Wellness

[Trailrun23]

DH was prescribed Eliquis last week....twice a day to hopefully reduce his risk of stroke. It is $525. He says he won't take it, too expensive. He is way too stubborn. 

[Icegoddess]

Maybe he would qualify for Eliquis' financial assistance program to lower the cost:  https://www.eliquis.bmscustomerconnect.com/vte/savings-and-support?cid=sem_1235106&ovl=isi&gclid=Cj0... 

[mac116]

I take Eliquis, (formerly on Warfarin).  On Warfarin, I needed to have blood draws every 3-4 weeks since the simple piprick did not work for me (clotting factor).  I bruised easily and often.

I feel great on Eliquis!  No blood tests, and no bruising.  I have a Medicare Advantage plan, so I pay only $50 a month, considerably more than Warfarin which was $0 per month.

Both my cardiologist and my primary physician strongly recommended the switch.

[DottieBlue]

Yes, I've been on Eliquis for about 4 years now.  When I first started taking it, I paid $115.00 a month out of pocket, but for about the past 6 months it went down to $75.44 a month out of pocket.  I have no idea why the cost went down because it is still Eliquis and not a generic.

My prescription receipt states the Retail Price is $634.99 for 60 pills (5mg twice a day), but I pay $75.44, and my insurance pays the difference.

Perhaps your husband's doctor could prescribe another medication that isn't so expensive.

[Jersey Born]

@Trailrun23 - Has your husband had a blood clot, TIA, or stroke, recently? Or does he have a PFO or atrial fibrillation? Those are well-known risks for a stroke. 

I am aware of someone who takes a baby aspirin a day instead of Warfarin, because she did not want to take that drug. That was before Eliquis came out on the market. So far, she is doing fine. Personally, I would prefer taking a drug that could be monitored with a blood test, like Warfarin, because even though the drug reduces the risk of a clot, it simultaneously increases the risk of a bleed (as does Eliquis).

Wishing your husband the very best, regardless. There are also other things that thin the blood, like garlic, maple syrup (?!), and turmeric. 

[Nonametoday]

My husband takes Eliquis. We are retired military and have been getting it at the Base. The military pharmacy has obviously quit carrying it, it is going to be hard to come by and there will be a shortage. I went to Walgreen to get it and it was $869. I had already told them to put it om my debit card because once I had to get it at Walgreen when the Base was out and it was $39. Well, she said "do you know how much it is?" I said, "well, it doesn't matter, we have to have it." As she reached for my card she said "$869.00" I grabbed my card so fast I almost took her fingers off. I called our doctor and we are now getting it for $12/month.

Obviously, there will be a shortage of food, gas, baby formula and drugs if something does not change, and change quickly.

Let me edit this to say that he was taking Plavix back when we had to pay $600/month for it but I was still working then.  I am no longer.  When the Base began carrying Plavix, we got it free but we paid that for years.

Then he started taking Xarelto and I don't remember how much it was but we had to pay for it several months before we got it free but if I recall, it was around $500/month.  So we have paid for a lot of medicine through the years.  My Restasis is $1200.

[Mrs Pez Head]

We too are retired military and I take Eliquis.....so far, so good, it is available at our military pharmacy...fingers crossed that it stays available!This is a very effective drug but it also very expensive. If our military pharmacy no longer carries it, I am sunk!

[Scooby Doo]

I've been taking it for about 7 months.  It is expensive if you don't have insurance coverage.  But still, $50 out of the budget is a bite.  His doctor should be able to give him a few weeks sample if asked.  The drug company knows that people have a hard time paying for it.  He might also consider taking coumadin as an alternative.  The problem with that is that you have to keep testing in order to get the dose correct.  But it's cheap.

[Nonametoday]

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@Mrs Pez Head wrote:

We too are retired military and I take Eliquis.....so far, so good, it is available at our military pharmacy...fingers crossed that it stays available!This is a very effective drug but it also very expensive. If our military pharmacy no longer carries it, I am sunk!

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@Mrs Pez Head 

If that happens to you, ask the cardiologist to help you.  They can and they will.  They want you to have it.  The longer we take it, the longer we live, and the more patients they keep living, the better their reputation and the better hospitals seek them out.

[pdlinda]

@Trailrun23   I read on my newfeed that MARK CUBAN, the Houston entrapreneur and philanthropist, has started some type of pharmaceutical company that DEEPLY DISCOUNTS expensive medications.

If you Google his name I'm sure details of the offer are available. 

I saw many Tweets from very grateful recipients and he is being universally praised for his generosity.