Valtrex...

[SinfulWeeper]

Now that I know I have your attention 😉

I have a friend that needs some Valtrex that has already been prescribed to her. She'll probably never see this post... but being she is a friend I would like this matter tended to in a adult fashion.

Where can she buy the stuff at low cost? Is there any insurance out the that will help pay for the stuff? She is rather limitted on funds and has no job. Due to a recent snowmobile accident she can not work to get funds for more within the next few months.
But the price tag of almost $300 for a three month supply is more than she can afford and will run out of money to buy the stuff in July. I dont know much about the presciption dosage. But from what I find online it can cost about $239. So she wont save any signifigant amounts of money by that route.
I would like to think she could save at least half going through the internet. But I can not seem to find a whole lot of places that sell the stuff.

So does anybody have some input for insurance that covers the stuff, or where to buy it for less?
Lets try keeping this thread mature so it dont get locked. Saving somebody some money for health reasons is more important than a discussion that will lock this thread and lead to no help.

Thanks.

 

[tcsenter]

Tell her to go back to the doctor, tell him that she has no insurance, and ask if he will rewrite the prescription for acyclovir instead. Its about 1/5 the cost and its essentially the same drug. Studies of valcyclovir do not show it to be all that more effective or active than acyclovir, certainly nothing that would justify the 5x higher cost.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
Tell her to go back to the doctor, tell him that she has no insurance, and ask if he will rewrite the prescription for acyclovir instead. Its about 1/5 the cost and its essentially the same drug. Studies of valcyclovir do not show it to be all that more effective or active than acyclovir, certainly nothing that would justify the 5x higher cost.

Yup, and ask for samples...usually docs have them, ya just gotta ask! 😛

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
Tell her to go back to the doctor, tell him that she has no insurance, and ask if he will rewrite the prescription for acyclovir instead. Its about 1/5 the cost and its essentially the same drug. Studies of valcyclovir do not show it to be all that more effective or active than acyclovir, certainly nothing that would justify the 5x higher cost.

Funny how drug reps wining and dining docs = prescriptions written for the latest stuff they're pimping.

One of the many problems in our health care system, IMO.

 

[The Stigenator]

try buying it from canadian drug companies...

 

[tcsenter]

Funny how drug reps wining and dining docs = prescriptions written for the latest stuff they're pimping.

One of the many problems in our health care system, IMO.

Well for patients who can afford the convenience of taking one pill per day instead of two, Valtrex is a great alternative. For those who cannot afford it, acyclovir works just as well. Valtrex is a pro-drug of acyclovir and it is rapidly converted to acyclovir in the body.

Its all about cost/benefit. A lot of people buy a $70,000 Mercedes to drive back and forth to work where a $12,000 Chevy Cavalier gets you back and forth just as well. Physicians shouldn't assume everyone can afford a Mercedes.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

She was on Acyclovir once. But said it kinda made her sickly feeling. She decided to give Valtrex a shot and that got rid of the problem. But more importantly she said Valtrex works much better than Acyclovir.

Currently she does not have a appointed doctor. She moved out of town for a number of years ago and just recently returned. Before she gets a doctor, she needs to afford one first. That snowmachine accident set her back nearly seven thousand. Over half of which was the cost of the snowmachine and not the medical bill. I helped out by giving her five hundred.. but that is not much in the medical world.

I got a flood of PM's with people telling me to get the stuff in Foriegn countries. Mainly the Philipines and Mexico. But how does one get perscription drugs from a non-US source? There have been no answers to that in my reply PM's. Perhaps somebody can enlighten me short of a trip. She can not afford one.

 

[tcsenter]

She was on Acyclovir once. But said it kinda made her sickly feeling. She decided to give Valtrex a shot and that got rid of the problem. But more importantly she said Valtrex works much better than Acyclovir.

Unless she is immunocompromised and requires suppressive antiviral therapy, there is no 'need' for her to be on acyclovir all the time. She can take it for episodic therapy, as required during herpes outbreaks.