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Uceris prices :(

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/14/2013 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
So...I have been in a flare since early November. Pretty much been on prednisone since then. I'm down to 10mg, but still having symptoms.

My GI wanted me to go on Humira, but I sudgested trying Uceris first. Hoping that it would be my saving grace. My GI gave me the green light, and sent in the prescription, but also noted that it was really expensive.

I printed the $25 e-voucher from the Uceris websit, and went to pick up my prescription. Unfortunately...the coupon is a complete joke, and even with prescription coverage it will cost me $1200. ***!...do they have a gold coating on them?

My next step is to call the drug company and see if they can help me out at all.

Anybody else have any suggestions? I really would like to give this a go and see what happens, before I take the Humira leap. But I'm not going to shell out $1200 for something that may or may not work.
Posted 3/14/2013 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm I had no problem with the certificate. My 90 day supply cost 130 or so. That sucks!
Posted 3/14/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
The pharmacist told me that the certificate basically is for persons that have a co-pay of $100 or less for Uceris, then the drug company would reduce the cost to $25. Even with prescription coverage my cost was $1200. I don't have the best coverage, but I can't image how expensive this stuff is full price.
Posted 3/14/2013 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone's insurance is different. Mine would be very expensive also as I have a very high family deductible of $6000. I pay 100% of everything, including prescriptions, up to the deductible, after which the insurance company pays 100% of everything and I pay zero. It sucks at the beginning of the year but if the deductible gets met, like last year, everything is free after that for the rest of the year.
Posted 3/15/2013 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
I have insurance just like Gary, except my deductible is 3000 then everything, including drugs, covered completely. I meet my deductible every single year. It sucks right now, and I'm at the point where I need to refill all my meds as I 'stock up' in Dec when I am paying nothing. So now in March I'm getting to the end of my 90 day supply and time to refill them all, its a big bill

I was hoping to try Uceris as my next step if this Prednisone taper doesn't work. I' really hoping my super slow taper works this time though. Fingers crossed. 1200 would surely get me to my deductible really fast.
Posted 3/15/2013 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
MN: I did that too, stocking up on meds at the end of the year. I figured out that you can reorder anything you want after 3 weeks so when the meds last for 4 weeks the last few months of the year I would reorder every 3 weeks and save up on them to carry me into the new year. It worked wonders except for the fact that so far I have very little deductible met up with this year compared to last year.
Posted 3/15/2013 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
I have my every other year colonoscopy this summer, so whatever I don't meet in deductible will surely be met after that. I think the last one I got was almost 2000, they are kind of spendy at Mayo but they do a good job at least and make sure you are comfortable as can be. I just refilled my VSL and it was about 350, and just got another 350 bill for a derm appt I had a month ago. I'll be at that deductible in no time.
Posted 3/15/2013 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
My situation is same as Gary and MN, I have $4000 deductible/calendar year (so total deductible is $8000 because coverage is not like calendar year). Uceris price for me is about $1300 through Medco. I noticed, since I went on high deductible insurance, drug prices are through roof, so I use goodrx.com to buy my meds, usually save about 50%

Uceris prices are not different than what Medco is offering me, I am staying away from coated budesonide.

(Funny, when I saw my price, my reaction was pretty much like yours. I emailed a friend of mine who works with an Indian pharma corp. They developed a insulin preparation with a similar coating, primarily because insulin pen was pulled out of Greek and other markets after economy went south and insulin pen could not make profit in those markets. The preparation will be marketed by some American company. I asked him, if they could modify this coating to dissolve in the colon to beat the crap out of Uceris..)
Posted 4/12/2013 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this forum. I have just been prescribed Uceris but the pharmacy says it is $4600 a month! The coupon is not applicable to anyone on Medicare. Uceris is not in my Rx plan formulary. How much are others paying for this?
Thanks
Posted 4/12/2013 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I called my drs office and asked for some samples to try before I paid money for something that might not agree with me. I was given 16 pills. There two in a sample box. Just tell them the cost involved I'm sure they will sympathize.
Posted 4/12/2013 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Most all cost estimates I have heard are in the $1300 range for one month. Could that be a quote for a 3 month supply? Normally they just prescribe it for 2 months. Also, someone else here recently had a doctor accidently prescribe 3 pills per day when it should have only been one. That could also up the cost if the same thing happened. No matter what, unless you have insurance, it is going to cost about $1300 for a one month supply unles you can get your doc to give you some samples.
Posted 4/12/2013 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
fortunately, for the past 8 months, i've been able to tell big pharma and their criminal prices to kiss my colon!

