Repatha - Page 2

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@DJP ---I can't tolerate any statins either--after a few months, I would get horrible side effects from all of them. The last one I tried was Crestor--did very well with my numbers but I developed walnut sized knots on the back of my achilles tendons---had no idea why or where they came from, but after a year of going to a foot dr I ended up getting surgery----on both ankles--one at a time and then I found out that type of tendonitis was a side effect of Crestor---but because ONLY 45,000 people complained about it--it was not listed on the huge list of possible side effects!!! So if I would have stopped taking it--I prob wouldn't have done the surgery!!!! That was in 2008/09. My drs--have a heart dr and a pharmacist dr that deals with medicine for alot of things--- both said that no matter what I did to try to lower my numbers---it wasn't going to work. I did try zetia ,but it almost immediately made me feel terrible. So now am one 3 shots a month and has made a huge difference. Let me know if you go to HeathWell---

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

@DJP wrote:
@wagirl -- Yes, my maternal side has the history. My mom had a stroke at 74 and passed away in four days. Her siblings passed in their 60's. I have been on many statins too but just can't tolerate them.
I'm 72 and am trying a low dose of Zetia for now. I will try HealthWell and see what happens.
I hope you are feeling and doing well now. Thank you so much for your help!

I am also 72 and on Zetia for over a year now, first time I could not control chol, on my own. Mine was lowered by 23% with Zetia, avg is 15 to 20 %, it is not as potent as a statin, but I dont want to go on a statin.

DJP · ‎03-09-2010

@Shelbelle --That's a good difference 23%. I'm just on my first month so I will keep taking for two more and then more blood work before seeing my cardi again. Thank you for letting me know.

DJP · ‎03-09-2010

@wagirl --What a terrible ordeal you went through. I'm glad the Repatha is working for you. I did go to HealthWell and many other sites. There seems to be no help for people that have a small savings. Someday I will need that money.

Will see what happens with the Zetia. Take Care!

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

@DJP wrote:
@Shelbelle --That's a good difference 23%. I'm just on my first month so I will keep taking for two more and then more blood work before seeing my cardi again. Thank you for letting me know.

Yes, I had a blood draw after the first 3 months since I didnt want to refill it until we knew how it was working. Mine went from 238 down to 183 in the first 3 months. Assume you are taking 10 mg, did you ever see such a tiny pill, so far I have only lost just one.

DJP · ‎03-09-2010

@Shelbelle --Those are great numbers for three months of time. I am taking 10mg too.

Those pills are really tiny. I dropped one of these, and my dog found it. Thankfully he did not eat it. LOL

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@DJP ---really? I don't have much of a savings either--depend on social security and small pension---I don't remember that being a deciding factor. Usually it's if you have a hefty savings that you won't qualify---How about going to the repatha website, they have a program for reduced costs--I went there first but didn't qualify --not sure why tho, but I did talk to a person that directed me to that foundation. Would be worth talking to someone there anyway and I did all this just 2 years ago---Am so sorry if I steered you wrong. Hope the zetia does something.

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

@DJP wrote:
@Shelbelle --Those are great numbers for three months of time. I am taking 10mg too.
Those pills are really tiny. I dropped one of these, and my dog found it. Thankfully he did not eat it. LOL

Your dog has excellent vision !!!

jubilant · ‎06-10-2010

Yes, I am on it. Just started it about 1 month ago. So far no side effects so we will see how it goes. Fourteen years ago they wanted me to take it but at that time it was

$14,000 a yr. so for just that reason I didn't.

Since then I have had a quadruple open heart surgery and a couple of strokes. At first it was still going to be around $6000 a year but my insurance kicked in and now it's only $47.00 a month! In a few weeks I will get my first blood test to see what it's doing for me if anything....fingers crossed.

Good luck!

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@jubilant --I tried to get repatha years ago, when it was a new drug, prob in the 90's--- I had really good insurance from my spouse's work back then and the insurance co still would not cover it at all--even had my drs intervene on my behalf--they wouldn't budge. Fast forward to 2 years ago when I was on medicare and on my own and it was covered thru my rx plan. I then got a grant for that first year, so paid $0. It did wonders for me altho my drs thought getting a higher dosage might do better, and it has. --I had to pay for 3 months of shots, 9 in total, at $66 per each dose out of my own pocket using my rx plan--I give myself 3 shots each month---which still was reasonable .But then got offered another year thru a grant so pay nothing again. Have not had the issues like you had. I go in March for my blood labs. I was going every 3 months for tests but now it's every 6 months as my results are very good.