I got no insurance, so I have to pay out of pocket. Would these medications cost a lot?
** dosages edited **
[ 11-21-2010, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: sixgoofykids ]
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Amoxicillin is cheaper than Omnicef and works for the same form of borrelia. You might also want to take it with Probenecid and remember that amoxy is needed in high doses.
Zith tends to be $$. I don't know if Biaxin is any cheaper, but it seems like it might be.
I never took flagyl.
Posted by jessrunner (Member # 27672) on :
Those are The medications my doctor have prescribed.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Flagyl is cheap.
Zith the most expensive. And yes, I do think Biaxin is cheaper and probably better than zith.
Is Omnicef the same a Ceftin? If so, it's not that expensive either.
Call your pharmacy and get some prices. Call several to compare. I hear Costco is the cheapest, then WalMart.
quote:Originally posted by jessrunner: Those are The medications my doctor have prescribed.
Yes, just letting you know there are substitutes if you can't afford these. You would have to get the different scripts from your doctor as well. It doesn't make sense to spend hundreds if other, similar meds are available.
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
Disclaimer: Even though most have the same pill codes as the generics, these are antibiotics marketed for people who own fish. It is NOT a good idea to treat yourself.
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
Omnicef and ceftin are not the same exact thing but are both prescribed for Lyme- Omnicef is a third-generation cephalosporin and Ceftin is a second-generation, and they both work on the spirochete form of the Lyme bacterium (as opposed to the cyst form, which the LLMD prescribed the Flagyl for, most likely).
The cheapest Omnicef I've found is at Costco Pharmacy (you dont have to have a Costco membership to use their pharmacy) at about $80/month for the 'standard' dosage of 600 mg a day. The cheapest Ceftin I've found (can't remember the dosage) is something like half of that. Many LLMD's also prescribe probenecid with these drugs, like someone mentioned for amoxycillin, because it slows down your body's excretion of these drugs so as to keep the dosage more constant/higher. That costs about $20/month at Costco, walmart, and some other places where I've gotten it.
Biaxin and azithromycin are dropping in price. I think Biaxin is about $60/month for whatever the 'usual' dose is for the generic, not the extended-release version. It might even be a little cheaper by now. Zith is two or three times that price.
IT IS VERY MUCH WORTH PRICE-SHOPPING for all your meds- sometimes I've found that one drug is cheaper at one pharmacy and much much more expensive at another. Costco, Wal-Mart, and Target seem to be cheaper than CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, and other pharmacies. Also, there are some online places like drugstore.com that you can fax/mail your prescription to. They are sometimes cheaper.
For foreign (and US) pharmacies I always check new prescriptions at pharmacychecker.com. For azithromycin I havent found a big difference in US and foreign pricing, but for some drugs, like Tindamax, it's made all the difference between me being able to afford them or not being able to take them at all. Of course the overseas pharmacies are risky. Pharmacychecker is a legitimate verification system to at least make sure the places are real and won't steal your money, but you are taking a gamble on the quality control. However, many of us have been in a desperate financial situation where we've used overseas pharmacies and have not had much of a choice because of lack of money.
Posted by the3030club (Member # 21898) on :
Omnicef isn't cheap at all. You could easily pay 200-300 a month for it.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Walmart and some other stores have programs where "some" drugs cost $4. Amoxy is one of them, I believe.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
I've heard Costco prices are the cheapest.
Also, some stores offer free antibiotic programs. A local grocery store here, Stop and Shop, offered it for all of last year. I doesn't cover every antibiotic, but it did cover my husband's doxy. Maybe check with a few stores in your area.
Good luck, Tmamy
Posted by Scrappy (Member # 25888) on :
Costco has a price check function on their website. Go to the pharmacy area on their website and it will be a button along the right hand side. You need not be a member to use the pharmacy in the state where I live (not sure if this universal).
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Omnicef now comes in a generic, cefdinir, but I am not sure how much it costs. I hear Costco has good rx prices and you do not have to be a member to get them.
Depending on your income level you may qualify for free meds through the manufacturer. I know there are threads here about that.
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
The $80ish/month price that I quoted is the Costco price for generic Omnicef. It's at least twice that much at WalMart.
The $4/month amoxycillin is not at the high doses that we have to take.
Posted by rushbaby (Member # 29330) on :
I live in Pgh and Giant Eagle, a grocery store, has a lot of antibiotics for free. I got my doxycycl for free. Not sure if what you are taking is offered for free.