Well, to let you all know my Bicillin medication fell thru at drugstore.com. I am very upset as when I first called and I spoke with a woman who quoted me a price of $253.00 for 10 syringes. I then thought maybe I was getting somewhere. I looked up my order online and I frieked out when I saw the total amount. For 10 syringes they had an amount of $817.00!!!!
I told him that customer service quoted me the wrong price and that was the whole reason for me placing the order with them because I thought it was the price the lady had given me. They advertise big discounts and when I called I thought it seemed to good to be true. The gentleman spoke with his manager and they are looking into the matter but in the meantime, I told him I could get it at my local pharmacy for $600.00 and why would I pay $200.00 more for it thru them, so I cancelled my order.
I was really miffed!!! So, I'm sorry to say that did not work out for me and now I will have to go back to the drawing board. I just want to start these shots and now I don't know what to do. I'm sorry to those people that I gave the information to but I didn't know they quoted me incorrectly. I just wanted to let you all know. Take care guys.
Posts: 204 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
sorry to see this has happened. better business bureau, consumer complaint? price gauging. its an outrage! you must have documentation(proof) to file a complaint.
Posts: 2708 | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
All I can say is OUCH!! I was counting on this, but am not surprised. I have ordered other stuff thur them and their prices are the same as most other pharmacies. How about Walmart or, if you can, Costco.
Would sure like to hear from others about price. I am about to start 1.2 MU once a week. Had no idea of how expensive this is going to be.
-------------------- tj Posts: 296 | From Portland, OR | Registered: Jun 2003
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Yes I believe I called Walmart but now I can't remember what they told me their price was. I think they said around $400.00 or a little over. Not sure, I think between my insurance company and my medical bills I am starting to lose it!
All I do all day at work is try and make calls to clear things up or arrange to get a simple prescription filled. Its like what you thought would be a mole hill or a minor inconvenience has become a big mountainess ordeal that frankly I am tired of dealing with. However, I need to keep looking and just bite the bullet if I want this medication.
As far as the other poster that said they only are supposed to get it once a week. I have to take it three times a week. I'll be in the poor house before you know unless all of you beat me there first. LOL!
I guess you can't lose your sense of humour and a positive attitude because that is the only thing I have left.
Posts: 204 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Hi Nukegirl,
I know you and I have PM'd about this Bicillin fiasco we are both going through. Twice I have been quoted initial prices by my Blue Cross mail order pharmacy and by a local retail pharmacy that are lower, then it turns out to be twice as much.
They tell me it's because it's based on the mL per syringe. Each syringe for 1.2 million units is 2 mL which the pharmacists seem to calculate as two injections.
But my LLMD clearly indicated on the Rx that I need two FULL injections per week. But there was no arguing.
My Blue Cross won't pay a cent. I'm paying $466.80 per box (that's what my Blue Cross mail order pharmacy is charging me for the full cash price).
The one retail pharmacy that is supposedly getting one box from the pharmaceutical company for me on an emergency basis finally came up with $499.
But I've spent dozens of hours in paperwork, phone calls, emails, trying to get King Pharmaceuticals, a retail pharmacy and a distributor to release one box to me. I still haven't gotten it.
A Lyme friend in L.A. also pays $500 per box.
I have since found out that the 2.4 million units dosage is must easier to get - it's available through Costco and Sav-On (at least near me). Had I known, I would have had LLMD write the Rx for the higher dosage and used half the syringe. Were you looking for the 1.2 million units? If so, that's the hardest dosage to obtain.
I have a Blue Cross PPO individual plan and they won't pay. A Lyme friend has a Blue Cross PPO group plan (same city as me) and they paid almost every cent of it. Go figure.
I'll give you a ride to the poor house - I think a lot of us are heading that way!! Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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I think I will try and check with Walmart and Cosco again and just pay for the 2.4 MU.
My LLMD was kind enough to redo my prescription to take 1/2 of the 2.4 three times a week. However, Walmart would have to agree with that for me to be able to get it that way. I don't think they would give me a problem, but you never know.
I have question though. If you only inject half do I have to just replace the syringe everytime or just draw it up in a new one?
If they come in the tubex syringes how can you change them out. Sorry to be so dumb but I have never done this before. Thanks for humouring me in advance. Posts: 204 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Nukegirl,
You're not asking stupid questions about using half a syringe, because I have the same question and keep getting varying answers.
The nurse I'm using to inject me had never done Bicillin injections before (I'm the only Lyme patient she's ever encountered), but she has lots of experience with IM Rocephin.
She told me it is not safe to save half a syringe because the Bicillin will begin degrading as soon as it is exposed to oxygen.
She also does not believe in transferring Bicillin to a syringe with a smaller needle (for less discomfort) because of the very small risk of contamination/loss of sterilization. Yet many Lyme patients I know transfer to a smaller-gauge needle. So she is a stickler for strict compliance to manufacturers' instructions.
But I would love to hear from Lyme patients or medical professionals on this board about whether it is safe to transfer the Bicillin into two syringes, use one and save (refrigerate) the unused half for the next injection.
I never tried Wal-Mart to try to get Bicillin. Let me know if you have luck - I will try my Wal-Mart, too, although there is not one terribly close.
Good luck! Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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Walmart has a good price of $463.00 for 10 syringes. I am trying to ask the pharmacist though since they have to special order it if it comes with the adapter guide I need.
He said he didn't know but would call them. He also said that they are out of stock of the medication, (go figure) and to try back in just a couple of days when they restock. They have the 1.2 MU, but it is in great demand.
My husband is insisting that I keep it on the up and up and order from a reputable pharmacy. Its to important to us to leave things to chance like that. But thats just me.
With the shortage, I think thats tells me everyone in the US has Lyme Disease! People in Canada have to order from the U.S. also and their Lyme disease rate is as high as ours.
I wish we had a chemical we could drop and kill all the mosquitos, horse flies and ticks! Posts: 204 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Hi Nukegirl,
Thanks for the good news about Wal-Mart. That's the best price I've heard. The Tubex injector only costs a few dollars. At least they are willing to get the Bicillin for you. I checked with seven pharmacies and all said they could not get the 1.2 million units.
A friend checked with King Pharmaceuticals and was told the shortage would be until September, but who knows. Back when Wyeth Pharmaceuticals made Bicillin, there was no shortage that I am aware of.
I told my LLMD that this shortage is probably pitting the syphilis patients against the Lyme patients - that before long, there will be roving gangs of each disease fighting it out in the aisles of the pharmacies!
I'm glad you're on the road to Bicillin and hope it will help you a lot.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Wal-Mart can't get it for me..it's unavailable. Wow! I hope it's not until September. That would most likely mean another picc line for me! ....Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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My husband and I talked last night and we are thinking maybe we should way the cost of Bicillin against I.V. therapy. Is the I.V. any better at clearing up the co-infections?
I know this is a wide sweep question, but I just wanted to get started on a combo and I am ready to get Bicillin from Walmart, but Hubby suggested we wait to get the info on cost between the two.
Anyone have any opinions here?
Posts: 204 | Registered: Jan 2005
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
IV is much more expensive than IM. IV, for me, was about $7000 per month. This includes medication, nursing visit weekly to change the dressing, and weekly labs. IV is also more cumbersome than IM.
I'm not sure you can GET the bicillin. I can't, it seems. Let me know if you still can, and who the supplier is. Thanks!
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
It seems I can get the bicillin....check out my post about bicillin supplier....Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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