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Help! My gastric pace maker needs to be turned up but it's taking some time to get the appt. straightened out...in the meantime I could REALLY use some zofran but my insurance continues to deny me...does anyone know where I can get it safely???
Laura
Compazine Acid reflux GERD Forteo Protonix Nexium Phenergan Zantac Prevacid Synthroid Levothyroxine Pain Aciphex Osteoporosis Prilosec Ranitidine
Have you tried another antiemetic? I know Zofran is the bomb but I also have Compazine when I have used up my "allocation" of Zofran for the month. DO NOT go to a web based pharmacy. (I am a pharmacy buyer). These places may or may not have "real" meds or they may not have been stored properly. There is too much danger in buying from these types of places. I know that it is not the best, but another antiemetic is the way to go.
Teresa
Thanks for repsonding...the problem with compazine is it knocks me out. I have phenergan, too and i can only take it a night....WHY is it so hard to get meds when you need them? (that's a rhetorical question).
I KNOW zofran is so expensive, and my old insurance co. approved me, but my current one just won't.
It wouldn't even approve me for osteoporosis meds (forteo) because I can't take the normal ones dues to my absorption probs and barrett's esophagus....they said "Let's just try them and if your esophagus gets worse, then we'll talk again".
It's sheer madness.
Any other ideas?
My pace maker was working 100% fantastico until it needed to be turned up.....getting approval for THAT is taking 3+ months as well...I just can't take the nausea any more..it's so bad, I can barely turn my head without feeling like I want to throw up, (but I never DO throw up....never vomitted in my life except when I had a concussion as a kid).
My weight of course is dropping again...I was up to 89.5 (yes, I DO include that .5..lol) now I am back down to 85.2
SIGH.
IDEAS ANYONE??
Laura
I have another question for you....I used to work in hospitals...I know alot about meds, but I always wonder about certain generics...I know the ingredients have to be the same by law, but not the fillers....are any generics more filler than med?
Thanks, Teresa.
Laura
I wonder the same thing about the generics. My mom absolutely CANNOT take generic synthroid, yet every time a particular pharmacist is not there to fill the script, they give her the generic.... even tho he has put it in caps on the comments area of her profile.
And I have run into the same problem with my insurance company as well. I am on the highest acid reflux meds out there twice a day. When I first switched to this company, we went through the whole "You need to try the others first before we will approve anything else"
I had to have my doc write a detailed letter explaining my 10 year (at that time) history of GERD, esophagitis, and gastritis, and the fact that we had tried all the lower tier drugs. They either didn't work at all, or if they did they stopped after about 18 months - 2 years.
Once they got that letter, no more problems with the approve. Now I just have to get pre-approved each year for the amount I take of Zegerid.
My doc wrote two letters and we appealed twice and they STILL wouldn't approve.
It's crazy
I JUST happened to see on 60 Minutes (I think) about generic synthroid and many people can't take it because of the fillers that are used.
My sister can take it, but I have heard that the generic synthroid is a problem for alot of people.
I forgot what zegerid is for...is it acid reflux?
Laura
If your insurance company won't approve it, appeal to the manufacturer for hard ship. The manufacturer will often send it to you for a nominal fee, possibly no more than your copayment would be. Explain that your insurance company will not provide it for you and they could even possibly go to your insurance company on your behalf, but will send it to you for free or little or nothing for hard ship reasons also.
Generics use different filler. I take Zantac, ranitidine generic. I can only take the capsule as the pills are more filler than they are anything else. My company tried to get me to buy the over the counter medicinebut I fought them through my employer and they now pay for it. Maybe your employer could help you out with this also.
Laura
By law, the generic must contain the same active ingredient as the brand name. There are different fillers but the active ingredient remains the same. I hear you about the loopiness of Compazine and Phenergan. I can not take Phenergan because of this but Compazine is OK for me, mainly because I have been on it for so long. WRT Synthroid, this is one of the exceptions to the generics rule. If you need branded Synthroid, you should stay on that. Switching brands of levothyroxine can cause issues. It is a good idea to plead to the drug company for the Zofran. If you need contacts, please let me know and I can put you to the right people or just go to their website (GlaxoSmithKline) and there should be an area for this. I am awaiting a pacer at this time and am glad to hear the good results you are getting. I am supposed to get a temporary for a month, which is what is taking so long because wasn't a rep in the area for a while. I am hoping for good results as well. And I, too, include the half pounds with my weights.
Take care
Teresa
thanks, girls..this is great info! I did not know i could approach the manufacturer....I am disabled, so i have no employer, besides, we tried that once when I WAS employed, and the insurance co (a different one) was not moved.
It's a crazy when when you have an illness that causes severe nausea, but you can't get meds that will actually help the nausea. NOTHING has helped my nausea like the gastric pace maker....GOOD LUCK!
You gotta love it.
Thanks again, Ladies.
Laura
i take zegerid for reflux, but am waiting for that one to stop working too. I have been on protonix, prevacid and nexium, all of them worked for a while then quit on me. This one has worked the longest so far.
I forgot about contacting the company, definitely go that route since your insurance company is being a PIA. I hope it gets straightened out for you.
i hope it works out for you, too. I know this sounds hokey, but you have ever tried apple cider vinegar? It seems to help when I remember to take it. I stopped taking my AR meds every day because they are so constipating to me.
So I take it when I feel like I should, but the apple cider vinegar seems to help keep things in check, and it isn't constipating.
did you also try prilosec?
L
yep, prilosec, aciphex, and one other i can't remember didn't do anything for me. So now with the zegerid (prilosec mixed with sodium bicarb), it works 100 times better. I think it is all about the bicarb. But had tried the bicarb by itself some nights, and it didn't do much either. who knows.
Did you file an appeal with the insurance company with a letter from your doctor of your conditions and need for this drug. They may approve the generic for a 30 day supply.
I, too, have been through the PPI game. I now take Kapidex which is great, although I still also have to take Zegerid on some days as well as the Kapidex.
not yet on this one...still waiting the final verdict after they get my docs letter...they denied 2 appeals last time, so we'll see. THERE IS A GENERIC TO ZOFRAN?
L
Yes, I take the generic of Zofran, in a liquid, its Ondansetron.
Or it may not actually be the generic for Zofran, it says on my bottle substituted for Zofran. But it sure works for me.
That is the generic, and it is available in several tab and liquid dosages. here is a webpage witht he info:
http://cancer.emedtv.com/zofran/zofran-generic.html
Sorry I didn't think about it before
DIana
Yes, Zofran is generic. You might even find that the ODT is cheaper than the tablet. The AWP of generic Zofran is still up there, which drives the price you pay at the drug store, but it is still cheaper than the brand. I find the ODT works better than the tablets.
T
Laura
How are you getting any nutrition for now since you're so nauseous? Do you have a j-tube or TPN?
Liz
LOL..I am not, really...I do have a peg tube. I am scheduled to get a port...don't really want one, but i think it will make getting meds a little easier...I didn't have too many problems with my old insurance co...it's this new one that has been a pain in the butt....
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP LADIES!
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