RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
How do you afford this? I desperately need a good probiotic, but this is out of my price range, unless taking less is sufficient.
Do you take only one pill a day, 1/2 packet, 1/4 packet or what?
Which is best pills or packets?
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
If you have insurance they may be willing to cover an RX of "VSL#3 DS". The RX version is double the strength of the OTC version. This might be a cheaper option for you. And you could take half a packet per day so that might save even more money.
Honestly, I would rather spend my money on a good quality probiotic like VSL#3 and skimp/ go generic on something else.
The capsules are $48 for 60, that's less than 50cents per day if you take one capsule, the bottle will last you 2 months. You get 112 Billion live probiotic bacteria in that one capsule. You would have to take several capsules of other brands to reach the amount in one VSL#3 cap.
Packets are more expensive than the capsules because they have more probiotic bacteria. The packets are not necessarily better than the capsules, they just provide more bacteria per serving.
So check out the VSL website, figure out how much you want to take and how much you are willing to spend. That will help you decide what to order.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
yep, I take these as well! $50.00 a bottle. I've been taking 4-6 a day just to play it safe....so far no GI problems or yeast infections...very costly but well worth it!
Posts: 501 | From Hudson Ticky Valley, NY | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
As Sammy mentioned, if you have insurance, try for the DS version. And a way to make it even cheaper is have your doc write a script for something like 4 packets a day.
So then you get 120 packets for one co-pay. And a single packet has like an insane amount of bacteria, something like 900 billion. So 1/3 packet daily could be fine, depending on how much probiotic you need. And at that rate, a single script (and one co-pay) can last you a year or more.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
I had no idea VSL#3 DS would be covered by insurance....many thanks!
My co-pay will be $50. I'm not sure my LLMD would prescribe 4 packets per day, but maybe he would prescribe 2 or 3. All I can do is ask. Co-pay would be the same for 1 packet a day or 3 packets a day, no difference.
I couldn't find VSL#3 DS on their website. What is the difference between VSL#3 and VSL#3 DS?
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
I think DS is simply double, so the regular version has 450 billion bacteria, while DS is 900 billion.
And 4 packets/daily is max recommended on the box (I think), so it is allowable to dose that much. But you can check with your insurance to see if they have any limit. And some insurances may not cover it at all, so check on that too.
As to getting your doc to write the script, I guess it depends a little on how friendly he is, and if he's flexible.
I mean, my doc knew I wasn't going to take 4 a day, yet when I simply explained it'd save me money, he said sure, and put it down.
And so you know ahead of time, VSL is prescribed in boxes of 20, and the pharmacist isn't supposed to break up boxes, so make sure however many your doc prescribes, it's an even number. 1 a day would be 1 box, so only 20 packets, not the 30 he'd prescribe. While 4 a day gets you 6 boxes.
Only downside to getting so many at once is they hog up your refrigerator, but you can also smush 2 boxes into one, to save space.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Yes it can be covered by insurance. Also, take packet and make your own yogurt out of it..its like making your own VSL.
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
My LLMD agreed to prescribe VSL#3 DS and said I should take it 3 times a day. I didn't argue with him, but now I see I should have requested an even number.
According to his prescription, I would need 90 packets a month. Oh well, at least I am getting VSL#3 DS! I guess I will get 4 boxes a month for a total of 80 packets... I can't complain about that!
Since I have been battling yeast, on and off, for a couple months, how much VSL should I take?
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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Nancy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 95
posted
BTW double check that your insurance covers it too because not all do which was the case with mine.
Posts: 526 | From NJ | Registered: May 2007
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
quote:Originally posted by radfaraf: BTW double check that your insurance covers it too because not all do which was the case with mine.
Thanks...I called BC/BS and they said they did cover it. I won't be picking it up from pharmacy until tomorrow...we'll see.
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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