hope you find an affordable option -
Posted 4/12/2013 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
The Uceris is to be taken for 8 weeks so a two month supply. It will probably cost around 2500 for the entire duration. So far the side effects I experienced with Prednisone have not surfaced with Useris, which is probably why it is so expensive.
Posted 4/12/2013 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
It's just expensive because it is a new patent and the drug companies try to not only recoup the millions they spent on research and development but to also make a profit on it as well, plus have more money to spend millions on new research and development for newer drugs. It probably cost them $50 for a one month supply to actually make.
Posted 4/13/2013 2:16 AM (GMT 0)

garylouisville said...
It's just expensive because it is a new patent and the drug companies try to not only recoup the millions they spent on research and development but to also make a profit on it as well, plus have more money to spend millions on new research and development for newer drugs. It probably cost them $50 for a one month supply to actually make.

Agreed. That and the fact they know we are a desperate crowd willing to try just about anything to get some relief.
Posted 4/13/2013 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
$1300 is a fairly 'normal' retail price. If that is how much you've been quoted, it means your insurance is not covering it. The $25 co-pay card only works if your insurance covers the medicine.

Your receipt should show retail, insurance portion, and copay.

My insurance has updated their website to show Uceris Not Covered this week.
Posted 4/13/2013 1:09 PM (GMT 0)

Tornado6 said...
$1300 is a fairly 'normal' retail price. If that is how much you've been quoted, it means your insurance is not covering it. The $25 co-pay card only works if your insurance covers the medicine.

Your receipt should show retail, insurance portion, and copay.

My insurance has updated their website to show Uceris Not Covered this week.

It's not normal compared to prednisone which is around 20 dollars vs Uceris which is 1200 dollars...
Of course were talking about insurance not covering it or it wouldn't be such a big deal to those of us on here complaining about the price.
Posted 4/13/2013 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
My Remicade - just the medicine - is just over $6,000 for a six week supply.

$1300 is a lot of money, no doubt, but most of us are used to co-pay prices, not retail prices of medicine.
Posted 4/13/2013 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Jeez, I thought my $50 copsy for 30 Uceris pills was a lot! Guess not... my insurance is just pretty basic, it's an HMO. I'm in the USA. But Uceris is covered, just in the highest tier- the drug prices go from $15, $30, to $50, depending on the tier. I truly couldn't pay that much $$$ for meds, it's just not in our budget at all. If you can swing 2 months worth without problem, give it a try. It's only an 8 week course, so it's a finite cost. And after being on Uceris for just about a month, there is NO WAY it's worth that cost! I mean, it helps, but... not that much!
Posted 4/14/2013 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I'm beginning to agree with you Eva Lou on the price being too high for Uceris. I had several strong urges today. One when I went out for a jog and had to stop or I would have crapped my pants. Fortunately the city library was close by so I dashed in there then walked the rest of the way home. All I could think of was how there is no way in hell I'm paying a couple grand to be dealing with D on the run! I'm supposed to be doing a 15 mile trail race next week and I'm not sure how that's going to work out for me. I'm bringing lots of baby wipes for starters...
Posted 8/7/2013 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
How is everyone doing on the Uceris? I start it tomorrow/?
Posted 8/7/2013 9:40 AM (GMT 0)
I've already been posting about Uceris on other threads, but it's worked excellent for me after about 10 days.
No weight gain, swelling, pain, no side effects. I stopped taking it 10 days ago (after taking it 4 months) after combining it with SCD. I wanting to see if the diet was helping me any. I've actually been ok without any drugs/supplements since I stopped. We'll see how it goes...
Posted 8/7/2013 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
You should ask your doc for samples. My GI gave me a enough for one week, then my GP gave me enough for 2 more to take while waiting for my Remicade to start. After 2 weeks on Uceris, I have to say that I wasn't that impressed. While it did help with the bleeding, it did nothing for my urgency and D, and I was still having accidents. I would certainly ask for the samples and try it for a few weeks before investing that amount of $$.
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