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The pharmacy gave me the wrong medication!!??

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Posted 4/19/2015 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I was looking at all my pills and my treatment plan trying to get things in order. I was supposed to get tindamax but the bottle I have says it is flagyl. What the heck?? Are they the same thing or what?
Posted 4/19/2015 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
They are mostly the same thing. Usually tindamax is taken for shorter periods of time. You have to avoid alcohol with both.

They are both cyst busters. I imagine it is something to do with your insurance, but you should call your doctor, that isn't an acceptable substitution.
Posted 4/19/2015 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I'm pretty sure it has to be an insurance thing. Why they wouldn't give my brother an explanation is kind of weird you'd think they would mention any changes.
Posted 4/19/2015 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
What is the difference? not an acceptable substitution?
Posted 4/19/2015 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Well, if your doctor wanted you to take Tindamax, he (or she) had their reasons. It's not like it is a name brand versus generic substitution.
Posted 4/19/2015 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Totally. I bet my insurance didn't want to pay for tindamax so they made him switch it to flagyl. It was $170 for 14 pills of tindamax and only $18 for the flagyl.

I'm sure this is about money. But they shouldve mentioned it when he picked it up. Ugh.
Posted 4/19/2015 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Did your insurance swap for cost purpose? The pharmacist would know. You may need to pay out of pocket if it in an insurance change.
Posted 4/19/2015 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Saw we were posting at the same time. I was wondering what the Tindamax would cost out of pocket.
Posted 4/19/2015 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
They are not the same. Tinidazole has proven to be by far the more effective drug to use against lyme. That is why he chose that one and not tinidazole. The pharmacist may have thought well we don't have that so we'll give this one instead lol!

Flagyl just happens to be more readily available. I think that's the only advantage it has over the tini.
Posted 4/19/2015 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
IHL - I asked my LLND about Flagyl, when he was discussing prescribing Tindamax...and he said Tindamax was better.
Posted 4/19/2015 9:50 AM (GMT 0)
A pharmacist can't change your prescription without approval from the physician. Insurances have a formulary that lists the medications (often in tiers) where each drug has a set copay. Some medications aren't on the forumulary because the insurance thinks they cost too much or they simply want to try to save money. I don't know what happened in this case but the pharmacist could tell you. Tindamax would be a better choice IMO than Flagyl but it also may cost you a lot more money.
Posted 4/19/2015 11:23 AM (GMT 0)
Georgia hunter is right - is this a chain pharmacy? probably. call your dr's office tmrw and find out the story - then you can go to the pharmacy and complain. sorry this happened - ugh. FYI flagyl has more cancer risks than tindamax. with flagyl it has been proven that it causes cancer in mice, in tindamax they assume it causes cancer in mice. don't want to scare you, but bear this in mind. This is why I didn't take any cyst busters. grapefruit seed extract is safer alternative, although I couldn't handle it because it is known to be estrogenic. its a no win situation!!
Posted 4/19/2015 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Just talked to the pharmacy. They had no idea why it was different but the lady I talked to guessed it was an insurance issue. My doctor signed off on the flagyl And that's the only paperwork she said they had. Weird.
Posted 4/19/2015 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
That is strange. I'm glad you noticed it before you started taking it. Hopefully it will get resolved tomorrow. Good luck!
Posted 4/19/2015 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
IHL - Are you willing to pay for the Tindamax - if it's an insurance issue? If you are, then contact your Dr. and tell him/her.
I read the same about Flagyl and Tini - The studies about cancer (I think bladder) in mice were done with flagyl...but they are thinking Tini would have the same risks. (which could be a 'leap')
Posted 4/19/2015 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
I actually can't afford it right now. We have practically no savings left because of my treatment. I can barely afford my supplements at the moment. My guy needs to work more but he's been stuck here with me taking care of our son because I can hardly get myself to the bathroom by myself. Pathetic.

But today I'm up and about. Nothing like the last 2 days!
Posted 4/19/2015 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
The insurance will always try to opt for the lowest costing medication, and if there is a generic version of the brand name, they would rather pay for it. Flagyl seems to be banned in europe and usa, for animals. I think there is a valid reason for safety, for flagyl
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