Gary: I Might Not Have Found the Right Depression and Anxiety Medications Without GoodRx

Gary and his wife Pamela live in San Rafael, just north of San Francisco in California. The couple were high school sweethearts, and having lived in the city while they were young, they decided to move to San Rafael when they started their family and purchased their very first home 35 years ago. As such, San Rafael has been the stage for Gary’s personal and professional development over the years.  

As a young man, Gary discovered a talent and passion for woodworking. He found a job in a small cabinet shop and worked under the apprenticeship of a master Italian cabinet maker. Before long, Gary became skilled in his craft and gained an appreciation for the art and level of detail required in custom cabinet design.

However, it wasn’t economically feasible for Gary to continue in this niche corner of the market, and he soon found himself working for a larger, production-line cabinet company. From there, he went into general contracting and facilities management before deciding to put his job on hold so he could focus solely on his degree.

The decision to step back from his job was because, for the majority of his life, Gary has been living with severe depression and anxiety. He knew that it would be challenging to tackle both work and school at the same time, considering the debilitating symptoms caused by his conditions. Over the years, he has learned how to manage his health with the help of his medical team, including a good friend and psycho-pharmacologist. 

“I struggle with depression and anxiety to a very small extent now,” Gary says. “I used to suffer a great deal, until I found a psycho-pharmacologist who was willing to take the time to hear my story and was interested in helping me. He saved my life, what can I say?”

While working with his doctor to find the right combination of medications, Gary came across GoodRx when he went to his local pharmacy to fill a new prescription. The pharmacist informed him that his copay would be $250 and, after seeing Gary’s sticker shock, the pharmacist did a price comparison between GoodRx and Gary’s Medicare coverage. The medication was less than $10 with GoodRx.  

Gary soon started researching the dozen other medications he takes for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Sure enough, GoodRx saved him money on all those prescriptions, too. 

“My depression and anxiety lessened significantly with the new combination of medications I was able to try but might not have otherwise been able to afford,” Gary recalls. “Purchasing prescription drugs isn’t as stressful as it used to be. I don’t know that I’d be able to take the medications I’m taking if it weren’t for GoodRx.”

Now retired, Gary is putting his woodworking skills to use in fixing up his San Rafael home. He has recently completed the cabinetry in his kitchen, a bathroom remodel, and lots of painting and electrical projects. “I’m able to do the things I love to do, like working on the house and furniture,” Gary explains.  

He’s now finishing the last touches to his house — adding butcher block countertops in the kitchen. Once that’s done, Gary looks forward to enjoying his passion for woodworking by practicing in the small workshop he’s built in the home that he loves.