HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Going to be a fight in the morning-Update*

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/13/2009 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
I refill my medication on my insurance companies website whenever I need a refill.  Well its time to refill my Asacol 400mg, and they have changed my medication to Colazal Caps 750mg and changed the prescription number.  I have been successfully maintained on Asacol for nearly five years and am a firm believer that if it ain't broke don't fix it.  I will not accept any changes to my medication just to save them a few bucks (really saw that my Asacol was cheaper than the Colazal on drugs.com).  With this disease you can't be in there messing with a persons medication, especially if its working.  They done woke a sleeping dragon, and this ticks me off to no end.  If you see plumes of smoke rising in San Diego, you know who it is.  ME!!  Grrrrr!!!!
Posted 9/13/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
How can they do that and not even notify you? That shouldn't be legal. They didn't even consult your doctor??
I am angry for you!!! This is unacceptable!
Posted 9/13/2009 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
You go girl!!! Besides, didn't you just have an issue with a change in supplement when it when from a pill to a capsule or something like that. That should be enough of an incentive to make you want to keep the status quo. pesonally, I am super sensitive to all the additives in medications and I can't take certain chain generics because of what they add to there products. If I need a sudafed like med and I am at CVS, its name brand, but at Walgreens, I can buy the generic.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Posted 9/13/2009 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I am really surprised at this -- unless your doctor said substitues were OK. Which I find doubtful. I've seen on some perscriptions where the doc has checked the box indicating generics were OK. Maybe your insurance thinks if the doctor doesn't specifiy a brand then switching is OK. I'd call your doctor's office and ask them to call you pharmacy and insist on the Asacol. I'll also keep my eyes on the horizon for large flaming fireballs!  Oh, and you may want to alert the airport so they know about your flight path.  I can just see the passangers and crews flying nearby -- you will certainly give them something to think about!
Posted 9/13/2009 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Regardless if your doctor approved generics, this isn't right. Colazal is not the same drug as Asacol, and they shouldn't be substituting without your doctor's approval. It isn't just a matter of brands. Colazal is balsalazide. Asacol is mesalamine. Not the same drug.

Unless your doctor okayed the change, they're prescribing without having a medical license!
Posted 9/13/2009 9:36 PM (GMT 0)

Nanners said...
I refill my medication on my insurance companies website whenever I need a refill. Well its time to refill my Asacol 400mg, and they have changed my medication to Colazal Caps 750mg and changed the prescription number. I have been successfully maintained on Asacol for nearly five years and am a firm believer that if it ain't broke don't fix it. I will not accept any changes to my medication just to save them a few bucks (really saw that my Asacol was cheaper than the Colazal on drugs.com). With this disease you can't be in there messing with a persons medication, especially if its working. They done woke a sleeping dragon, and this ticks me off to no end. If you see plumes of smoke rising in San Diego, you know who it is. ME!! Grrrrr!!!!

That's just wrong Nanners...I know we have a different system here in the UK but the one thing my GP (general practitioner) was adamant about was not changing even the brand of Asacol that I take...

You give them hell hun.

Good luck

(((hugs)))
Posted 9/13/2009 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Unreal. Good luck and keep us posted.
Posted 9/14/2009 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
You go.  Here's ammunition.

Asacol and Pentasa supposed to be released in the small intestine

Colazal and Dipentum release in the colon

So I'd say definitely not the same thing.

I've tried all but Colazal and none work for me, but Dipentum did give me horrible diarrhea while Asacol and Pentasa didn't do anything.

*Sorry had to remove your link as it was too long and messing up the way the post read*

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 9/14/2009 7:34:59 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/14/2009 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
I did send my doc an email yesterday so he is aware of the problem. I spoke with a pharmacist and he said that my doctor may be one of the doctors who okays changes in medications if it will save the patient money. I told him I do not care about saving money, as my health is more important than a $10 savings. I have to call the pharmacy again this morning and tell them to correct it. Still a pain in the butt though.
Posted 9/14/2009 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
Give em heck Nanners. My doc wont change my meds because it took so long to get the right combo. Hope your doc is on your side too. If so there wont be a fight.
Posted 9/15/2009 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
Well spoke with my doctor yesterday, and he refilled my Asacol. But what has me a little upset was what I heard from the pharmacy and my doctor. Everyone was talking about the cost savings of Colazal vs Asacol. I told my doctor I generally pay $5 for generics, but pay $15 for my Asacol as it doesn't have a generic and I don't mind that. And he was telling me how they are the same med, blah, blah, blah. But we as Crohns patients know that, yes they are in the same med family, but that they don't work the same way. I told him I know of many people who can't take Pentasa, but can Asacol or vice versa. So that tells me right there that each med is different. Plus I did research thru Healingwell on these meds, and saw many who couldn't take one type of 5ASA but successfully could use one of the others. I told my doctor it is working well for me, and he tells me well we don't know if its working for you. Kinda ticked me off, because thats all I have been using for nearly five years, and I have been feeling pretty darned good during that time, so "I" say its working just fine. Grrr!!! Thanks for listening to my rant:)
Posted 9/16/2009 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
So frustrating Nanners
Posted 9/16/2009 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
darn doctors who side are they on?
Posted 9/16/2009 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
where's my darn tazs when I need it.....
Posted 9/16/2009 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
I think the docs like the money they get from the drug co. more than they like to let on. Wow , that new set of golf clubs sure is nice....
Posted 9/16/2009 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I agree it seems to always be about money. I really like my doc and on my next appointment I am going to talk to him about this, this really upset me, because with illnesses like ours, if you find something that works, you don't mess with it. We have a membership service department that you can complain to, and I think this time I am going to do just that. Thanks for the support guys, it means alot to me.

Hugs
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 9/16/2009 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
You do right to make a complaint Nanners. Generally people dont stand up for themselves, and we should especially when it comes to our health.

Im so good at complaining, people at work get me to do it for them when they have something they want to complain about, Im not sure whether to be flattered or not
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply