My doctor recently prescrbed bicillin injections for me. The only trouble is that my drug store is having trouble ordering them. I use CVS Drug store. It's already been over a week and a half. This is getting ridiculous. Anyone know of a drug store that carries bicillin injections. Also, My insurance will not pay for my injection since the prescription is written through a doctor from a FFC. So it will cost me $620.00 per month. Do you know of any cheaper place to get it? Thanks so much!
Take Care! Shutterbug
Posted by shutterbug (Member # 10333) on :
Haha, real funny... that is for animals.
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
Try first choice infusion boynton beach,florida\ 877-585-1255
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
Try first choice infusion boynton beach,florida\ 877-585-1255 ask for scotty. tell them docdave sent you.
docdave
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Have the drugstore call the manufacturer (they should know who that is), and tell them that you are a lyme patient. The manufacturer is keeping in reserve bicillin shots for people with certain conditions, lyme being one of them.
My pharmacy has the system down pat now and they have no problem getting the bicillin.
Read your insurance policy yourself to make sure injectable drugs are not covered. Mine covers bicillin. That is not to say yours does, but I would not trust what the insurance company says with regard to your coverage. Get a copy of your policy and read it yourself, or have your insurance agent go over it with you.
Timaca
Posted by nomoremuscles (Member # 9560) on :
You might try a hospital pharmacy.
That is what I had to do when 3 chains and a local independent pharmacy couldn't get it.
Posted by tickedntx (Member # 5660) on :
When my Lyme specialist first started using Bicillin with patients in spring 2005, I called 120 pharmacies for her to try to locate them for her patients. When all those phone calls turned up maybe 3 boxes, I called the manufacturer. Here is what they said to do then, and it is still working for me now:
(1) Have the pharmacy call their distributor to see if they have it. They won't.
(2) So the pharmacist should then tell their distributor to call the manufacturer and tell them that the Bicillin is needed for an emergency, of which Lyme is considered one. (The pharmacists do not, and I believe can not, do business directly with the manufacturer.)
(3) You should have your meds in just a couple of days, maybe a bit longer. Always call in your refills before you run out in case it ever takes a bit longer for the meds to be shipped to you.
Posted by shutterbug (Member # 10333) on :
Thanks everyone! There are some very helpful suggestions here!I'll check them out more tomorrow. Can't do mcuh today. I am hurting too bad. I fell down yesterday.I was walking down a hill to check on my horse and my feet flew out from under me, I landed flat on my back and hit the back of my head hard on the ground. Oh and my horse died, she was attacked by my two great dane dogs. I had a horrible day yesterday.
Thanks for being so helpful to me! Shutterbug
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
I had the same problem, but was able to get a hold of them by having the pharmacist tell them it was for lyme. As far as the insurance issue, please call you insurance company. I was paying out of pocket until I found out that if I ordered it through a certain company they will pay for it. Good luck!
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Shop around for prices. $466.80 is the cheapest per box that I've paid (yeah, a bargain!!). Yes, you have to do the dance coordinating manufacturer, retail pharmacy and wholesaler as an emergency patient.
My insurance won't pay - says it's experimental for Lyme.
Jill
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Jill~ My response to your insurance company would be "Since when are antibiotics experimental for a bacterial infection? They aren't. Bicillin is an antibiotic. Lyme is a bacterial infection."
That is what my father in law said to me (He was an ER doc for 30+ years) when my insurance company pulled that line on me with regard to the IV rocephin.
I wrote them back what my father in law said (along with many other comments) and they ended up covering the rocephin.
They are now covering the bicillin.
My insurance company probably hates me....
Timaca
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Thanks, Timaca.
Your achievement, perseverence and success is an inspiration to me. I do plan to take my case to the State when I can - my dad contracted Lyme this summer and now we suspect my mom did, too.
And they were helping care for me - now tables are turned - and I'm still working, so it's all too much.
My insurance company sent me their written guidelines for Lyme treatment and unfortunately they gave themselves an out by stating that they believe injectable antibiotics are experimental.
But it doesn't hurt to try, and I appreciate the additional recommendations.
I do have all of Dr. B's guidelines and others showing Bicillin can have nearly equivalent effects of IV Rocephin - this was all part of my initial grievance.
I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I should buy stock in King Pharmaceuticals!!
Jill
Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :
With all of these production and supply problems you would think some other company would import the powder version available in most other countries. It could be a real business opportunity.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Jill~ When you have the time and energy I would battle your insurance company. An antibiotic is an antibiotic. Just different routes of administration are sometimes required.
Cave makes some good points.
My company did not have any policies specific to lyme. They might write some up though, after all they've been through with me!
Timaca
Posted by shutterbug (Member # 10333) on :
Tiamca, The problem with my insurance is that the doctor who presribed the bicillin for me is not on my insurance. She is with the Fibro and Fatigue Center. They do not accept insurance of any kind there. So since doctor who prescibed the medicine is not on my insurance, my insurance will not pay for it. So I have to pay for it all out of pocket. Which I will be happy to do if only I can get it! You never know how much you health is worth until you lose it, that is for sure! I am going to call the pharmacy tomorrow and tell the pharmacist to tell them it is for a lyme patient. Maybe it will help. If not, I'll try the hospital pharmacy. You all have been so very helpful to me. I don't know what I'd have done without all your information! Now if only I can get to feeling better. I hurt my back pretty bad when I fell down the other day. I may have to go see a doctor bad as I hate to go.
Bless you all for being there for me in my time of need!
Shutterbug
Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :
Originally I gave my prescription for bicillin to CVS and they handed it back to me. Huh? They said they couldn't get the medicine. Evidently they weren't willing to even try to be helpful. So much for that CVS commercial where the pharmacist is so helpful that he organizes a persons medicine on the weekend.
So I went to Eckerd Drug where they haven't had any difficulties getting the drug at all. It takes about 4 to 5 days so I put the refill in at least a week before I need more medication.
Oh and by the way, I don't use CVS for prescriptions of any kind. I don't even go into the store anymore. Poor customer service.
Posted by shutterbug (Member # 10333) on :
Hi all,
I still have not gotten my medicine. I have
called twice, and they say they are still
waiting. This is taking way too long! I am going
to try and call them back again tomorrow. They
act like they are too busy to talk to me but for
a minute.
I am tired of getting the run around
always Posted by shutterbug (Member # 10333) on :
Still no medicine! I went down to the drug store, the lady phramascist there said she talked to the manufacturer, they have the bicillin, but now they are having trouble with their distributor. I am just fit to be tyied! I guess I am way too patient of a person. I tend to let people run over me. I need to just go get my prescription back and find someone else to fill it. This is so ridiculous. I need my medicine!
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