does anyone out there take Pentasa and actually have to pay full price?

Just wondering what people are paying for pentasa

hi redspot,I don't pay full price either.But I can tell you what it costs full price at super walmart,where I get mine in NC....$424.78 for 240 (one month).

I have some unopened bottles of Pentasa that I want to give away to someone without insurance coverage. I don't take it anymore. I don't want to break any rules, so I'm thinking maybe I could mail it to your doctor's office and have them give it to you?

{Kenny it is illegal for you to transfer your prescription medication to anyone in any manner including sending it to the recipient's doctor. There are many that wish to do as you would like, but unfortunately if violates a bunch of federal and state laws. ~~ Ides, Moderator}

Post Edited By Moderator (Ides) : 1/7/2013 5:33:12 PM (GMT-7)

Kenny that is why Im asking :) I didnt know how to go about Asking.

 

Post Edited By Moderator (Ides) : 1/7/2013 5:32:40 PM (GMT-7)

Hmm, when I didn't have prescription coverage several years ago, Shire dramatically discounted my Pentasa, and I have Crohn's, not colitis. Did you contact Shire directly? My only other suggestion is to try buying your Pentasa from Canada, where it is less expensive.

I did a bunch of research on this subject a couple of years ago, so I might not be current but this is what I found.
Pharmaceutical companies business model separates drug invention, licencing and manufacturing. If my memory is correct Shire owns Pentasa and licencees it to Ferring and perhaps others globally. They can and do license it to other manufacturers globally.

Canada buys nationally from Ferring. This a one big buy, which I am sure gives them a quantity discount, and there is substantially less revenue that must be set aside for litigation (perhaps none?) vs. in the states where everyone is always getting sued.
Additionally, the Canadian (and as far as I could find out the rest of the world) Pentasa (Ferring tablets) is different then the US Pentasa (Shire capsules) in the delivery method.
Shire claims the US capsules, which contains tiny grains of pentasa wrapped in a coating, are better at getting the drug through the digestive track and to the small intestine and TI. I could not find any research to support this.
When I was paying I bought all my drugs from Canada because I could not afford US pricing. Now that I have told my insurance about my CD, and they pay, I take US Pentasa. I THINK it is better for me, but as stated above I can not find research to support this
Hope I did not add to the confusion
Dave

I live in minnesota and am retired, so have a pretty high premium each month for my health ins. Coverage.
I pay $90 a month for 180 pills, 500 mg. if I had no ins. It would cost me 805.92.
Next year I go on Medicare, and could end up paying approximately $400 a month for this same prescription. I hate to think of that cost each month. My ins. Person is trying to find the best supplemental drug plan in hopes of getting a lower cost each month for pentasa. I have been on it since I was diagnosed in '97.
It makes me just want to quit taking it and take my chances.
I was surprised to see that Walgreens is less expensive, according to bektold's reply, than what I am paying at our hospital pharmacy, and will give them a call.

Post Edited (ragbag) : 9/8/2015 1:34:44 PM (GMT-6)

Why spend so much money (or any money at all) on a drug that is no better than placebo?

If that is what your doctor recommended to treat your Crohn's disease, ask your doctor why she/he is prescribing a medication that is expensive and that research shows is of no benefit in treating Crohn's?

Don't waste your money on this medication!

carnations4ever, as for mercaptopurine, lots of people on here take it with little or no side effects. On the other hand, several people have had bad side effects from it. But the majority tolerate it well. The only way to know whether you can tolerate it well is to get the TPMT test, then try the med if your result says you can.

I paid $339 for my son's prescription and our insurance paid $895. My son was on it for almost 8 months with every GI wondering WHY he was using it (I would remind them that his initial GI prescribed it for him when he was diagnosed in July 2015). I was frustrated that even though it was ridiculed no one took him off of it. FINALLY after an illeo cecal resection his medications changed and it was removed. I am not sure it ever helped him.

Again, why take it at all if you have Crohn's? You're throwing money away.

^Could have been placebo effect, as you said, or simply a total coincidence that you got sick after stopping it.