Substitute for Avandia

I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but the
cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as Amaryl,
for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and will be
asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.

My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only generic
drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered for
about 9 months.

Thank you,
Ron
rtbloch@comcast.net

RTB <rtbloch@comcast.net> wrote:
: I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but the
: cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as Amaryl,
: for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and will be
: asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.

: My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only generic
: drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered for
: about 9 months.

: Thank you,
: Ron
: rtbloch@comcast.net

There are Medicar D plans out there that cover motre than generics and may
offer som eprotection during the "doughnut hole". they will have higher
remiums, bu tyou have to calculate the trade-offs. You may have missed
the change period for 2007, but do investigate for 2008. You can make a
change every year, as I understand.

Wendy

I have Humana Complete insurance. Last year, when I joined, it was doughnut
hole free, and paid for both generics and all other drugs during this
period. It was a bit more expensive, but certainly worth it.

This year, they changed to only paying for generics during the doughnut hole
period. And to add insult to injury, they raised the monthly charge to
$76.00 a month. By the time I found out about this, it was too late to get a
new insurance company. I have been looking, but can't find any company that
is any different, at least that's available in Texas.

Thank you,
Ron

"W. Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote in message
news:eoqod4$44a$2@reader2.panix.com...
> RTB <rtbloch@comcast.net> wrote:
> : I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but
> the
> : cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as
> Amaryl,
> : for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and will
> be
> : asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.
>
> : My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only generic
> : drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered
> for
> : about 9 months.
>
> : Thank you,
> : Ron
> : rtbloch@comcast.net
>
> There are Medicar D plans out there that cover motre than generics and may
> offer som eprotection during the "doughnut hole". they will have higher
> remiums, bu tyou have to calculate the trade-offs. You may have missed
> the change period for 2007, but do investigate for 2008. You can make a
> change every year, as I understand.
>
> Wendy
>

RTB wrote:

> I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but the
> cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as Amaryl,
> for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and will be
> asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.
>
> My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only generic
> drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered for
> about 9 months.

You maybe able to get metformin for $4 for a 30 day supply at Wal-Mart.
Their program covers a lot of states.
Also AMARYL - generic name GLIMEPIRIDE - http://tinyurl.com/27y68o.
GLIMEPIRIDE 1, 2,; 4 MG tablets are available at Wal-Mart
http://i.walmart.com/i/if/hmp/fusion...icdruglist.pdf.

Frank

On Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:31:52 -0600, RTB wrote:

> I have Humana Complete insurance. Last year, when I joined, it was doughnut
> hole free, and paid for both generics and all other drugs during this
> period. It was a bit more expensive, but certainly worth it.
>
> This year, they changed to only paying for generics during the doughnut hole
> period. And to add insult to injury, they raised the monthly charge to
> $76.00 a month. By the time I found out about this, it was too late to get a
> new insurance company. I have been looking, but can't find any company that
> is any different, at least that's available in Texas.
>
> Thank you,
> Ron

Social inSecurity had an 'evaluator' on their web site last year - I'll
bet it's still there - enter your vital info and the drugs you use and it
will tell you the most cost effective D plans available to you.


>
> "W. Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote in message
> news:eoqod4$44a$2@reader2.panix.com...
>> RTB <rtbloch@comcast.net> wrote:
>> : I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but
>> the
>> : cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as
>> Amaryl,
>> : for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and will
>> be
>> : asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.
>>
>> : My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only generic
>> : drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered
>> for
>> : about 9 months.
>>
>> : Thank you,
>> : Ron
>> : rtbloch@comcast.net
>>
>> There are Medicar D plans out there that cover motre than generics and may
>> offer som eprotection during the "doughnut hole". they will have higher
>> remiums, bu tyou have to calculate the trade-offs. You may have missed
>> the change period for 2007, but do investigate for 2008. You can make a
>> change every year, as I understand.
>>
>> Wendy
>>

Thanks a lot!

I'll check it out.

Ron


"ray" <ray@zianet.com> wrote in message
newsan.2007.01.19.19.25.57.592888@zianet.com...
> On Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:31:52 -0600, RTB wrote:
>
>> I have Humana Complete insurance. Last year, when I joined, it was
>> doughnut
>> hole free, and paid for both generics and all other drugs during this
>> period. It was a bit more expensive, but certainly worth it.
>>
>> This year, they changed to only paying for generics during the doughnut
>> hole
>> period. And to add insult to injury, they raised the monthly charge to
>> $76.00 a month. By the time I found out about this, it was too late to
>> get a
>> new insurance company. I have been looking, but can't find any company
>> that
>> is any different, at least that's available in Texas.
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Ron
>
> Social inSecurity had an 'evaluator' on their web site last year - I'll
> bet it's still there - enter your vital info and the drugs you use and it
> will tell you the most cost effective D plans available to you.
>
>
>>
>> "W. Baker" <wbaker@panix.com> wrote in message
>> news:eoqod4$44a$2@reader2.panix.com...
>>> RTB <rtbloch@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> : I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but
>>> the
>>> : cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as
>>> Amaryl,
>>> : for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and
>>> will
>>> be
>>> : asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.
>>>
>>> : My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only
>>> generic
>>> : drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered
>>> for
>>> : about 9 months.
>>>
>>> : Thank you,
>>> : Ron
>>> : rtbloch@comcast.net
>>>
>>> There are Medicar D plans out there that cover motre than generics and
>>> may
>>> offer som eprotection during the "doughnut hole". they will have higher
>>> remiums, bu tyou have to calculate the trade-offs. You may have missed
>>> the change period for 2007, but do investigate for 2008. You can make a
>>> change every year, as I understand.
>>>
>>> Wendy
>>>
>

On Fri, 19 Jan 2007 07:14:35 -0600, "RTB" <rtbloch@comcast.net> wrote:

>I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but the
>cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as Amaryl,
>for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and will be
>asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.
>
>My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only generic
>drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered for
>about 9 months.
>
>Thank you,
>Ron
>rtbloch@comcast.net
>
Ron - What strength are you using? The price for 4 and 8 mg are the
same. I buy 8 mg and break into two 4 mg pieces. The drug company
hates it when their customers do this, but if their prices were
honest...

Charlie

Thanks, but unfortunately I use 8mg.

Ron

"Charlie Leo" <cfred@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
news:utk5r29qr44vel3tk5nle1at4u22oibju4@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 19 Jan 2007 07:14:35 -0600, "RTB" <rtbloch@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>I've been taking Avandia for about a year and it is working well, but the
>>cost is nearly $6.00 a pill. Has anyone found a substitute, such as
>>Amaryl,
>>for this drug. I'll be going to my doctor in a couple of weeks and will be
>>asking him to put me on a more affordable drug.
>>
>>My Medicare insurance has a "doughnut" hole and will cover only generic
>>drugs up to a certain dollar amount. I believe that I will be covered for
>>about 9 months.
>>
>>Thank you,
>>Ron
>>rtbloch@comcast.net
>>
> Ron - What strength are you using? The price for 4 and 8 mg are the
> same. I buy 8 mg and break into two 4 mg pieces. The drug company
> hates it when their customers do this, but if their prices were
> honest...
>
> Charlie