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I forgot how expensive Canasa is!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/21/2008 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Ouch!  Almost $3 per sup - AFTER insurance!  ugh

Why!?!?  I don't get it.  What makes that particular form of mesalamine so expensive?!?!  Grrrr...

Posted 3/21/2008 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I know! I was kinda surprised that it cost just as much as my month's worth of Asacol. 360 pills vs. 30 suppositories.
Posted 3/21/2008 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Grrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I find Canasa totally outrageous; it's obviously profitable for the pharmaceutical. We need the 5-ASA foam that UK, Europe & Australia already have as an alternative med to those bloomin' suppositories that can melt between one's fingers. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 3/21/2008 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Check with your insurance company on any mail-in prescription programs that are offered. I bought my med's every month from the local pharmacy, then 5 years later discovered all the cost savings by doing mail-in's. I could have saved so much money through the years.
I get my brand name med's for $45.00 for a 3 month supply. This includes my Colozal and Canasa.
I know our med's are so expensive!
Posted 3/21/2008 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
I agree! They avg. about $2.50/each through my insurance and my script is only 20 at a time. Why not 30 for the month or half month? I will have to do some research, as maybe they haven't been out that long?? If so, you'd think there would be a generic or alternative product available.
Posted 3/21/2008 8:42 AM (GMT 0)
Personally, I resent having to pay a lot of money just to stick something somewhere. It's seems like a cruel joke!

I have insurance now, so I haven't looked into it, but buying a 3-month supply though Walgreen's looked like a cheaper option back when I was researching this stuff.

Do doctors ever have free samples of Canasa? There's no shame in asking your doctor for free samples. I think doctors should know when the meds they prescribe are expensive for you so that they might think of a cheaper alternative or creative temporary solution like free samples.
Posted 3/21/2008 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
I'm curious, do they make a generic Canasa such as a mesalamine suppository yet? When I was using Canasa it was always the brand name so I don't know. Luckily my insurance covers this med so I never had to pay more then $10 but still - it can so hard on the pocket book!
Posted 3/21/2008 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
No, they don't have a generic version yet, unfortunately.

alabamababs - I think how big your script is depends on what your doctor writes out for you. I get 30/month, but if he wrote out that I should use 2 supps/day I think I would get 60/month when I go to pick up the prescription.
Posted 3/22/2008 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Some pharmacies will not dispense the med beyond a 2-week supply if the insurer balks at lump payment for a larger quantity. This usually happens with the canister foam, which we discussed last month in another thread. The pharmacy would rather have the patient return for refills so that separate bills are generated & processed at intervals instead of waiting for one large payment. At least that's the way a city pharmacist once explained it to me. / Old Hat
Posted 3/22/2008 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Makes sense, Old Hat. Maybe that's why I have to get my Rowasa twice a month? I only have to get Canasa once a month though, so I don't know.
Posted 1/25/2014 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Here it is 2014 and Canasa retails at my local Walmart for $$750.00 for a 30 day supply!
Though my co- pay is $45.00, the $750.00 counts toward a $2600.00 donut hole for the year.coupled with an Apriso prescription that retails for $350.00 a month
a person with this disease, under my circumstances should reach that donut hole in 4 months.
Excluding any other meds needed for other diseases or medical issues I think I will be living to pay high prescriptions for ever with this chronic condition! Not being rich I guess I will have to give up the meds and hope to die earlier than later.
You have to be dirt poor though to get any help from the pharmaceuticals
Poor all Americans with similar challenges!
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