Control, Thanksgiving

Practice Portion Control this Holiday Season

November 21, 2018 BobbyHollack Leave a comment

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! This means huge portions of cranberry sauce, roasted turkey, honey-baked ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, and lots of pie. However, these mouth-watering indulgences can do a number to your waistline, with the average American gaining almost a pound of bodyfat from mid-November to mid-January. Obviously, this is not an ideal number if you are focused on becoming your healthiest and happiest self. Portion control is a concept that is practiced by many a health-conscious person during traditional periods of overeating, such as the holidays. Generally speaking, our portion sizes tend to vastly outweigh the recommended serving sizes during the holiday season, which leads to “food comas” and weight-gain. If you follow a few of the recommendations in this post, holiday weight gain can be a thing of the past.

Eyeballing Your Portions

If you aren’t one of those people that carries a food scale with them everywhere, knowing exactly how much you eat can be tricky. Generally speaking, eyeballing your food isn’t the most effective way to measure a portion, but it is much better than blindly filling a plate with as much food as it can carry. Three ounces of meat usually looks like a deck of playing cards, while a ½ cup of pasta or potatoes looks like ½ of a tennis ball. The calories can add up quickly, especially with foods high in fat and carbs like buttery pasta or a high-sugar item such as pumpkin pie.

Eat Your Greens

Filling up with high-fiber foods such as green vegetables, carrots, whole foods, and lean meats can mitigate much of the weight gain that people experience during the holidays. These high-fiber foods fill up your belly fast, leaving less room for thirty slices of pecan pie. Green vegetables are also high in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, which will leave you feeling healthy during the holiday season.

Small Plates

Sometimes portion control can be equated to an optical illusion; if you put the same amount of food on a small plate and a big plate, you’ll think that there is more food on the smaller plate. Having large plates are a great method for fitting three cups of mashed potatoes and a pound of turkey, but not such a great idea for weight maintanence. Often called the “small plate movement”, this mode of thinking can help you cut down on excess calories during a feast.

Listen to Your Body

We all know the feeling of being stuffed and then reaching for an additional slice of pumpkin pie. Pay attention to how full you feel. Being stuffed and bloated is not the best option, as it leaves less room for connecting with family and more room for passing out on the floor somewhere. By controlling portion sizes and listening to your body, you can have a fantastic feast without a painful stomach ache.

Patient Assistance Programs

If you need help paying for your prescriptions this holiday season and you are uninsured or under-insured, Rx Assistance Programs can help! We have helped thousands of individuals enroll in patient assistance programs, which can save you hundreds of dollars on overly-expensive medications. To meet the guidelines for these programs, a patient applying will typically need to be in a financial hardship, have limited prescription insurance, and must be a U.S. citizen or resident. If you think you qualify, contact us today! Happy holidays from all of us here at Rx Assistance Programs.

Asthma, Blog, Prescription Assistance Programs

Do I Need Asthma Medication

October 25, 2018 BobbyHollack Leave a comment

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 12 people (over 25 million) suffer from the chronic respiratory condition known as asthma. It can range from minor to severe and the differences in symptoms can be startling. It can range from a small, uncomfortable cough to a full-blown asthma attack, where breathing may become completely obstructed. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a severe asthma attack are vital if you suffer from the condition, even though fatalities are uncommon if proper medical care is sought. At Rx Assistance Programs, we work with pharmaceutical companies to provide free or discounted prescriptions for people that suffer from a multitude of conditions (including asthma).

We offer prescription assistance for many medications, such as Dulera, Symbicort, and Dulera. These medications can range from long-term steroidal treatments to rescue inhalers depending on the condition of your asthma. Visit your doctor and consult with him/her to determine exactly what drugs you need to treat the condition. If you can’t afford the medication and are uninsured or under-insured, we may be able to help.

Causes of Asthma

There are many causes of asthma; naturally, pinpointing just how a patient succumbed to the condition can be difficult. It is believed that people develop the condition due to a number of environmental and genetic factors: some of these factors can include a pre-disposed condition during early childhood in which there was a tendency to develop allergies, having parents who suffer from asthma and contracting respiratory infections or certain viral infections during childhood. If you suffer from asthma, limiting your exposure to certain environmental triggers is your best bet. Avoid smoking/second-hand smoke, heavily polluted areas, chemical fumes, construction dust/debris, and obesity. All of these factors can increase the severity of asthma. If you’re not sure if you have asthma or not, but are suffering from certain respiratory impairments, read on.

5 Signs You Have Asthma

It wakes you up. If you get jolted out of bed by asthma-like conditions more than once a week, this can be a serious form of asthma. Hormonal changes – such as rising cortisol levels during sleep – can inflame airways and cause night-time asthma flare-ups.
You’re out of breath. If walking up and down the stairs leaves you gasping for air, you may have asthma. If you find yourself out of breath after taking a simple walk to the store, contact your doctor to rule out the possibility of a serious condition.
Chest tightness. If you constantly feel a constricting sensation or pressure in your chest, it may be time to see a doctor. Certain allergens and environmental irritants can cause your muscles to contract and narrow your airways. This will make your chest feel tight.
Blue skin. Cyanosis is a medical condition in which the skin turns a bluish tint due to inadequate oxygen delivery and poor circulation. Cyanosis can be caused by obstructed airways due to asthma.
Sudden confusion. Asthma blocks a certain amount of air from getting in and out of your lungs. Many people who suffer from asthma find that they cannot get enough air to speak a full sentence before reaching for another breath. If you find yourself out of breath mid-sentence, contact a healthcare professional immediately.

Asthma Prescription Assistance

Asthma brought in a hefty price tag last year for the United States: over $57 billion to be exact. This accounts for all early deaths, hospitalizations, medical costs, and lost work/school hours. The burdens that asthma places on the health care system are mirrored by the cost of the medication itself. Many asthma medications can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per month without insurance. If you are uninsured or under-insured and need help paying for your asthma prescriptions, pick up the phone and call Rx Assistance Programs. We are an organization that specializes in prescription assistance programs for asthma medication and other medications. We handle all the paperwork for you and your doctor’s office. Once enrolled, we mail 90-day supplies of your medication straight to your doorstep. It doesn’t matter whether you need prescription assistance for Symbicort, Dulera or Advair; we’re here to help cover the cost of rising prescription drugs. Contact us today to find out more about our prescription assistance programs!