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I need a new medication!!!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/8/2009 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
I go to see my UC doc next week, due to a flare-up.  Since i have no medication at the moment, I am going to obviously ask for a prescription.  Here's the issue--i'm poor!!!  I've always been on Asacol, and that stuff is expensive!  So I'm wondering if anyone has expereince with any similar mesalamine oral drugs or ozasalazine that're cheaper than asacol. 

I tried sulfasalzine when i was first diagnosed, but it made me start throwing up, so I'm pretty sure I'm intolerant to that.  I want to be able to get a prescription for a drug that has a GENERIC available, but perhaps works like asacol...any suggestions for drugs I should ask my doctor about?  Thanks!!!!!!

Posted 8/8/2009 6:39 PM (GMT 0)

http://www.pgpharma.com/pdf/PAP_Instructions.pdf

http://www.canasacare.com/assist_program.php?lang=1

You can get into these programs if your doctor will fill out the patient assistance forms. I qualified for free asacol and canasa. It has made my life so much less stressful. Goodluck.

Posted 8/8/2009 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
i take Lialda...it's a Mesalamine... there's a program that you get a card from it and it basically makes it so you won't pay more than 25 dollars for it.
Posted 8/9/2009 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
sweet melody - is that card (for the Lialda) a one time use or does it last for an entire year? Thx...
Posted 8/9/2009 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
There is no generic Asacol. 3 companies started marketing generic Colazal (balsalazide disodium) in 2008, but some of us had trouble with it-- such as headaches. Lialda & Apriso are the newest oral 5-ASAs available; they have "extended-release" properties = fewer pills required daily. All these meds are outrageously expensive w/o applicable RX insurance so it's best that you apply for pharma assistance ASAP if you qualify. See the post by UC Wife in MD re takedown-- because she's offering to ship her husband's unused generic Rowasa retention enemas (mesalamine liquid) to a UCer lacking insurance! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 8/9/2009 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
NiRo it lasts forever.. as far as I know. And actually I just called the number it told me to and I only had to give it to my pharmacy ONCE and they have it in their system, so I just keep it in my wallet.

Looking on the back of the card it says: call the Lialda Pharmacy Card program at 800-416-8466 (8:00am-8:00pm EST Mon-Fri)


but the card i got was from my GI... and I had to ask for it... it has all those fun ID numbers on it to activate it.. so either maybe call that number and see if they can send you a card or something... or ask your GI.
Posted 8/10/2009 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Kelli_C. We would like to help out if needed.
Posted 8/13/2009 2:31 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks UC_Wife!  I do actually have insurance, but it is still very expensive.  It's great that they have the 90-day supply program, but it's still a lot of money to front, you know?   

I haven't gone out the those websites yet, but thanks so much for passing that info along!  Sounds like I'll also be asking the doc for a way to make these meds less expensive. 

Posted 8/13/2009 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
Are you sure you are allergic to sulfasalazine? I became quite nauseous when I first started taking it. If I didn't have a strong stomach I probably would have thrown up too. That problem was solved when I started using the enteric form of sulfasalazine. Been fine with it ever since (and there is a generic version available).
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