Elmiron would cost me $485

[425runner]

My insurance company pays only $40 towards the total!! That just made me even more depressed! I'm broke and complain about paying $70 for a month supply of Vyvanse (ADD meds) but $485?? Are they out of their minds?

The pharmacist said call the doc and ask for a plan B. Yeah...my uro said an alternative to Elmiron are supplements like Cystoprotek but I've been taking it for a while and see no difference.

I'm so depressed.....and it's my B-day today

[VickiB]

I know. That price is utterly ridiculous isn't it?

How long have you been taking the CystoProtek? I took Elmiron for a while (I had to give it up due to the cost) and found it took many months before I saw improvement. I wonder if CystoProtek also needs time to do it's magic?

Enjoy your special day!
Vicki

[425runner]

Thank you, Vickie. I've been taking the Cystoprotek for 3 weeks now, 5 capsules/day. Very minor change if any....just ordered a bunch of powders from Beyond a Century that are supposedly helpfull in restoring the GAG layer in the bladder.

N-Acetyl-Glucosamine
Chondroitin Sulfate
Gotu Kola
pure MSM powder

I think we're in this for the long haul...there's no shortcut unfortunatelly.

[cmclien]

Happy Birthday Runner!

Wow, that REALLY stinks. Mine costs about 130/mo. When they first rang it up it was like $360 because my doctor prescribed it for 3 months. They re-did it and sold me a months worth because I wasn't even sure how I would react to it.

Some people here have had success with cystoprotek, unfortunately I'm not one of them.

[425runner]

I'm in so much pain again, had to take 1/2 Vicodin this really sucks My primary doc prescribed it when I had kidney stones but I'm not sure if he'd be willing to prescribe it again for IC. He had no idea what it was until my uro wrote him about it.

Should I call the urologist's office and tell them I want at least some Percocet or something and give them hell about the cost of Elmiron?
There's gotta be some other medicine to heal the bladder, urethra and vaginal tissues...isn't there??

[cmclien]

Unfortunately NO, its the only approved FDA drug out there. Its considered an oral therapy along with amitriptyline, hydroxyzine and cimetidine though the latter two work best on people who have other allergies.
There isn't anything that will cure it but maybe instillations would help you, did you talk to your uro about those? My UG says he has great success with them and some people it lasts 6 months and others 2 years before they have to come back and do it again. We've agreed if the elmiron doesn't work then by fall or maybe sooner I'll be doing the instillations for 6 weeks.
I'm sorry you are suffering on this day (or any other day too).

[critterfixer]

I've read some articles that say aloe juice is supposed to help restore your bladder lining so I am going to go pick up some George's aloe tomorrow (Its tasteless, like drinking water). My husband's IBS has started giving him problems again too so he needs to go back on the aloe anyway.

I know its not much but at the bottom of the elmiron website there is a place to sign up for $35/mo off of your next 4 perscriptions.

http://www.orthoelmiron.com/

You could also try contacting the company and see if they would be able to help you. Some companies will and some won't but it never hurts to ask.

Good luck and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

PS. If it were my birthday and I was in pain, I would definately have some chocolate!

[cmclien]

I've read some articles that say aloe juice is supposed to help restore your bladder lining so I am going to go pick up some George's aloe tomorrow (Its tasteless, like drinking water). My husband's IBS has started giving him problems again too so he needs to go back on the aloe anyway.

Just make sure you get some without citric acid in it.

[flowerangela]

awww runner *hugs*.. there is a patient assistance program for elmiron if you google johnson and johnson patient assistance program. they will give you elmiron up to a year at a time if you qualify for free.thats what im having to apply for because my insurance covers very little too. hope you feel better soon and had a happy b-day.

[Briza]

My insurance company pays only $40 towards the total!! That just made me even more depressed! I'm broke and complain about paying $70 for a month supply of Vyvanse (ADD meds) but $485?? Are they out of their minds?

The pharmacist said call the doc and ask for a plan B. Yeah...my uro said an alternative to Elmiron are supplements like Cystoprotek but I've been taking it for a while and see no difference.

I'm so depressed.....and it's my B-day today

You're right. That's alot of money to pay for a med that takes a year to be effective and was effective in only 38% of patients in trials.Yikes.

[KathiB]

That's terrible! I am one of the few who have decent coverage for this med. I pay $30 a month co-pay. However, this past refill I had 3 months worth, brought it home and couldn't find the bottle of Elmiron! I looked for over a week, broke down, went to the pharmacy. Of course my insurance wouldn't let me have another refill right away, so I bought a weeks worth - $130 cash price. Then I got home and my son found my bottle of meds - our puppy must have knocked it off the desk - it was under the couch!

I have two other meds that cost $1500 month retail. Goodness sakes - I can't believe how expensive some of these meds are!

Hope you're feeling better soon.

[mary124]

I have pretty good insurance-was really good at one time or another but like all things it must end and the prices are slowly going up on us.
for Elmiron I pay $35.00 a month or $105.00 for 3 months. I usually do the monthly one as it costs me the same one way or another.
If I didn't have insurance it would cost me over $700 for a month (180 caps).
I have one medication that until recently costs me over $1000.00 (if no insurance) its Lovenox. It is now generic which I am greatful.
My Mom keeps asking me how we are going to pay for our meds once we retire-- I told her that is why I am going to try to continue working for 3 years (I will have full benefits including prescription costs) don't know how much it will cost me at that time but we will jump the hoop when we get there.

[MamaZ]

I'm in the same boat -- $500/month. I don't want to take it anyway (s/e and because it only seems to help some people) so this is just one more check mark against it for me.

I second the idea of instillations.

[purpleviolet]

canada as source?

In Canada elmiron is about $200/mo. Can't I order it from there if I don't have script insurance (which I may not in a few weeks)?

[cmclien]

I'm in the same boat -- $500/month. I don't want to take it anyway (s/e and because it only seems to help some people) so this is just one more check mark against it for me.

I second the idea of instillations.

I agree 500/mo is way too much!
But what if you're one of the people it works for? My UG's experience is close to the trial, he said if he gives it to 10 patients, 4 or 5 will respond well to it.
He offered me instillations first but I was like uh no, think I'll try the oral route first! But thats just me lol
Hope the instillations bring you relief, he did say he gets more like an 80-90% success rate with those, his are heparin, marcaine and kenalog.