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When did Asacol HD go generic?

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Posted 11/29/2016 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Recently got a nasty surprise when my Asacol HD jumped from $75 a month to $598 a month.

[Whose mother?]

Switched back to Canadian, which I can get for about $68 a month generic.

Looked more at my recent U.S. RX orders, and the most recent one came generic.
Posted 11/29/2016 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
There's no usa generic asacol to my knowledge. Provide more details...
Posted 11/29/2016 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Was checking prices online through my RX insurer, modahealth.com

Looked up Asacol HD and saw generic alternatives for mesalamine 800 mg
Posted 12/22/2016 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Got it today. Here's a link to the generic maker for my order.

www.zydususa.com/product-details/?id=216
Posted 12/22/2016 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, thank you for letting us know. I called my pharmacy, riteaid, and they said mesalamine DR 800mg capsules are listed within their computer system as a generic equivalent to asacol and asacol hd (meaning it's something they can order).

I asked about price:

Lialda is listed as $1,144 for a 30 day supply (4 pills a day, each pill is 1,200mgs).

Mesalamine DR is listed as $1,129 for a 30 day supply (6 pills a day, each 800mgs). Shocked there, i expected a much, much lower price for a generic (only a $15 difference?). Maybe it's just riteaid or because it's so new? I dunno. I'll check again next time i refill ...
Posted 12/22/2016 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
Seriously that's it? What a bummer about the price difference. I was hoping to see something more marked as well. Perhaps it is the price your insurance negotiates with the manufacturer.
Posted 12/22/2016 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Perfect timing on the generic mesalamine DR. Just foundout that's only a $10 copay as a generic, versus $200 for lialda. Even with the lialda copay assistance card it would've been $80 for my lialda prescription refill today. I told them no thanks i want the mesalamine DR (they have to order it). Apparently, the lialda copay assistance card reimburses $500 for each of the first 3 months, then only $120 thereafter. This is month 4 and the sting hit me. Ouch.

I'll take a $10 copay over $80 any day, huge thanks Ken!

Post Edited (iPoop) : 12/22/2016 10:38:27 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/25/2016 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
I had been stalking the asacol hd generic news for a while - it just went generic in either October or November. I JUST got my 90 day supply refill in the mail today and looking at it next to the asacol, the bottle and pills look identical so I am hopeful it will work the same. the generic appears to still be pricey but insurance carriers tend to have negotiated rates and lower copays on generics. for example my insurance makes me meet my deductible before they cover drugs at a copay price. So for me, I have to pay the first $1000 annually no matter what. 90 days meets that with my insurance, but now I'm going to save $125 every 90 days because the brand name copay is $150 for 90 vs the generic is $25 for my insurance. So I am very excited, I will be saving quite a bit this year and going forward assuming this generic works for me. Hopefully you can cancel the refill of the brand and get your doctor to write the generic and save some $$$, good luck!
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