April 2025 — Practical Picks: Savings, IIH Treatment Notes, and Birth Control Options
This month we published hands-on guides that save you money and help you talk to your doctor. If you want cheaper meds, need clear info about desmopressin for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), or are exploring birth control switches, these four posts give quick, usable steps you can try right away.
Save on prescriptions today
Our ViaBestBuys promo guide shows specific ways to cut costs: sign up for the site’s email list for first-time codes, combine manufacturer coupons with site discounts when allowed, and compare the site’s cash price against GoodRx and SingleCare before checkout. A practical trick: copy a coupon code into the checkout, then check the cart total — sometimes the site applies a lower cash price automatically.
For people who want alternatives to BuzzRx, we listed services that actually lower your out-of-pocket costs: Rx Outreach (nonprofit programs), RxSaver and SingleCare (discount cards you can use at most pharmacies), manufacturer patient assistance programs for brand drugs, and local clinic pharmacies that offer sliding scales. When you compare services, focus on the out-the-door price for a 30-day supply and any enrollment steps that take extra time.
Medication choices: desmopressin and birth control alternatives
Desmopressin for IIH is not a simple yes-or-no. Some clinicians use it off-label to affect fluid balance and relieve symptoms in select cases. Key points to discuss with your neurologist or neuro-ophthalmologist: what symptom you want to target, how often the drug would be used, who will monitor sodium levels, and clear stop rules if side effects appear. Hyponatremia (low sodium) is the main risk — ask for a plan for blood tests in the first week and anytime symptoms (confusion, nausea, severe headache) worsen.
On contraceptives, our comparison of ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate alternatives lists five solid options and when they fit best: a generic combined pill with a different progestin if you tolerate estrogen but want fewer side effects; a drospirenone-containing pill for people with acne or bloating concerns; a levonorgestrel IUD for long-term, low-maintenance contraception; the implant (Nexplanon) if you want multi-year protection without daily pills; and the progestin-only pill or mini-pill if estrogen is contraindicated. When switching, plan follow-up for side effects and bleeding changes, and carry a short checklist for your appointment: current symptoms, smoking status, migraine history, and any prescription meds that might interact.
Each April post gives concrete next steps — coupon codes to try, services to call, lab tests to request, and questions to bring to your clinician. If you want, I can pull the exact coupon tips or make a one-page checklist for discussing desmopressin or switching birth control at your next visit.
