posted
My insurance company is beginning to challenge my Bicillin prescription. When I found out how much 10 injections are out of pocket I almost passed out! Is there a way to get it that is affordable? Or a cheaper alternative?? I am upset about this because Bicillin has helped me tremendously.
Posts: 360 | From New York | Registered: Oct 2009
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joalo
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Member # 12752
posted
I was on bicillin for fourteen months and did great on it. It was not covered by my insurance so I paid out of pocket. After stopping the bicillin my symptoms started to return. I'm now taking high-dose amoxycillin and doing better.
-------------------- Sick since January 1985. Misdiagnosed for 20 years. Tested CDC positive October 2005. Treating since April 2006. Posts: 3228 | From Somewhere west of the Mississippi | Registered: Aug 2007
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MariaA
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Member # 9128
posted
There is a bicillin alternative from Europe that you can probably get at an overseas European pharmacy, or can get in Mexico. Many users here have used it. It comes under many brand names such as Extencillin (I might be spelling that wrong).
Here's what I wrote to someone else about this whole issue:
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
I was writing this to someone who was contemplating veterinary meds, hence all the references to vet penicillin:
bicillin (the intramuscular shots in the butt or hip), instead, is really expensive if bought in the US ($50/shot, twice or three times a week). Much cheaper is the international version, which is at most $10/shot and sometimes cheaper.
Bicillin vs the international version: Bicillin is a patented gel formulation that you get refrigerated, and is expensive. It comes in two forms- Bicillin LA and Bicillin CR. We only want the LA form. Most of the veterinary options, should you go that route, are the CR form.
The 'international' penicillin IM, like the French brand Extencilline, is a powder and a vial of water that you mix. The drawback is that it can clog the needle. The advantage is that it's wayyyyyy cheaper than Bicillin.
Regardless of brand, here's what the IM penicillin is called- we want this one only: penicillin G benzathine, not the other kind that is IM: penicillin G procaine.
here's what they say about the two types (ie Bicillin LA is what we want, Bicillin CR is a mixture that we DO NOT want but is more common in veterinary usage):
quote: Bicillin� C-R (penicillin G benzathine and penicillin G procaine) may be confused with Bicillin� L-A (penicillin G benzathine). Penicillin G benzathine is the only product currently approved for the treatment of syphilis. Administration of penicillin G benzathine and penicillin G procaine combination instead of Bicillin� L-A may result in inadequate treatment response.
At the bottom of the Merck page are a bunch of international brand names that you could use to search for places to get Extencilline-type powder/water vials from overseas pharmacies. There should be some folks at Lymenet who might be able to help you figure that out.
There are a lot of Lymenetters who've gotten it from Mexico (also the powder-and-water suspension of benzathine penicillin, not the actual brand bicillin).
I've also heard that the pharmacy called farmamondo (switzerland) is a source, but I've never been able to get any info from them by using their email/web form, and haven't been awake to call them at the right time of day. I think it's http://www.farmamondo.com/
Here's the cheaper and scary version: a Russian pharmacy that one guy on LYmenet was ordering from: http://www.pharmacy1010.com/product_page.asp?id=58 this is three times what you usually use (ie usually we use 1.2 million units per shot, but sometimes they give patients 2.4). They have other sizes of it, I haven't looked to see if they're all the benzathine penicillin or the other kind.
I also just heard that another Lymenetter was getting hers through http://goldpharma.com/ Enter 'Benzetacil' into the search there- the prices are about $8/shot.
I think it's cheaper than that in Mexico, and there are mexican pharmacies that should be able to do mail-order to the US. This is not illegal, by the way.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
I was in Mexico and bought Bicillin. I paid about $1.00 per dose and brought 40 doses back to the U.S.
As the other poster said, it comes in a powder form that you mix with purified water that is provided as well. Needle clogs sometimes, but overall it's been fine.
You can PM me if you want more info. Good luck.
TS
Posts: 566 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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posted
Thanks so much. The Bicillin I was getting was 5500 (yes fifty-five hundred dollars) for 10 shots: $550 a shot!!! How crazy is that!
Posts: 360 | From New York | Registered: Oct 2009
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canbravelyme
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Member # 9785
posted
That's very strange. It was $569.59 for box of 10 at Wal-Greens. Could you have mixed up the price?
Best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
Hey folks, Where are you getting your large-gauge needles (19gauge) for the Mexican penicillin? I have a prescription for them but no one seems to carry them around me. I haven't tried a home medical supply or Infuserve yet.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
tickssuck,
What do you do when the needle clogs? Just pull it out, put on a different needle, then reinject?
I use normal Bicillin (luckily it is covered for now), and when the needle clogs, my husband just leaves the needle in my butt, pulls back the plunger some, and then pushes it, trying to push the clog out. 2 out of 3 times, that has worked. (note: I don't know if that is safe, so don't do this without asking a doctor)
The time it didn't work, we just threw the remaining medicine away (yes, I felt bad doing it, but I was worried it was contaminated and didn't have extra needles).
