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Generic Mesalamine vs Lialda

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/17/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Can no longer afford brand name Lialda and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with replacing brand name Lialda with generic Mesalamine tablets of the same dose?

Generic Mesalamine 1.2g tablets are a third of the cost with the same active ingredient as in Lialda.

Has anyone gone this route for your drugs and had success with the product.

There is a company in Barbados named Sun Pharma that sells the 1.2g Mesalamine pills at a very good price, Lialda without insurance is just way to expensive at this time.

Or is there other stuff in Lialda that the generic mesalamine doesn't have that will make all the difference in the drug working or not, or is it really just the mesalamine and the dose?
Posted 1/17/2012 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
The difference between the various drugs is the delivery system and dosage. The generics use the asacol type coating as far as I know. There is a Canadian manufactured generic asacol 400mg that is sold in Canada and I think Sun Pharma's 400mg version is also sold there. Sun Pharma is an Indian company.

I would use a Canadian pharmacy if you are American. They are more reputable but require an RX. Generic mesalamine runs 30-40 cents per 400mg tab. The generics available in the US are sulfaslazine and Colazal which are compounds that break down into mesalamine in the colon. Sulfaslazine is cheap. Generic colazal is pretty expensive. Sulfasalazine causes intolerance problems in 30% of users. I ended up on colazal but I have insurance for generics. If I had no insurance I would use the generic from Canada.
Posted 1/17/2012 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
it is the coatings, or chemical bonds, or other things that tme the release to ocur in the colon and not the gut or small intestine that distinguish the name brands. In some cases the ph of the gut is used to cut a chemical bond, or disolve a coating, in one case the bacteria of the colon are used to release the drug.

But the main thing about Lialda is the sponge/matrix aspect of the delivery system that allows for 1x daily dosing. If you did nto hav ethis matrix with this coating, I would take a lower does of generic more times thorught the day. I would not take several 1.2g generic tablets all at once.
Posted 7/24/2017 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Just picked up my first batch of generic Lialda. $10 for a three month supply. whoopee!
Posted 7/24/2017 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
i read about the generic approval. who makes it?
Posted 7/25/2017 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
My pharmacy automatically applies a manufacturer coupon for my Lialda and I pay $10 / month. Might be something to look into/ask about (if you're in the states)
Posted 7/25/2017 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
I would assume generic lialda is made by Zydus Pharmacueticals. These links have details that ypur pharmacy might need to order it.

This is their product page for 1,200mg mesalamine delayed release tablets (aka lialda generic):
www.zydususa.com/product-details/?id=307

This is their product page for 800mg mesalamine delayed release tablets (aka asacol hd generic). My blue cross blue shield insurance didn't count the zydus 800mg tablets as a true generic, insisted it was licensed-by-asacolhd for a significant premium (certainly the pharmacy list price was only $15 less than brandnamed lialda, for this "generic").
www.zydususa.com/product-details/?id=216

Report back if you get these! Cost and effectiveness are good for us all to know. These darn insurance copays are killers, and it'd be great if we could all get an affordable mesalamine-delayed-release tablet as a generic here!
Posted 7/25/2017 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
as long as my co-pay card works I won't try, but this is good to know
Posted 8/14/2017 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on generic lialda for about a week and a half and now have mucus and blood and abdominal discomfort I have always used lialda for the past 14 years so now I will be calling the doctor to get a RX for Lialda
Posted 8/17/2017 2:43 PM (GMT 0)

Spo307 said...
I have been on generic lialda for about a week and a half and now have mucus and blood and abdominal discomfort used lialda for the past 14 years so now I will be calling the doctor to get a RX for Lialda

I saw your post from 8/14 and I feel so much better. I am newly diagnosed with colitis and took lialda for one month. It wasworking. I got a refill but they gave me the generic and have the same symptoms you described. I just called my doctor. Thank you! ( I couldn't figure out what was going on.) Thank you again! smile smile smile smile
Posted 8/20/2017 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
They just switched me to generic. I'm going to give it some time to see how it works. I was having trouble with Asacol when I was on it a few years ago, Lialda worked much better. The coating on the generic tastes odd and gets sticky when wet (Lialda did not).

