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Cymbalta is too expensive even with insurance, best alternative

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 7/23/2012 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Just looking to see if any of you have tried an alternative for Cymbalta with success. Even with insurance the cymbalta is just too expensive.
Posted 7/23/2012 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Cymbalta for a year now and I can honestly say it's been fantastic!

I know insurance carriers and coverages differ, but I have United Healthcare and for Cymbalta, since it's not a generic, my co-pay should be $25. BUT..... it's been free!! UHC and Lilly (the maker of Cymbalta) have some sort of "deal" that makes it free.

If you get prescribed Cymbalta and it's too expensive for you, ask your doctor about samples. If it works for you, your doctor should have no problem getting samples for you to use instead of getting a prescription since it does cost so much.
Posted 7/23/2012 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
@ MommaKiki

How long before you started noticing the Cymbalta working and what dose are you on?

I started 2 weeks ago at 30mg and am up to 30mg twice a day but haven't had any effect yet... I know that's still early but just wondering what your experience has been.
Posted 7/23/2012 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I have a rule of thumb. I don't buy expensive meds that cause me money problems. There are too many good old meds that are sooo much cheaper.
Posted 7/23/2012 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
That's one of the reasons I stopped taking cymbalta was costing more than 100 a month and then they put me on Lyrica as well and that was even more so we just could not afford it.
Posted 7/23/2012 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
That I know of, there is no generic for cymbalta, yet.

If it helps you significantly, is the money worth it? only you cananswer this question. Some people have problems with or little effect on Cymbalta.

I would approach the doc for samples. Several months would determine whether or not it can help you significantly. So, if it does, you can decide based on your current regimine as well as your fiscal situation.

My fave sleeping med, rozerem, is classified as an elite med in my insurance program. Even though I prefer it, I don't prefer it enough to pay 50 bucks a month for it. The generic ambien works okay, so long as I don't take tramadol at the same time.
Posted 7/23/2012 8:30 PM (GMT 0)

jr991 said...
@ MommaKiki

How long before you started noticing the Cymbalta working and what dose are you on?

I started 2 weeks ago at 30mg and am up to 30mg twice a day but haven't had any effect yet... I know that's still early but just wondering what your experience has been.

I didn't notice a change until I went to the full dose (60mg) I did 30mg in the morning for a week then went to 60mg in the morning. That's still my Cymbalta routine. I noticed around 3 weeks after the "starter" dose a real improvement. It's an extended release, so the one 60mg in the morning lasts all day. Once you get to taking 60mg in one dose, you should notice a difference. :-)

I really like it!
Posted 7/25/2012 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know if there's an "alternative" to Cymbalta, as it's the only drug like it, but there are plenty of meds that docs use to try to control fibro pain. I was on Cymbalta but it didn't work. My doc is a huge fan of older, cheaper drugs, so he switched me to imipramine. I had some good relief on it. Not so much today, but I'm reserving judgment on the med overall until I'm done with this 30 days on 150 mg.
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