[carbocation]

I would like to have a proactive patient such as your self. As a student, I am always put off when a physician prescribes an on-patent medication when there is an equivalent that is off-patent (assuming that the research supporting both is equivalent).

[DanielBMarkham]

Hope I didn't give the wrong impression -- my doc rocks. He's just a busy guy, and the drug companies are making pitches all day long about how the new and patent-protected stuff is so much better than the other stuff. He's just playing it safe. He's always open to a conversation, however, and most times once we talk we arrive at a better place than the one he first recommends.

And I'm not being a "proactive patient" out of any kind of charity on my part. My money rides on all of this stuff, and every little bit is very important. I'm just trying to make very certain that each little thing we do is priced at exactly the least amount is has to be.

[There might be a lesson here, but I refuse to spell it out.]