VSL DS with NO prescription

So I've been pretty miserable lately and figured I should add VSL back in to see if that will help. I take renew life right now but it's only 80 billion and think I need something stronger during this hellish flare.

I called Target pharmacy, where I used to get my VSL#3- It's only 70 bux for a 30 day supply, and I asked if they had any. The pharmacy tech said they were out of the regular but they had the DS if I wanted to get that. I told her "sure" because I was shocked as to why I didn't need a prescription. When I went through my insurance once to get DS, it was $187 for a 20 day supply so I never ended up buying it.

Well, I asked her on the phone how much it would be. The girl said $94 which was great since it was way cheaper than what I would've paid with my insurance. My mom goes in to pick it up tonight and when the girl rings it up, she says "All right. It'll be $4."

Knowing me, I would've said NOTHING as I feel like I need a break-or just something good happening to me!- from paying high prices for medications... however, my mom has a soul and morals and said to the girl that it should ring up as $94. So the girl rerung it and that's what we got it for. Still much cheaper than going through insurance and having a prescription.

Just thought I'd let you know that if you're insurance sucks like mine that there is a possibility to get it at Target with no prescription.

 

No problem, Cita. I was getting it at Costco before I found out that it was cheaper at Target- I'm a bargain shopper. I felt good on the VSL- had bloating at first but it went away. I'm gonna do DS for 40 days in a row and then go back to regular VSL.

My GI also never heard of it. I had originally gotten the script from my primary care physician (she didn't know what it was) but didn't have a problem prescribing it. I just thought since it was going through insurance it would be cheaper. Not the case in my book.

Sounds like the Pharmacist didn't know that was prescription grade. That could be a big issue. The DEA does go around and audit the pharmacies...I actually applied for one of this positions. They could get a BIG find for doing that.

Just call it a lucky day.

I am so lucky to have a wonderful secondary insurance that only cost me 13 years teaching to become vested. Since I loved teaching I consider it a gift. I am Medicare primary, required once you reach 65, which I did years ago. Most of my prescriptions cost me $4 or less. Once in a while one will come up at $8. Neither my gi nor primary care are aware of a prescription probiotic. While my insurance is wonderful, they will not pay for anything that can be obtained OTC. If anyone is taking a prescription only probiotic could/would clue me in, I would appreciate the help.

bananagirl,

Get that other box today! I just checked the company's website that makes VSL#3 and VSL#3 DS; the website still states that VSL#3 DS is available only with a prescription.

http://shop.vsl3.com/vsl3-ds---prescription-only-p17.aspx

A few weeks ago, another member here stated he got it without a script at Cosco. At that time, I called  Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, the maker of VSL, and was told that you need a prescription for the DS.

Technically/legally it is not a supplement. It is a medical food.

 

Medical foods and dietary supplements are discrete regulatory classifications and are not interchangeable. The former must be shown, by medical evaluation, to meet the distinctive nutritional needs of a specific, diseased patient population being targeted, prior to marketing. In contrast, dietary supplements are intended for normal, healthy adults and require no pre-market efficacy tests. In addition, medical foods require physician supervision and a prescription. To summarize, medical foods are medical products for a specific nutritional purpose as opposed to dietary supplements which are a consumer product to supplement the diet and maintain good health and regular function.

You can read more here: http://tmedpharma.com/docs/Medical-Foods-by-issacson.pdf

No where on the Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals website is VSL#3 Regular or DS referred to as a supplement. It is labeled a Medical Food.

I phoned Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals and spoke with both a Customer Care Rep and a Medical Care Specialist. When I told the Customer Care Rep that both Cosco and Target have been known to dispense VSL#3 DS without a prescription, I was told they probably don't know it requires a prescription. I asked if the prescription is legally required ort preferred by the company. That is when the customer Care Rep got the Medical Care Specialist involved. He sounded surprised that I was telling him of two stores that reportedly dispensed VSL#3 DS without a prescription. He stated that no store or pharmacy should be dispensing VSL#3 DS withot a prescription. I also asked him is the prescription legally required or preferred by the company. He stated VSL#3 DS is a medical food that requires a prescription. He also said he would consult with the Regulatory Department. He took my information and said he will get back to me. I forgot, but will ask him next time, if VSL#3 is a medical food that reqires a prescription, why is it only the DS that requires it? Is there a dose "cut off" where it is considered to need a prescription?

I'll post when I hear back from him.