I'm guessing your solution with the Mexican stuff is to just use a new needle when it clogs.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
My understanding is when the needle "clogs", what's happening is the needle's bore is contacting the muscle at an angle such that the medicine will no longer inject.
[perhaps a nurse will come by and clarify this]
What to do:
Pull the whole needle back a little bit, then pull back on the plunger and check for blood (which is necessary because you are now injecting in a new spot). Then inject.
Best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
I used the benzetacil from spain.
To me it was not worth it. It clogged so darn much. I would waste a lot trying to get the clog out and stick myself multiple times. For me is at all possible, I would spend the money on the us stuff. I was using a 19 gauge needle. But I did Bicillin for 14 months and it helped a lot
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
for what its worth...I got mine a Walmart! I called every Pharmacy and sam's club and 3 different walmarts for prices and it did vary...GREATLY!! Mind you this was for Rocephin.. CVS wanted 3600 for 10!! Walmart 171.00 for 20!???? and then I went online and got several drug discount cards and one from the library and we tried them all until we found the best discount. They really went the distance to help me! Bicillin was purchased there too for deep discounts with my cards I did over 100 shots in my assets before I surrendered and got a PICC..should have just gone straight to the PICC it is so much better!!! painless no lumps -great!
-------------------- AzDaisy life requires action Posts: 58 | From Tucson, AZ | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
oh, and Maria A.. just get the next size down 18 gauge is pretty common...big that's for sure...I used the lidocaine alcohol swabs myself!! and ice packs when done. Best!
-------------------- AzDaisy life requires action Posts: 58 | From Tucson, AZ | Registered: Apr 2010
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Yes, that is exactly what I do. I pull the needle out, get a new one and stick myself again, ugh. I have been using a 21 gauge needle - it has worked okay. It's definitely the medicine clogging as it's hard to get it to clear and spurt out the needle; but, once it does I go again.
I am sure to use the Bicillin quickly after I mix it - seems to be the most fluid and easier to inject.
I am also using the U.S. pre-mixed stuff as my insurance is covering it for now; however, once they whine I'll go back to the Mexican stuff. Also, if I'm going to be away for a few days, the Mexican stuff doesn't need refrigeration which is a bonus too.
Anyway...I'm surprised how smoothly the self-injections are going. Now, I'm praying they'll be effective. I'm only one month in, so time will tell I guess. TS
Posts: 566 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
An 18 gauge needle is bigger than a 19 gauge needle. Try to get your pharmacy to order you some 21 gauge, 1.5 inch needles. That is what comes with the RX Bicillin LA.
If the needle seems clogged I would pull out and change the needle rather than risk pushing a clot or chunk of medicine into the muscle. You don't want to injure yourself.
Sometimes the muscle can spasm making it harder to push the thick medicine in. When this happens, try to relax, wait a minute, then start to gently push the medicine in again. It helps to administer Bicillin slowly. It is absorbed better this way and is much less painful!
Friendly reminder, remember to rotate your injection sites. Look up and dorso gluteal and ventro gluteal sites. I found it easier and less painful to administer my Bicillin shots in the ventro gluteal sites.
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MariaA
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posted
I think that clogging problems with the suspension version (ie the overseas mix-with-water stuff) would be worse with a thinner needle- the two formulations aren't the same. US-branded Bicillin comes in that form because it's easier to use than the powder/water suspension form.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
canbravelyme
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posted
Is the syringe sterile if you pull out and change the needle?
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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canbravelyme
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Member # 9785
posted
I have used both versions of the medication; as I recall, neither clogged the needle.
In my experience, not being able to inject was entirely to do with the angle of the bore of the needle and the muscle.
Best wishes,
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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MariaA
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Member # 9128
posted
Can anyone who's bought it overseas please post the source pharmacies? The ones I posted are expensive, and some people who've bought this stuff cheaply got it by going to Mexico themselves, which is not an option for most patients.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
canbravelyme
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Member # 9785
posted
My understanding is that pharmacies are only to be shared by PM / off board.
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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MariaA
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Member # 9128
posted
no, we post them all the time.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
When I was doing HGH shots, I got the needles (syringes) on-line. I think the place was in Colorado - it was about $25 for 100. I don't remember the size but you can get the needles on-line.
Just do a search...
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Lymeorsomething
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Member # 16359
posted
To echo joalo, I would just run high-dose Amoxy if cost is a concern. Run it along side probenecid and it will keep the concentrations at a decent level.
Amoxy is dirt cheap...just as effective IMO at the right high dose.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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annxyzz
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Member # 20404
posted
Bump for bicilin users .... Also , I think bicillin can be compounded by a compounding pharmacist . I believe my local phramacist here in Hooterville can do it . Ask around .
-------------------- annxyzz Posts: 1178 | From East Texas | Registered: May 2009
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annxyzz
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Member # 20404
posted
bump again as there are folks who need this info
-------------------- annxyzz Posts: 1178 | From East Texas | Registered: May 2009
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