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Looking for alternatives to Asacol...Colazal? Sulfa? Lialda?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/27/2013 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all:

I posted last week about my insurance company not wanting to authorize me to have Asacol anymore, nevermind I've been in remission for almost 3 years!  Anyway, my docs office said they did not hear back so they've applied for me again, but the secretary said it didn't look good.  So I want to be prepared.  My doc is generally very open to what I want to try, I'm the one who picked Asacol in the first place.

So, I've been reading..there's no generic mesalamine, is that correct?  Are any of the other name brands cheaper?  Apriso?  Lialda I see I could maybe get a $10 card...has anyone done that...are the restrictions?  We aren't in the poor house, but we don't really have $100s per month for meds either.

I also see there's a generic Colazal...which is balsalazide, right?  Which sounds better than the sulfa to me.

Can anyone give me their thoughts on what my best choice might be if I am denied Asacol?  I want to be prepared!  I know there's still an outside change they might not deny it, but the secretary told me to be prepared...so that's what I'm doing! 

What about a generic mesalamine from Canada...are those reputable? 

I'm a little overwhelmed...anyone have thoughts?

Thanks so much guys...this board has helped me so so much!  I don't post all the time, but I read and when I was first dx, y'all were lifesavers. 

 

Posted 2/27/2013 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I use generic Colazal (balsalazide) and generic mesalamine enemas with no problems. (Generics are required under my insurance to get the most coverage.)

There is a post under the U C Resources thread that lists the different meds.
Posted 2/27/2013 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Did you ever look at your insurance policy? It should be spelled out in plain english what kinds of drugs are covered. They may just be trying to intimidate you. I have known a few people who worked for health insurance companies and they would get bonuses for turning people down for covered things. Their thought process was even though 80% of policy holders would win an appeal they were still saving millions of dollars on those people who would just give up without a fight.
Posted 2/27/2013 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Balsalazide releases mesalazine, also known as 5-aminosalicylic acid, or 5-ASA, in the large intestine

it is a generic.
Posted 2/27/2013 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
I know about the Lialda discount thing. The way it works is if you have insurance they will cover up to 120 and you pay the rest starting at 10. If you are a cash patient they take 50.00 off the Rx.
Posted 2/27/2013 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Calm-on-the-outside, if you are in the US then there are no generic oral meslamine-based medicines currently available (I had heard a rumor that some might be available this Sept). There are brand named Asacol HD, Lialda, Apriso, and Colazal which are all expensive (I know Apriso and Lialda have discount cards). Your pharmacy should be able to tell you the monthly cost for each medicine, at your current dosage.

I currently use the Lialda savings card, without it my copay for a month's medication would be $40, and the card bumps it down to $10. The discount card has different rules if you are paying out of pocket, I believe it saves you more.

Other ways to get things cheaper? You could get some generic Meslamines from Canada and I know there have been posts here about which pharmacies are safe and reliable ( here's a good post). Sulfa is way cheaper than the Meslamine medicines but also carries a lot more potential side effects. I know there are some on here who use Sulfa, have for years, and have never had any serious side effects.
Posted 2/27/2013 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Calm on the outside

There is Asacol (generic) available in canada. I use Canada Pharmacy and it cost $170. for 90 days without insurance

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