HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Is VSL #3 something you need an Rx for?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/1/2011 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I'm taking SCdophollis and Sacro B but I hear VSL is the gold standard?  Anyone know if it's SCD legal?

Sorry for all the questions today. 

M

Posted 10/1/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
VSL#3 Can be purchased with out a rx, but if your doctor will write one for VSL#3DS (double strength) your insurance might cover it.

Sorry, I don't know anything about SCD.
Posted 10/1/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you! I just saw another thread on this which is helpful.
Posted 10/2/2011 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I asked my GI about getting a prescription for this about 4 years ago and he said no because there hasn't been enough research on them. Maybe I'll ask again next time I see him.
Posted 10/2/2011 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
VSL#3 is very expensive.  I believe this over-the-counter strength can be in capsule or powder form.

VSL#3DS is Double Strength and only available by prescription.  Beware that your doctor and pharmacist may have never heard of this.  I called my insurance company and they do cover the DS.  I called my doctor and told him how I wanted the prescription written.    This part is very important:

     ~It must be written as VSL#3DS and specify that there are 20 packets per box - DS is only in powder form.

The drug store did not stock it but were able to get it from their supplier and I had it the next day - Drug Mart.

VSL#3DS is a powder and must be kept refrigerated.

My insurance company said that no matter what dosage my doctor writes the script for it will be the same co-pay.  So, my doctor wrote that I need to take eight packets per day (I only take a 1/2 - 1 pack as written in the instructions for colitis not flaring).  Needless to say, I have A LOT of this stuff for my $50 co-pay.  The pharmacist said that these 10 boxes that I got, if I would have paid out of pocket, would have been $1,950.

Hope this info helps.

Posted 10/2/2011 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
I've found VSL3 to be a very powerful probiotic, and in my case irritated my UC. Sometimes probiotics can produce too much lactic acid through fermentation and irritate the gut. But in most people they work very well.
Posted 10/2/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Absolutely agree, greenenergy. When I first picked up my prescription, I tried to take one packet the first day. And, my oh my, the cramping that I got was excrutiating! It felt like the worst period cramps that I've ever had - my son is 22 but the only cramping I've had that bad to my knowledge was when I gave birth, lol.

I reduced my daily dose to 1/4 of a packet for about a week and have since gone up to a 1/2 packet per day. The directions in the box say: 

1/2 - 1 packet for UC.

1 - 2 packets for Pouchitis.

2 - 4 packets for flaring UC.

Posted 10/3/2011 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
I've seen a lot of people say you need a prescription for VSL3 DS. Even a VSL3 rep told me this in an email a couple days ago. But I asked yesterday at both Target and CVS pharmacies and they said they could order both regular VSL3 and VSl3 DS for me without a prescription.

It also turns out VSL3 DS at Target and CVS is more expensive (per amount of bacteria), because they double the price, even though you only get 20 packets, instead of the 30 packets you get with regular VSL3. So unless your insurance only covers the DS version, there is basically no reason to buy it. Maybe the prices are more sensible elsewhere.

That aside, anyone have any luck getting Blue Shield to cover VSL3?

Post Edited (gg555) : 10/2/2011 9:01:20 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/3/2011 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
There seems to be a lot of confusion about the doses of this probiotic and buying it over the counter.  I could have asked more questions the day I was calling doc/pharm/ins, I would have, but I have never tried to purchase OTC.....The more I think about it, I've come this this conclusion:

Obviously, from first hand experience from other posters, you can get both strengths over the counter, but maybe our insurance companies only cover the DS....???  I know my insurance company only covers the DS and they specified they will only cover the powder form.....does anyone know if you can get the DS in pill form?

I was OK with the powder form because I didn't want to take another pill.  I hate pills - goes back to when I was first diagnosed and was taking 28 pills per day.....

 

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply