Sinemet Cost is WAY up

[PDPam]

I just filled my 90-day supply of 25/100 Sinemet (630 tabs Brand Name - generic doesn't work for me) through my insurance (Caremark). On July 3, 2006, I paid $237 for my 3-month prescription (that's .38 cents a tab). On November 5, 2005, I refilled my 3-month prescription and the cost had increased to $331 !! That's a $94 increase in four months!! That's .53 cents a tab. I take 7 tabs a day, so that's almost $4 a day in Sinemet cost!!

Does anyone know of a regulatory agency (Federal) or state - California agency that regulates pharmaceutical drug prices for the consumer?

This is unbelieveable:
My Daily PD Drug Cost:

$4 Sinemet
$1 Azilect
$3 CoQ10 (1200 mg/day)
$4 Misc Vitamins/Supplements
----
$12 per day for PD-related drugs (that's about $360/month !!)

I think I can now get Brand Name Sinemet a little cheaper from Canada - but all this feels like "highway robbery"!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Pam

[vlhperry]

Dear Pam,

How many Generic brands have you tried? There is more than one. I tried the one carpidopa/levodopa by the Pharmaceutical company ENDO. It worked for me. Do a little research on the internet. Type in Carpadopa/Levodopa Generic and see how many hits you come up. All of the companies use different fillers and it depends on what filler they substituted for what the name brand uses whether it will be OK for you or not.

Good Luck,
Vicky

[vlhperry]

http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/index.htm#Therapeutic%20Equivalence

Government Source for all your answers about generic products. If anyone sets price controls, I would check first with the Food and Drug Administration.

[steve m]

My Sinamet has been costing me $80 a month since I started taking it last March

[PDPam]

I will check out your ideas, thank you. Am I the only one out there that is taking brand name Sinemet and getting charged a fortune for it? It's hard to believe I'm the only one ....

Pam

[PDPam]

You're spending $240 every three months (I was at $236/90days then it went to $331/90days). Your drug costs may have increased to my level too. Those greedy bast#$&s!!!

Pam

[steve m]

You're spending $240 every three months (I was at $236/90days then it went to $331/90days). Your drug costs may have increased to my level too. Those greedy bast#$&s!!!

Pam

Yes..I get my brand name Sinamet at CVS..I was taking the generic TEVA, but they didnt work for me..I was paying $53.00 per month for those

[judytiger]

Hubby, Tiger, takes 5 Sinemet (25/100) per day and yesterday's filling cost $47.50 for 1 month. Not just YOU, every med is getting higher.

[steve m]

Hubby, Tiger, takes 5 Sinemet (25/100) per day and yesterday's filling cost $47.50 for 1 month. Not just YOU, every med is getting higher.


Judy..Is that generic or brand name?..I assume that is out of pocket cost?

[judytiger]

This is name brand Sinemet and the $47 is our co-pay. The CVS bag doesn't show what insurance co. covered.

Interestingly, his ins.co has a cap - after you pay $2,000 for meds, the rest of the year meds are free - except for Sinemet and a couple of other BRAND name meds - suppose those are the ones that don't give kick-backs to the ins.co.

Judy

[Lyric99]

What is the point of checking with the FDA? They are nothing but crooks who do not care one iota about the person who has to take drugs to survive. They are pretty good at bribing doctors with all kinds of "freebies" in return for the docs prescribing their meds. Let's face it..............this country is in BIG trouble as far as the FDA is concerned..................they rule!

[justrosey]

you are so right in your thinking. as they say money talks,

[justrosey]

i just checked my bills
1. the sinemet (carbidopa/levo)i months 120 pills cost 8.27
2. sinemet cr ( " " samyl ) i month 120 pills 28.62
3, ambien is the most expense 1 month 90 pills cost 68.92
thats the cost

[Shirlee Blevins]

Pam:

How long have you been taking the CoQ10...1200mgs ? What brand are you taking? Is it a wafer 4 times a day? I am real curious about this as I was put on this back on August 22 and you are the first person I have run across that is also on it?
Shirlee in Alabama

[PDPam]

I can't afford the fancy/expensive forms of CoQ10 - I take the NOW brand 400mg with vit. E form of CoQ10 X 3 times a day (1200 mg a day). The cheapest I have found it is at allstarhealth.com - 60 soft gels costs $48.50. I think it helps but I can't say for sure. I've been taking CoQ10 for about 2.5 years.

Pam

[Lyric99]

The reason for the increase is because the drug companies BRIBE doctors with all kind of goodies in exchange for the docs prescribing their meds. Merck just settled a 651 million dollar lawsuit. I think it is disgusting!