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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Drug Evaluator

How Our Drug Evaluator Works

The Evaluator lists each of the most common aspects of making a decision about which drug to take and encourages you to determine how important each aspect is to you. The result allows you to compare drugs to each other according to what's important to you. The more aspects you compare, the more useful the Evaluator will be as a decision helper. [Tell me more]

= more information

Subject
For each subject, read the description.
Importance
Click on setting that reflects importance to you.

Enter Option Name

Enter Option Name

Enter Option Name
Click on setting that reflects your understanding. 4 = best. 0 = worst/not at all
The approximate odds that the drug will do what you want it to do

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 =100%
2= 50/50
0 = A low percentage

How long the drug has been on the market

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = More than 10 years
2 = At least 5 years
0 = Approved within the last year

Expense that you will have to pay out-of-pocket (include cost of the drug, necessary tests and costs of follow-up)

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = No meaningful affect on your finances
2 = An amount you can afford, but would hurt
0 = An amount that is difficult for you to pay

(To learn how to deal with a financial crunch, click here)

Number of pills you have to take

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = A minimal number of pills
2 = Not an easy number, but "I can do it."
0 = A number of pills that may be difficult for you to handle

Special instructions (such as take with or without food, or without milk products, or to drink a large amount of liquid)

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = There are instructions, but I can handle them easily
0 = Instructions are complicated and difficult for me to observe

Unwelcome side effects in general

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = No unwelcome side effects
2 = Manageable side effects
0 = Difficult to deal with

Unwelcome side effect in particular: (name the side effect such as nausea)

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = Exists, but is manageable
0 = Effect is likely and cannot be controlled

Interaction with other drugs you are taking

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = No interaction
2 = Negative interaction, but not meaningful because you can substitute a drug or because you can stop taking the other drug while taking the subject drug
0 = Negative interaction which cannot be overcome

(If no longer taking another drug could be harmful to your health, speak with your doctor or other medical professional before discontinuing the drug)

Impact on my daily life -- Long Term

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = Minimal affect on my daily life
0 = Will severely interrupt my daily life

Impact on my daily life -- Short Term

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = Minimal affect on my daily life
0 = Will severely interrupt my daily life

Impact on my work -- Short Term

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = Limited impact
0 = Will severely interrupt my work life

(To learn how to obtain an accommodation at work to permit you to do your job, see: Work: Health Accommodation)

Impact on my work -- Long Term

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = Minimal affect on my daily life
0 = Will severely interrupt my daily life

(To learn how to obtain an accommodation at work to permit you to do your job, see: Work: Health Accommodation)

Impact on my ability to (insert activity that is important to you, such as tennis, hiking, reading, traveling)

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = Limited impact
0 = Will severely interrupt this activity

Impact on my ability to (insert activity that is important to you, Such as tennis, hiking, Reading, traveling)

Essential
Very Important
Important
Helpful
Not Important
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0
4
3
2
1
0

4 = None
2 = Limited impact
0 = Will severely interrupt this activity

Totals
Score:

NOTE: Store and dispose of all drugs safely. To learn more, see: How To Store Drugs Safely and Unused Drugs: How To Dispose Of. To learn how to purchase drugs at the cheapest price, how to use them appropriately and aides to help keep you on schedule, see: Drugs 101.