Prescription Costs

Hello all. At the beginning of this year my medical insurance changed at work. Previously my Asacol and Entocort cost $50 each for one month refills. Now they cost $100 each. This is a lot of money and I was told about Wal-mart’s $4 prescriptions. I looked them up and found the following list of medicines in the Gastrointestinal Health section:

DRUG NAME AND DOSAGE............QUANTITY

BELLADONA ALKALOID/PB TAB..........60
CIMETIDINE 800MG TAB*..................30
CYTRA2 SOLUTION..........................180ML
DICYCLOMINE 10MG CAP..................90
DICYCLOMINE 20MG TAB..................60
FAMOTIDINE 20MG TAB.....................60
LACTULOSE SYRUP..........................237ML
METOCLOPRAMIDE 10MG TAB............60
METOCLOPRAMIDE SYRUP................60ML
PROMETHAZINE 25MG TAB*...............12
PROMETHAZINE PLAIN SYRUP*.........180ML
RANITIDINE 150MG TAB....................60
RANITIDINE 300MG TAB....................30

I of course will ask my doctor about the possibility of changing medicines, but I wanted some other opinions. Has anyone tried these, or do you know what each one translates to in the form of more commonly mentioned Crohn’s medicines.

And please, I hope nobody flames this post. I know there are many people that have no insurance or that are paying much more for medicine. I am just trying to explore possible options.

Thanks

Hi,

The generic name for Entocort is Budesonide. Asacol - Mesalamine. Hope this helps!

Julia

Thanks for the replies, I will definitely look into those generics you mentioned Julia.

NostralHistoria, I have been on Entocort for about three months now. I was given the impression it would be temporary, but I don't know. It took about 3 weeks for me to stop seeing blood. I was taking 2x 3mg twice a day. about a month ago that was reduced to 1x 3 mg twice a day, but it seems the blood is returning. I hope it starts working for you soon. And personally, I don't like it because it effects my mood, but I've heard that isn't very common.

If you are referring to the quantity of blood, I was having very little blood, about to the point where if I had less, I would have no blood. That might be why it may be taking a little longer for the Entocort to seem to be working. And I was getting the same kind of poop, but it did start firming up some. The frequency also reduced from going 5-6 times a day to 2-3. But it was nothing like what I saw my 3 1/2 year old boy pump out into the toilet the other day. LOL. I was cleaning him up wondering if I ever had poop that big. LOL.

There is no generic for Entocort, Pentasa, or Asacol right now.

If it were up to me, and I had to pay $100/month for Asacol, I wouldn't take it. The latest research shows it's of questionable benefit in Crohn's. Mine is cheap, so I keep taking it, though I'm not sure it does any good!

Entocort is a different story. It's pretty clearly shown to be effective for a good number of people, so it might be worth spending the $$ on.

i also sorry to say no generic for either Entacort or Asacol. I personally tried Entacort for about 2 month it did not do any good for me. Think of Entacort as a baby Prednazone which means less side effect. my co pay for it would be only $25. and the $ 4 plan also requires your doctor to prescribe for you for 90 days supply to be eligible for it. i wish things will work for you.

I'm hoping since I'm in the hospital right now and soon going through Laproscoipic Surgery to stop taking all kind of med's. so pray for me

good luck for you all