cost of anti-nausea meds vs benefit
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
Comments
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Yep
Jen, that's how much my pills were, too. I took them all and they helped, although I still got a little nauseated. I know it sucks, but it's worth it if you don't get sick. Cancer is expensive, isn't it? The only good thing is that eventually you will max out your yearly catastrophic out-of-pocket amount and pay nothing. I hit my $5000 mark a few months ago, and I pay nothing, even for expensive prescriptions now. Good luck. There may be programs available if you cannot afford your medications. Ask your oncology social worker or pharmacist.
Mimi0 -
I had that with my first 4
I had that with my first 4 chemo treatments... and I had barely any nausea... have you contacted ACS... they will help with cost of meds up to $300.oo (or mileage reimbursement up to $300) ... I would also take to your oncologist .. ask if they have samples... it's really expensive meds but does work ...0 -
Yepmimivac said:Yep
Jen, that's how much my pills were, too. I took them all and they helped, although I still got a little nauseated. I know it sucks, but it's worth it if you don't get sick. Cancer is expensive, isn't it? The only good thing is that eventually you will max out your yearly catastrophic out-of-pocket amount and pay nothing. I hit my $5000 mark a few months ago, and I pay nothing, even for expensive prescriptions now. Good luck. There may be programs available if you cannot afford your medications. Ask your oncology social worker or pharmacist.
Mimi
Thanks for the suggestion. I actually don't have a hard-ship. I was just surprised at the cost. I really appreciate you thinking of me though.
Jen0 -
WOW !
I am just beginning chemo next week and I just can NOT believe that these pharmaceutical companies would take advantage of chemo patients. Come On! What could possibly be in these pills that could make them so expensive... other than supply & demand and knowing how well they work to make cancer patients feel better. I am truly APPALLED!0 -
COST OF MEDS.....Marlene_K said:WOW !
I am just beginning chemo next week and I just can NOT believe that these pharmaceutical companies would take advantage of chemo patients. Come On! What could possibly be in these pills that could make them so expensive... other than supply & demand and knowing how well they work to make cancer patients feel better. I am truly APPALLED!
Marlene.......sadly, that's a drop in the bucket compared to what is to come....The Neulasta injection that a lot off us receive the day after chemo.......one injection is $6,000.00 Yes, thats $6000.00! I had 4......one of my chemo drugs, Taxotere is almost $6000.00....That's just one of the chemo drugs.....it is appalling but I am grateful they exist....I never took the antinausea drug EMEND(sp)....I had 4 others that were like $10.00 for 30 each.......I never had the first wave of nausea... THE TRICK to ALL/ANY of the antinausea meds is to take them on a regular basis whether you feel nauseated or not......easier to prevent nausea than get it under control, according to my oncologist......I started them the day before chemo and continued for 5 days afterwards, NEVER missing a dose....And I ate before each chemo and they actually fed us DURING chemo...I ate a half a bagel with peanut butter, beforehand.....they said to eat something that would "stick to my ribs." Then drink, drink, drink during and after chemo.....
I wish you all the best in your upcoming treatments.......
Peace be with you!0 -
Worth the pricejennN said:Yep
Thanks for the suggestion. I actually don't have a hard-ship. I was just surprised at the cost. I really appreciate you thinking of me though.
Jen
Moopster's insurance paid $300 for each round of Emend, leaving us to pay $94. The first round was on the house. For her sixth (and final) round of TAC, she took her Emend assuming she would be over and done. But we wound up postponing the sixth infusion for four days because Moopy had some shortness of breath and some scans had to be done. Which meant, of course, that we had to buy an extra round of Emend.
By this time, Moopy and I were true believers. If we hadn't had the #$400 to pay out of pocket, I would have hung around the Walgreens and done odd jobs - janitor, checkout boy, pharmacist - until I got it paid off. I think Moopy coaxed the insurance into paying for it anyway.0 -
I was just thinking that ...lynn1950 said:Yep. Emend is way worth it.
Yep. Emend is way worth it. What boggled my mind was the cost of Neulasta. Whew!
I was just thinking that ... Emend is about 800 for 6 pills... neulasta was close to 12,000 for 1 shot... thankfully my insurance covered the neulasta 100% and only had to pay $75. for the emend0 -
Emend .. Cost me $60.00 for 3 pills ...e_hope said:I was just thinking that ...
I was just thinking that ... Emend is about 800 for 6 pills... neulasta was close to 12,000 for 1 shot... thankfully my insurance covered the neulasta 100% and only had to pay $75. for the emend
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,
VickiSam0 -
Emend
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
Kari0 -
WOW!e_hope said:I was just thinking that ...
I was just thinking that ... Emend is about 800 for 6 pills... neulasta was close to 12,000 for 1 shot... thankfully my insurance covered the neulasta 100% and only had to pay $75. for the emend
$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.)0 -
Jen
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
laura0 -
Zofran worked well for me tololad said:Jen
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
Zofran worked well for me to counteract the nausea from morphine after my surgery.0 -
Zofran for me toolanie940 said:Zofran worked well for me to
Zofran worked well for me to counteract the nausea from morphine after my surgery.
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. ♥Pammy0 -
Emend - $600lynn1950 said:Yep. Emend is way worth it.
Yep. Emend is way worth it. What boggled my mind was the cost of Neulasta. Whew!
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.0 -
I HAVE MET MY DEDUCTABLE ALSO - NO COST FOR MEmimivac said:Yep
Jen, that's how much my pills were, too. I took them all and they helped, although I still got a little nauseated. I know it sucks, but it's worth it if you don't get sick. Cancer is expensive, isn't it? The only good thing is that eventually you will max out your yearly catastrophic out-of-pocket amount and pay nothing. I hit my $5000 mark a few months ago, and I pay nothing, even for expensive prescriptions now. Good luck. There may be programs available if you cannot afford your medications. Ask your oncology social worker or pharmacist.
Mimi
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.
Donna0 -
Expensive Cancer with aAkiss4me said:Zofran for me too
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
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.0
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