Symbicort..

[Maxheader]

Nasty asthma since getting over the flu back in February..Went to
an asthma/immunologist and they said I needed to start taking
a steroid..and started me on symbicort. They gave me some
samples after I said I couldn't afford it..350 to 400$ for the
160/4.5...I also started going a pulmonary clinic...they agreed
on the need for what they call a controller...I could go a couple
of ways to afford symbicort...enroll in the medicare, plan D...drugs, this
coming october and or try the canadian online drug company's,
which I did...Doc said he has heard favorable reviews from some
of his patients that are doing this too. Guess I will see..
Is anyone taking symbicort or another type of asthma steroid?
Is it helping...I've yet to notice any differences to my breathing
problems...

[SummerSnow]

1. My uncle uses Symbicort and he said it works well for him,

he did use the savings coupon to get it free for one year.

https://www.symbicorttouchpoints.com/content/dam/physician-services/us/526-rwd-symbicort-hcp/pdf/Savings_Card_PDF_Symbicort_HCP_Share_Email.pdf

[Maxheader]

3. Thanks for the help...

[empedocles]

2. All costly

Advair is a ripoff. generic Advair is fluticasone propionate and salmeterol - 'only' $85' /month Walmart.

I'm looking to Canada, haven't done so yet. let me know on canadian please.

I have mild, stable late onset asthma and weak RV #s.

[Maxheader]

4. Mailed in a check....

and the signed agreement for what the pharmacy
will and won't do....
I will let you know what happens...

https://www.canadapharmacy.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/customer.info/

[empedocles]

7. thanks

Any advice on which pharmacy to select would be helpful. Seems that even among the 'certified' pharmacies, the prices/ vary widely.

[empedocles]

9. thank you for following up on this.

how did u select this particular pharmacy? [I need to get on the stick with this]

thanks again.

[Maxheader]

8. Recieved the symbicort...

Canadian Pharmacy

Haven't used it yet...Vannair...200/6.
(This is printed on the box)
Each inhalation delivers 160 ug budesonide
and 4.5 ug eformoterol fumarate dihydrate.
(Same as the samples I'm using now)

120 inhalations. 135$ plus 10$ shipping.

The cost here? between 3 and 400 dollars
for 60 inhalations.

[mahigan]

17. I'm in Canada

I use symbicort. In fact I just put it to work recently when my old lungs had a problem dealing with a week of -40F and 3 weeks of almost non existent humidity. I have found Symbicort quite useful even though I usually only use it a few times a year.

My last refill from a few days ago cost $103.68 at a small town drug store. My insurance covered $82.94 leaving me to pay only $20.74.
That might be enough to get some of you to check into getting your meds from "The Great White North". I know it can be and is done but I have no knowledge re procedures etc. that you have to go through. If you are fairly close to the border, there are buses that bring bunches of people - mostly seniors- across the border to stock up on meds at our prices - obviously not possible while the border is closed because of corvid.

Sorry I don't have any more information for you.

mahigan

[empedocles]

18. Wow. From the past surprise.

I found the Advair substitute in Canada. It's labeled 'Seretide'. Comes in the exact same patented circular powder inhaler. Works just great. Same manufacturer. Same dose. Costs a small fraction of what Walmart was charging. Works much better for me than the old quick relief inhalers like Symbicort. Dose 1 / day gives round the clock relief. I have a simple asthma peak flow meter that I blow into whenever I'm in doubt.

I use the Canadian 'Pharmstore' pharmacy, mainly mail order I think. 1-800-281-8347. Works well.

[PennyK]

5. Me! I take it

Last edited Tue Sep 4, 2018, 06:43 PM - Edit history (1)

I was diagnosed with moderate COPD two years ago (I had started experiencing shortness of breath), and my new pulmonologist put me on Symbicort. One day in, my symptoms were gone. I also have a rescue inhaler, and I think I used it once. I love the stuff, and my mother, who has more severe COPD, also uses it.

Hope you find a way of dealing with the cost...I'm also on Medicare and i have a D plan, and luckily for me I can afford my copay. When you sign up, you look for the plan that gives the best deals on your prescriptions. We have a Medicare supplemental plan with a company who does that legwork for us.

[Maxheader]

6. Thanks for the response...Not really

noticing any positive affects..I may decide not to use it
if it doesn't start helping in a few months or so..Glad
it helps you!!

[Jane Austin]

10. It may be that plain old Albuterol

might work for you.

It's a "rescue inhaler" so it opens up your airways toute suite, and it's vastly cheaper.

My doc gave me a sample of Onoro - the one with the irritating Go Your On Way commercial - and there was a coupon inside which said "never pay more than $10 for Onoro".

Turns out, if you have Medicare, you're not eligible, and I hit the donut hole every May.

That's me you see begging all my doctors for samples.

[Maxheader]

11. Pro air..albuterol has been my rescue inhaler for years...

Before that there was isuprel..but it was a pretty severe heart stimulant...
don't believe it is sold anymore...

Unfortunately, something happened last February..flu followed by viral
bronchitis..and my asthma worsened...rescue medihalers no long
provided the relief as before...I use a nebulizer now...only thing that
gives me total relief from an attack...

[Jane Austin]

12. Am glad you have those.

ProAir, for me, delivers a really good puff. Some brands don't.

[moriah]

13. Right now the asthma fund on Healthwell is open, if you're paying attention to DU lately....

https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/fund/asthma/

They either offer a premium assistance fund to get your premiums down to something you can afford, or they offer a copay assistance fund. I got approved for copay assistance within 2 hours today.

I have Medicare Part D and my asthma inhaler copays are too expensive, so these type of funds have helped me greatly. PAN Foundation and Copays.org also have Asthma funds, and I've used PAN's Asthma fund in the past. PAN only reimburses if the med copay is $50 or more, but getting them every 3 months makes the copay that until I hit gap (and one I hit gap, the copays are well over $50). I saw Healthwell's minimum reimbursement at the pharmacy is $5, so that makes me happy -- means since my Medicare supplemental plan stopped covering Ventolin but 3 months of Proair is less than $50, it will still cover my rescue inhalers too.

They do require you have insurance, but it makes using your insurance for the medications MUCH easier. I can't afford even 25% of what either Advair OR Symbicort, along with any of the varieties of anticholinergic inahlers (either Pressair or Sprivia), cost, and that's what they consider "completely filling the coverage gap".