text: Yes they can and yes they suck for doing this, but, that's the sorry state of health care in our country today.\n\nCall your doctor, explain the situation, and ask him/her to help you fill out the forms that you can download and print out from the web site for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. This organization is a godsend. They are a liasion between you, your doctor, and the pharmaceutical company that makes your medication, and, in many cases, can help you get your meds at little to no cost. They helped me get my migraine medication - Imitrex - when my insurance ran out, for free, which saved my life because the doses cost $30 each and it was way out of my league to pay for out of pocket. You have to do the initial legwork on getting the forms, but, your doctor should be able to step up to the plate and help you out while waiting for the approvals, by providing you with samples, which they get for free from pharmaceutical salespeople. My doctor had a drawer full, I kid you not, and was able to give me a few to tide me over. Be assertive, be thorough, be diligent, and don't give up. DO NOT GO BACK ON THE USELESS NARCOTICS. You will only do yourself more harm than good, as you already know. You have to be your own advocate here, as no one in our current government is gonna speak up for you. Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, against every single incumbant who has failed to make affordable health care a reality for us average Americans.