Cancer Survivors Network - cost of anti-nausea meds vs benefit - Comments

Hi Jen

padee6339 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:38 -0500

I took Emend also and paid about $25 for 2 or three pills on my insurance. They were worth it whatever the price. Its a shame they are so expensive, I cannot imagine how someone with no insurance would be able to pay for them. While on them the first few days after chemo, I never got sick to my stomach. They were great!
Pat

Mexico

mcsessions — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:47:15 -0500

My Mom is getting her treatment in Mexico and she takes Emend too, 3 pills with each treatment and it costs her about $100 dlls for the three pills. No insurance.

nothing worked for me....regardless of the price...

KathiM — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:01:04 -0500

I tried them all... Emend included...bummed me out when I had paid so much co-pay, and it ended up in the toilet when I 'lost my cookies'.

I drank ginger ale (sipped, really), sucked on licorice drops...the dutch have used these for years for upset tummies...always kept a little 'something' in my stomach...

Hugs, Kathi

Take it back to your oncologist's office

mimivac — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:49:47 -0500

Carkris, sometimes if you take it back to the oncologist's office or to your pharmacy, they can make it available for people who don't have insurance or can't afford the co-pay.
Someone suggested that to me on this site and that's what I'm doing with all my extra pills.

Mimi

It was protocol at my

carkris — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:58:53 -0500

It was protocol at my hospital Amend, zofran, decadron orally by mouth just prior to treatment then amend for two days with dcadron for 3 days, zofran and ativan, compazine as needed. I cant take compazine, zofran made me constipated so if you have issues with that make a plan, ativan helped alot.
we got a bill for neulasta 10,400 dollars. we pay the copa i thank God everyday for good health insurance. I had botox (not for a good reason) 640.00 doallars per shot. I did not have prior authorization and trust me I didnt care (pain) and will file paper work to try to recoup.
I have extra amend because I broke a pill packet had to buy a whole new one because they dont come in singles I wonder how I could give it to someone? I just started the taxol and am not aking it.

Expensive Cancer with a

natly15 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:46:18 -0500

Expensive Cancer with a Capital E. Expensive is an understatement!! I'm taking Zofran but it gives me a headache and it didnt do it for me this last round. I had nasuea for 8 straight days. I called my onc for something else. Walgreens didnt even have the new pill in stock. Each pill was $232. My insurance would only approve 2 pills. When I get them, I'll keep them for my next round on 11/17. I dont recall the name, but it is not Emend. As expensive as it is, take the anti nausea meds. I cant even imagine what it would be like without them. My onc nurse told me to keep on taking them until I felt better, she actually begged me to do so. She said stay on top of it, because once you get sick there is no going back. I agree with Marlene, what could possibly be in these medications to create such exhorbitant prices?? I wanted to do my neulasta shot at home, but decided to travel the distance to the cancer center after finding out it would cost me $150 out of pocket for each neulasta shot given at home. I'm just so greatful I have insurance.

I HAVE MET MY DEDUCTABLE ALSO - NO COST FOR ME

BlownAway60 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:27:16 -0500

I have not been paying for any of my Meds since July. The Cancer Clinic that I am going to is also thinking ahead and had a Financial Counselor speak to us before my first chemo about next year when the deductible resets. They have a program that they are offering to help defer some of the expenses. They are working up a cost estimate for me to see if I will be able to afford it, if not I am surely going to accept their offer for assistance.
Gotta do whatever it takes to get through this and one less stressful thing would be great.

Donna

Emend - $600

lady4law — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:50:16 -0500

Yes it was worth the cost. Here in Los Angeles, it ran around $600 for the 3 pills. My insurance approved of it for my second treatment, as none of the other drugs worked. However after that treatment it was refused. My Onc worked around it and I was able to get my three pills. He ordered it to be administered along with my chemo. So my first pill was taken an hour before my chemo started. The second pill was given to me at the same time I received my Nuelasta shot (day 2) and then I had to make the trip to the hospital on day 3 for my last pill. The insurance company put me out a great deal by not allowing an RX approval. However I am sure it cost them far more by having it administered in the hospital infusement department.

Zofran for me too

Akiss4me — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:30:20 -0400

I was on Dilauted (SP?) after surgery and they gave me IV Zofran with it. I was still slightly nauseated the first night, but after that it worked fine. By day two, I asked to be switched to a milder pain killer (darvocet) and stop the IV pain killer. I was developing a migrain headache from it. I continued the Zofran until the day I left, which was 4 days later. ♥Pammy

Zofran worked well for me to

lanie940 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:24:27 -0400

Zofran worked well for me to counteract the nausea from morphine after my surgery.

Jen

lolad — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:38:00 -0400

I wasnt on that med. They had me on zofran and compazine. I just wanted to share that i think its a total outrage that these insurance companies have such control and say so over what we need. Its disgusting you had to pay that much for two pills. They should not be allowed to charge that much for something needed for people in treatments or anyone. Man that just p-sses me off!!! Hope it will at least help you. It better help you.

Take care
laura

WOW!

Rague — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:52:02 -0400

$12,000 per Neulasta shot! Wonder how much of that cost goes to the facility giving it and what the actual cost of it is? At that price, I definately understand why VA had me drive the 35 miles to Ft. Meade (SD) VA for it instead of just going in town to the CCI. (Cost me $8.00 per shot.)

Emend

pinkkari09 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:18:57 -0400

I had to pay $75.00 out of pocket for my emend, I took it for my first 4 rounds of chemo, I just finished this week. It worked REALLY well and was worth every penny. I hope it's working well for you also. I'm glad that my next 12 rounds of chemo don't require it because it is so expensive, but that's the thing, all the good stuff is high priced. I didn't qualify, but there is a site called needymeds.org that has an application and emend is one of the meds they help with, check it out, the income level is pretty high and you can still get it.
Good luck
Kari

Yes

spunky56 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:34:18 -0400

They are worth every penny. Don't remember the exact name of mine, but it was about 78 bucks for 2 but I was only to take one! Ironic. They say to take the meds as soon as you begin feeling ill as it is very difficult to stop vomiting once it begins! Good Luck.

Emend .. Cost me $60.00 for 3 pills ...

VickiSam — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:27:05 -0400

It is absolutely worth every penny of my out of the pocket expense of $60.00 co-pay. My pharmacy is charging my insurance - $600.00 every 3 weeks for my Emend medication. I am happy to report, that I HAVE NOT been sick to my stomach - at all.

Wow e-hope .. Neulasta is $12,000.00 per shot .. I did not know this ... I have 1 neulasta shot with every TCH chemo .. for a total of 6 ... this is crazy .... white cell build up shot for $12K ... I am in SHOCK ..

I agree 100% with Marlene .. chemo treatments are hard to take, but to have companies take advantage of us and insurance agencies - gives me the willy's. Getting rich off of sick patients ... Someone should call 60 mintues - or a customer watch group.

Still in shock over the neulast price,

VickiSam

cost of anti-nausea meds vs benefit

jennN — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:29:33 -0400

Hi-

I was just put on a new anti-nausea med called (Emend)sp? Anyway, I was SHOCKED at the price. I have really decent insurance and all my meds have only been a dollar or two. My cost was $54.00 for 2 pills! WOW..that is expensive. I hope it works. I was soooooo sick for the first week. It would be worth the money to feel better. Has anyone else used this med and had success? I'm supposed to keep taking my other anti-nausea med too.

Thanks,

Jen