VSL Confusion

VSL-D does not stand for diarrhea, it stands for "double" as in double the dose as the regular VSL#3.

Yes the "D" requires a prescription but the only people who order VSL-D are those whose healthplan covers it because it is exactly the same as VSL#3 but the "D" is the one that was found through testing to be a therapeutic benefit to UC because of the higher and more frequent dosage. IIRC the studies showed improvement with 4 packets of double dose per day. (That would be 8 packets of regular VSL). I'm sure someone will come along and correct me if I'm wrong

I use the VSL#3 because my insurance won't pay for it and if/when I need a double dose then I take more and more frequently.

I think VSL#3 can be ordered from the VSL site and shipped to Canada. Have you been to the website and checked that?

Thank you imagarderer2. Yes was on the site, but it only offered VSL#3 not the D type. I will call when they open to inquire about the D type.

Then I will sell a kidney so that I may afford this, in an effort to keep my bowel:)

I have not been able to find the D in Canada. Please update me if your call to them tells a different story. The regular stuff seems to be helping me but darn its xpensive!

8 packets! Insane. I have started at 1 and it seems to be helping but not too much. I am assuming here that it will help more after a few weeks when the bacteria gets settled in (house, kids, parties). Does it work the other way where however many I take is how many I get (ie they come in and work for a certain amount of time before dying off)?

Hi Everyone,
I called and ordered VSL3. In Canada I cannot get "D" version. Can't believe how much it cost! They said there was a minimum quantity of 2 but because it was my first time she let me order 1 pack. Still $122 with shipping and tax. Good news is that I get it tomorrow morning, just in time because I started flaring yesterday.

I'm going to start with 1/2 pack and build up to 1 a day. There is NO WAY I can afford to take 8 packets/day.

Iamgardner2: did you just start with 8? Is VSL what got you into remission?

DBwithUC said...
I did the 4 DS packets a day for about 3 weeks. I got symptom improvement and some soft formed stool after 2.5 years of no formed stool. But it started to give me some diarrhea. I could tell by the smell, feel, and timing. I cut down to 1 packet.

Holy Smokes!
Should I start with 4 packs/day then? My tummy is so sensitive that I was going to start with 1/2 pack and hold my breath.

What are your thoughts?

It always becomes confusing when third parties get involved so I can only share my experience with you. It took three times even for my doctor to get the prescription right. What I know is VSL#3 tablets are an over the counter drug. As such they are usually not paid for by any prescription plan. I only bought them once and they were $72.00 with tax for 30 tablets. I then researched VSL#3 ds packets which are prescription only. The ds stands for double strength. VSL#3, in my opinion and with my budget restrictions, is prohibitively expensive if you do not have insurance coverage. Thankfully for me, my secondary insurance covers my prescriptions with a $4 or $8 copay. My last order was 4 boxes, 20 packets per box, and my cost was $8, saving me $418.00 at my Walgreens pharmacy. I have no idea about Canadian rules for covering medications. I guess there are some doctors who are reluctant to prescribe. Even doctors who are willing to prescribe sometimes need explicit instructions on how to write the prescription. And my pharmacy first told me there was no such thing as packets and the tablets were OTC. When I asked them to do further research they found the packets. Perhaps one of the reasons the packets are not available on the web is the packets need to be refrigerated. Which makes me wonder about getting them shipped over the border. I hope this helps.

I worked up to 4 ds/day over 10 days. I had also done other probiotics prior.

@emw35: the pills need refrigerated shipping too

For those that are interested in VSL regular strength you can find it either on Amazon or the VSL site directy for about $50 for per bottle of the capsules, plus shipping. VSL must have a warehouse in my city and the shipping to me was only $7.50 for 4 bottles. Amazon shipping was $15 for 4 bottles. The shipping is the same for only 1 bottle. They have to ship it refrigerated. I believe you can also buy satchets of the regular strength. I found a trick on Amazon that if you chose something like "expedited shipping" that it actually wound up being cheaper than the standard shipping. Since VSL charges about $50 per bottle most all pharmacies, etc have to charge it OTC at a markup in order to make a profit.

I'm in Toronto too and you're right, there's no way to get the DS in Canada and even if you ship it in from the US your insurance will not cover it (and I don't think most US pharmacies will honour a Canadian rx - we've tried this several times). $112 is a lot! Where are you getting it from? It is very expensive but we did not spend that much on it. My daugther was taking boat loads at one point (4 packs a day ish?) and it didn't do anything for her at the time but it is worth a shot. I think we might have bought it at Smith's Pharmacy in North York but I don't remember - I think you might find a better price if you call around.

Faithmac - Just curious. Were the samples the OTC was giving out the DS or regular? Did he offer to give you a prescription for the DS so your insurance would cover it? I looked on line and found VSL#3 regular packets and capsules are easily available. Quite expensive.The VSL#3 website says the DS packets are available only by prescription, contact your doctor. My pharmacy has told me the prescription has to be very specific. It must say VSL#3 ds Packets. My doctor orders 3 boxes at a time which keeps it affordable at $8 for me to pay and insurance picks up the rest.
My last visit to my GI was in February and he was recommending the capsules. I would never have known about the prescription packets if it weren't for this forum. Don't remember who it was but I am forever grateful to whomever it was.

emw35- the samples were for the OTC. I said how come you don't have the DS. They said it was not available. My GI didn't know anything about the double strength. The pharmacy told me how he should write the script . Yes he did give it to me so my insurance would cover it. You get a better deal with your insurance. I paid $50.00 for 4 boxes of 20. Almost 3 months. Still better then the price of the OTC. Packets are stronger I think?