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Generic lialda pricing

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Posted 8/5/2017 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
I was surprised when I went to pick up my lialda script today and they had filled the generic for me and the copay was exactly the same price as brand name lialda. Actually, it costs me $50 minutes re a month because of shire's savings card. I can't believe generic was the same copay (tier 3) as the brand name. The pharmacist also thought it was crazy and filled it for me as brand name when I said something, but he also told me I should call my doctor and ask to have it written as brand name only in the future if my insurance company keep the high copay. Thankful for friendly and thoughtful pharmacists today.
Posted 8/5/2017 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was priced $850 for a month supply a year after ACA. I now buy the generic from Canada and it has drastically dropped my cost down.
Posted 8/6/2017 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I received a letter from my insurance company that it was going generic and to get a new script from Dr with dispense as written so not to get generic.
Posted 8/6/2017 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
The same thing happened to me when i got the generic for asacol hd, my insurance wanted me to pay a ridiculous copay of $400-something at the pharmacy and called the generic a tier iii med. They explained that although it is called a generic, it is really a licensed-generic blessed by asacol hd and costs the same as the brandnamed version does. That's made by zydus Pharmacueticals, just as the generic-lialda is.

*Snap* we finally get some generic options for mesalamine within the usa after 20+ years of waiting, they end up cost the same as brandnames (but without a copay assistance card), and they're still tier iii copay med, what the heck? That's how f'd up the system here is... a generic isn't really generic.

So, I get brandnamed lialda and use the copay assistance card...
Posted 8/15/2017 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
I went to fill my Lialda today and it came out to $80 (for three months). Usually it's more expensive with that so I thought they had already applied the pharmacy savings card provided by Lialda. Turns out, they refilled my prescription with the generic brand. She rang up the name brand with the savings card, and it came out to $30. I think that's only good up to $500 worth of savings so I may switch to generic once that runs out, but I thought that was really interesting.
Posted 1/4/2018 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
Can anyone tell me if the generic for lialda, (mesalamine DR) manufactured by ZYDUS Pharma is exactly the same as the brand Lialda? I've heard that the enteric coating on Lialda allows for delayed release into the intestines, whereas others do not. I've been on lialda now for almost 2 years and just went to refill my prescription and was told they dispensed the generic - 90 day supply for $500. I don't quality for any manufacturer's discount since I'm on medicare and have AETNA Medicare Advantage insurance. I'm just concerned that the generic won't work the same way.
Posted 1/4/2018 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
All the mesalamine-based oral pills have a delayed-release coating of one form or another (as uncoated mesalamine causes stomach upset).

Is mesalamine dr (zydus) coating identical to lialda's coating? No, it is a different delayed-release coating that should achieve the same result. However, each brand has their own copyrighted coating with variations in the formulation. The only way zydus overcame shire's lawsuit was that the coating is different, thus zydus was able to sell their generic.

It could be an uneventful switch or it could cause problems. Try and see. Worstcase scenario is you switch back to brandnamed-lialda.
Posted 1/4/2018 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply Ipoop.
I sure hope it works because under my new prescription for Lialda and the cost quoted me by my insurance company, ($207 for first couple 30 day supplies and then it goes way up to 40% of retail cost) while in donut hole (under Medicare), I just cannot afford the brand now. It’s absolutely insane how expensive this brand name drug is!!
Posted 1/5/2018 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
The pill is supposed to be the exact same. It looks the same and even has the same number. However, I started the generic after being told it was $50 less and went into a flair so I switched back. The numbers on the pill are even the same and supposedly come off the same line at the factory, according to my pharmacist
Posted 1/30/2018 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Mine also filled the generic instead of brand and my GI doc had to specify name brand only as well. I'm a little hesitant to make the switch since things are going well for me right now even though I would save some serious cash.
Posted 1/31/2018 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
@Adventureuc- Pills are not same.

Lialda should have number "S476" and mesalamine DR has "IIL". I had to switch from Delzicol and my pharmacy filled Mesalamine DR and I did not know I had option for brand name with more copay. So I decided to go for Lialda. I have started few days back so hoping and praying that it works as good as Delzicol worked for me.
Posted 1/31/2018 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Most pharmacists or doctors will say there is little to no difference between the various mesalamine brands and generics. Often switching between mesalamines is uneventful. Anecdotally here, some have had issues after switching between various mesalamines. Certainly the delayed-release coatings, inactive ingredients, release points and release rates will vary a little bit between the brands. Those can result in slight differences you could feel.

I'd say try the new prescription with an open mind but be vigilant of signs of a backslide/regression in UC symptoms. Switch back if you start seeing blood on toilet paper, having increased urgency, having more bms a day, and/or see whole pills in your stool.
Posted 1/31/2018 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have had no ill effects switching from brand name Lialda to generic Lialda. My copay also dropped from $250 to $40.

However, my receipt from Expressscripts also shows the "full price", which only dropped from around $1300/180ct to maybe $1200/180ct. So as far as the insurance company is concerned there's hardly any savings at all.

*As a side note, GoodRx.com says you can buy generic Lialda "Mesalamine DR" with the GoodRx.com coupon for $551.48/180 at my local Walmart. i have not tried this yet as the $40 copay is still much cheaper out of my pocket.

/www.goodrx.com/lialda?drug-name=Lialda&form=tablet&dosage=1.2g&quantity=180&days_supply=&label_override=mesalamine%20DR

Post Edited (UCinGV) : 1/31/2018 9:17:22 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/31/2018 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Good to know, thanks guys!
Posted 1/31/2018 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I get the generic for lialda now and it is the same pill as my brand name script since shire makes a generic. If you are concerned, you can ask your pharmacist which brand of generic they plan to carry.
Posted 2/1/2018 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
@momto2boys- I did not know shire makes generic. What do they call it? I might request it with low co pay since I assume with same manufacture, it has to be same. I was afraid with Mesalamine DR as I heard it dissolves in class of water. I assume it should have different number on pills too.

Thanks.
Posted 2/1/2018 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
The Zydus generic Lialda is noticeably different, and you can feel the coating get slimy the moment the pill gets wet in your mouth. But as I said, I've had no noticeable health effects from switching.
Posted 2/1/2018 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
It is just called Mesalamine DR, like the Zydus one, but it is made by Shire. Everything I can discern from looking at and taking the pills is that is is just Lialda with a new name and a $200 less price tag.
Posted 2/1/2018 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, by design Zydus generic Lialda pills intentionally absorb water and swell in size. Touching the coating of those pills with wet fingers causes some of the dye to come off onto your fingers. The other day, I pooped out a whole Zydus pill and it looked like a whole, undigested grape lol. Coating is completely different in how it works than lialda.

Lialda coatings do not absorb water and do not come off on wet fingers. Normally, Lialda coatings disintegrate into orange flakes. I've passed whole Lialda pills in the bowl before and they look exactly the same as they did from the bottle/unchanged.
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