I will see how it goes but may also need to request the name brand specifically.
Posted 8/21/2017 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
My insurance copay is the same for either lialda or generic, so I am sticking to brand name since I use the co-pay assist card and end up paying only $10 for Lialda and would pay $60 for the generic. Doesn't make financial sense for me to bother trying the generic now.
Posted 8/21/2017 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
I was recently switched to generic as well. No real side effects yet, but had a scare last weekend with a super stiff neck - barely could move it and difficulty swallowing.

Went away after 2-3 days.
Posted 8/23/2017 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I am in the same boat. I have high deductible insurance so recently changed from Lialda to sulfaslazine but after taking it for two weeks I broke out in hives. So I found out I have a sulfa allergy... great. With lialda I had the savings card but be aware and read fine print, that it's only $10 for the first 3 refills then they only take $120 off so it's still almost $400. Sulfaslazine was only $16. I'm hoping that mesalamine works out. It's $120 but sill better than $400
Posted 8/28/2017 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Good to see this thread. I too was kicked off Lialda for Zydus's generic version recently and I also noticed that the earth red coating dissolves in water. Also never noticed with Lialda.

Please post if you notice any differences attributable to the generic so we keep each other informed... I will as well.

Thanks!
Posted 9/1/2017 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
I just got switched to the generic-lialda. The retail price for a 3-month supply of generic-lialda is still $3,635.99 at my RiteAid Pharmacy is $3,635.99 (or $1,211.99 for just a 30-day supply of 120 tablets). And here I thought generics were supposed to be cheaper than brand named drugs are, savings is less than $20 :-P
Posted 9/3/2017 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
I went to refill my Lialda yesterday at the CVS/Caremark site as usual for the 90 day supply and they wanted to charge me $1225.26 with my insurance plan not covering any of the cost.

My previous purchase had it costing $1,531.57 with my insurance picking up $1,378.41 and with me picking up $153.16.

I emailed CVS/Caremark and they described how I could purchase the Zydus generic (NDC: 68382071119). Drum roll...

It has a cost of $2,365.60 with my insurance picking up $2,129.04 and with me picking up $236.56.

***!
Posted 9/9/2017 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
I was switched today after being on Lialda for UC for a relatively consistent 7 years. Has anyone had a GOOD experience with the new generic?
Posted 9/9/2017 11:23 PM (GMT 0)

Celeriac said...
My pharmacy automatically applies a manufacturer coupon for my Lialda and I pay $10 / month. Might be something to look into/ask about (if you're in the states)

I was surprised when I was rung up for $20 for the generic. I'm going to ask my GI for a new Lialda script, because these posts are worrying me. And Lialda is cheaper for me.
Posted 9/10/2017 11:29 AM (GMT 0)

tap said...
It has a cost of $2,365.60 with my insurance picking up $2,129.04 and with me picking up $236.56.


I checked into this some more and CVS/Caremark was quoting a price for 360 pills for 90 days instead of my prescription requirement of 180 pills for 90 days.

I guess that means that the cost would be $1182.80 with my insurance picking up $1064.52 and with me picking up $118.28.
Posted 9/10/2017 12:42 PM (GMT 0)

Spo307 said...
I have been on generic lialda for about a week and a half and now have mucus and blood and abdominal discomfort I have always used lialda for the past 14 years so now I will be calling the doctor to get a RX for Lialda


I have been on it for about a month and my symptoms are coming back too, no blood but everything else has started again!
Posted 9/10/2017 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
No issues, for me at least, on generic lialda.
Posted 9/13/2017 5:04 PM (GMT 0)

Celeriac said...
My pharmacy automatically applies a manufacturer coupon for my Lialda and I pay $10 / month. Might be something to look into/ask about (if you're in the states)

How do you get the manufacturer coupon? I went on the Lialda website to see about getting some assistance and it said that if you are on Medicare/Medicaid you don't qualify for it due to it being covered by the insurance. BUT it is not covered by the insurance.

Any suggestions??
Posted 9/13/2017 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'd contact Shire Patient Assistance, and explain your situation.

about Shire Cares benefits and eligibility, please call 1-888-CARES-55 (1-888-227-3755), or email [email protected].

Shire Cares is available from Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time, except holidays.
Posted 9/13/2017 5:57 PM (GMT 0)

iPoop said...
I'd contact Shire Patient Assistance, and explain your situation.

about Shire Cares benefits and eligibility, please call 1-888-CARES-55 (1-888-227-3755), or email [email protected].

Shire Cares is available from Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time, except holidays.

THANK YOU!! I will give that a try!
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