the Costco near me doesn't carry it and CVS charges $650 for 12 doses of 1.2 mil u. I knew it was expensive, but I didnt think it was THAT much.
and it doesnt seem to be one of the meds offered for free through needy meds/patient assistance programs.
has anyone found a more affordable source? maybe a pharmacy that would ship to me?
thanks Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi SunRay
Bicillin cost $4 a dose in Mexico--
You can get almost every ABX in Mexico Much Cheaper--
12 doses of Bicillin in mexico-$48 plus AirPlane ticket -
plus 10 Beers- 18 tacos- 5 more beers and 8 more tacos to go-
A bag cheezy souvineers- and you still Save money--
Not a bad Idea-- Vacation and Fair Priced Meds --
I buy meds in Mexico alot--
Last time I got about $3000 worth of meds in US - for $400 in Mexico
Its not that Meds are Cheap in Mexico- its that We get Scrooood in the US--
The US has the Highest Priced Meds in the world-- Sweeden is Second highest--
Sweedens Meds cost Half as much as in US- OUCH-
-------------- Also MedsMex.com is a pharmacy in Mexico city that will mail meds to you in the US --
I have not used them yet but I have spoken to folks that have and they said OK--Jay--
-
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
The lowest price I paid is $466.80 per box, through my insurance company's mail order pharmacy, rather than the regular retail pharmacy.
But it tooks weeks of hassles, phone calls to them twice a day, talking to supervisors, etc., because they are not used to dealing with patients who are paying for it rather than submitting to insurance (my insurance denied paying for it).
Bicillin is even harder to get right now than it was last year. Please do a search in the archives and you will see lots of discussions about the manufacturing shortage.
You will also see recommendations on how to contact King Pharmaceuticals directly, coordinate between them, a local retail pharmacy in your area and the wholesaler to try to get a box shipped to your pharmacy.
Unfortunately, with Bicillin, it's both a matter of it being very hard to get, and being very expensive at the same time.
You really have to be pro-active and get someone at a local pharmacy to work with you. Most of them say no, they don't stock it. You can't stop there. You have to get them to work with you, King and a wholesaler to make it happen. And you need to shop around - the prices do vary, but it often comes down just to which pharmacy is willing to do the extra work to get it.
If you can get your doctor such as a primary care physician or the local medical center where you go to order it through the hospital pharmacy, they have a better chance of getting it and insurance is more likely to pay.
Yes, there is the Mexican Bicillin and I recently read a post somewhere that there is Bicillin in the U.K. However, my LLMD wants me to stick with the U.S. Bicillin so that's what I've done, but I have known a few people who get it in Mexico.
Good luck Jill
Posted by Areneli (Member # 6740) on :
How do you buy Bicillin in Mexico?
Do you need prescriptions? Is it available in any pharmacy or you have to know where you are going?
Posted by Semi-Retired (Member # 7722) on :
One of the Dave's on here buys his from a pharmacy in Switzerland, it's called Extencilline, the Euro version.
They require an Rx and it was about $5 per when I bought it back a few years ago. Website is Farmamondo.com. Your doctor would have to write the Rx for Extencilline though, they won't accept it if it says Bicillin.
The pharmacy obtains the med directly from the manufacturer in France so you at least know it's the real thing. Good luck.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
It appears to be much cheaper from Drugstore.com than your CVS quote.
I'm pretty sure this is an American mail order pharmacy.
No, that's Bicillin-CR, the shorter-acting version. Most LLMDs prescribe Bicillin-LA, the longer-acting one, to maintain the higher level in the blood that's needed to fight Lyme.
Also, I have found that the 2.4 million unit version of Bicillin-LA is often easier to obtain than the 1.2 million unit. If that's the case, then you can have the doctor or nurse split the doses for you and put it in new syringes.
Jill
Posted by tickedntx (Member # 5660) on :
For those having trouble getting Bicillin for reasons not related to cost:
Your pharmacist needs to contact their wholesaler and have the wholesaler contact the manufacturer, King Pharmaceutical.
The wholesaler needs to tell King that the med is needed for an emergency (they consider Lyme to be an emergency).
It should arrive at your pharmacy in 2-5 days.
Posted by SunRa (Member # 3559) on :
quote:Originally posted by groovy2: 12 doses of Bicillin in mexico-$48 plus AirPlane ticket -
plus 10 Beers- 18 tacos- 5 more beers and 8 more tacos to go-
A bag cheezy souvineers- and you still Save money--
-
hehehee love it! wish I could do it, but unable travel to mexico right now. i just may have to get some tacos tonight though.
thanks everyone for the info and advice. I appreciate the tips. wow nothing's easy for us lymies is it? Posted by flossie (Member # 3384) on :
our recent box of 10 (1.2 LA) was over $700! it's insane.
is anyone familiar with how to get it in canada, and whether it's any cheaper there?
we've got relatives there who could buy it for us....
thanks, flossie
Posted by SunRa (Member # 3559) on :
was wondering the same thing about canada as I have family there too...but i just did a quick search online and it doesnt seem easy...
"Benzathine penicillin (Bicillin LA �) is difficult to obtain and only available in Canada through the Special Access Program (SAP) of the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health Canada " - Public Health Agency of Canada
I also read the same thing on canlyme's message board.
Posted by heiwalove (Member # 6467) on :
this is an old thread, but up for any further ideas on cheap bicillin LA.
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