Generic Arimidex ????

lizzie17
lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
If you have had any experience or have knowledge about the generic vs. brand name, will you please share it with me?? I just found out at the pharmacy that my 3 month supply is
$1,134.00 instead of $110. and the generic is $11.49 a month !! Such a discrepancy in price that I can only feel like it is not as effective, and I had a borderline oncoDX score to begin with....chemo or arimidex. Of course now, I am freaking out that the generic drug will not hold the cells from dividing and spreading!! I have been on arimidex for 2 years. Thank you for any info.

Comments

  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #2
    I'm taking the generic Arimidex also
    I don't think there is any difference in the make-up of the drug--it's just that the patent has expired that the original drug company had on it, so now it can be reproduced without that "brand name." I have a mail-order pharmacy plan through my husband's work insurance and I pay $10 copay for a 3 month supply! Until the time goes by that a drug can become sold generically, the prices are outrageous because that is how the drug companies recoup from the money that they spend to develop, research and market that drug to begin with. At least that is my understanding.

    Maybe some of the other gals know better than me.

    Good luck, Renee
  • roseann4
    roseann4 Member Posts: 992 Member
    #3
    missrenee said:

    I'm taking the generic Arimidex also
    I don't think there is any difference in the make-up of the drug--it's just that the patent has expired that the original drug company had on it, so now it can be reproduced without that "brand name." I have a mail-order pharmacy plan through my husband's work insurance and I pay $10 copay for a 3 month supply! Until the time goes by that a drug can become sold generically, the prices are outrageous because that is how the drug companies recoup from the money that they spend to develop, research and market that drug to begin with. At least that is my understanding.

    Maybe some of the other gals know better than me.

    Good luck, Renee

    I switched 2 months ago.
    Other than the cost, it seems like the same product. I have a high deductable plan so we pay $5,000 before anything is covered. We save enough in premium to cover that and can pre-tax what isn't covered. My discounted cost for Arimidex is $340 a month. The generic is $163. Still expensive but a lot less. For me that's a no brainer.

    Roseann
  • lizzie17
    lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
    #4
    missrenee said:

    I'm taking the generic Arimidex also
    I don't think there is any difference in the make-up of the drug--it's just that the patent has expired that the original drug company had on it, so now it can be reproduced without that "brand name." I have a mail-order pharmacy plan through my husband's work insurance and I pay $10 copay for a 3 month supply! Until the time goes by that a drug can become sold generically, the prices are outrageous because that is how the drug companies recoup from the money that they spend to develop, research and market that drug to begin with. At least that is my understanding.

    Maybe some of the other gals know better than me.

    Good luck, Renee

    thank you

    thank you
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #5
    lizzie17 said:

    thank you

    thank you

    My generic
    co-payment is $10.00 for 30 pills. I have a very good prescription coverage.
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #6
    Per my med onc doctor...
    I've been taking Arimidex for 5+ years now. Saw my med onc doctor just last Tuesday, and pointedly asked him about the recently made available generic. He has absolutely no problem with it. Explained that it's made right here in the U.S.A. by a reputable drug manufacturer. He also said his opinion might have differed depending on where & by whom the generic is being made. I hope this reassures you further. And, of course, you could discuss this with your own doctor.

    Renee is totally correct in her understanding & explanation of the extreme variances in drug costs: patents, recouping R&D money, etc. ...

    Kind regards, Susan
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    #7
    Jewel Osco - Park Ridge (Chicago) IL
    When my prescription for Arimidex needed to be refilled, I went to Osco to pick up the prescription, I was informed that the generic was now available at a super price of $11. My price for the brand is 90. Big difference.

    When I asked to see the literature on the generic Anastrozole, I was informed that presently none was available. I said, "Not a good sign."

    When I asked what pharmaceutical made the drug, the pharmacist had to go on line to find out.

    Anastrozole is made by NATCO Pharm, an company from India. I did some searching on the internet, found their site and then decided to go Finance to read more about them. Projected sales for this drug this year is estimated to be $750 million. ANOTHER QUESTION: How many drugs are made by companies that are not American companies outside the USA?

    I decided that since I am doing so well on the brand and since I take only 2 other drugs, Synthroid and a water pill, I could justify paying the money for the brand.
  • lizzie17
    lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
    #8
    Different Ballgame said:

    Jewel Osco - Park Ridge (Chicago) IL
    When my prescription for Arimidex needed to be refilled, I went to Osco to pick up the prescription, I was informed that the generic was now available at a super price of $11. My price for the brand is 90. Big difference.

    When I asked to see the literature on the generic Anastrozole, I was informed that presently none was available. I said, "Not a good sign."

    When I asked what pharmaceutical made the drug, the pharmacist had to go on line to find out.

    Anastrozole is made by NATCO Pharm, an company from India. I did some searching on the internet, found their site and then decided to go Finance to read more about them. Projected sales for this drug this year is estimated to be $750 million. ANOTHER QUESTION: How many drugs are made by companies that are not American companies outside the USA?

    I decided that since I am doing so well on the brand and since I take only 2 other drugs, Synthroid and a water pill, I could justify paying the money for the brand.

    arimidex
    I prefer to stay on arimidex if they will LET me, otherwise it will be cost prohibitive for me. Thanks for telling me about NATCO.
  • lizzie17
    lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
    #9
    Different Ballgame said:

    Jewel Osco - Park Ridge (Chicago) IL
    When my prescription for Arimidex needed to be refilled, I went to Osco to pick up the prescription, I was informed that the generic was now available at a super price of $11. My price for the brand is 90. Big difference.

    When I asked to see the literature on the generic Anastrozole, I was informed that presently none was available. I said, "Not a good sign."

    When I asked what pharmaceutical made the drug, the pharmacist had to go on line to find out.

    Anastrozole is made by NATCO Pharm, an company from India. I did some searching on the internet, found their site and then decided to go Finance to read more about them. Projected sales for this drug this year is estimated to be $750 million. ANOTHER QUESTION: How many drugs are made by companies that are not American companies outside the USA?

    I decided that since I am doing so well on the brand and since I take only 2 other drugs, Synthroid and a water pill, I could justify paying the money for the brand.

    arimidex
    I prefer to stay on arimidex if they will LET me, otherwise it will be cost prohibitive for me. Thanks for telling me about NATCO.
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #10
    lizzie17 said:

    arimidex
    I prefer to stay on arimidex if they will LET me, otherwise it will be cost prohibitive for me. Thanks for telling me about NATCO.

    Lizzie--I don't know anything about NATCO, but...
    my generic Arimidex comes from a drug company called Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals out of Boca Raton, FL--made in the US, not India. Maybe alot of companies can make this drug now that it is generic, but mine is a US company, not foreign. So, don't pay the high price if you can find a generic you're comfortable with.

    Hugs, Renee
  • greyhoundluvr
    greyhoundluvr Member Posts: 402
    #11
    Generic
    When it was time for me to go on one of the meds, my onc gave me the Arimidex presciption and told me to hold it until the generic became available. He had no problem with it....

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