HER Forums

[di]

Hi there

I am out of hospital (after spending 3 weeks including xmas there!) and they have taken my central line out...

i am feeling a bit better now i am 19 weeks. i think my hormones are settling

i am desperately trying to get off the Zofran because of the cost. my wonderful husband says he will keep buying it for me for as long as i need it, but i have been so sick an unable to work fo so long, we really cant afford it. in Australia as of Jan 1 this year they have put the price up to $65 for 24mg. I am typically only on 8mg a day, but am trying to get down to 4mg just for the cost factor.
Anyone else being financially crippled by Zofran even though it mkes you feel better physically????

Thanks

[HanJ]

Di,
It's good to hear you are out of hospital. I've been on Zofran since 12 weeks, and yes the cost is quite crippling. Early on my husband and I decided that it was worth it. It kept me out of hospital and put me on the track back to semi-normal eating existence. Unfortunately for us, that has meant living on the very basic essentials, and borrowing money from his parents just to survive.
One thing I did was a little research to find the most economical packet of Zofran. For me it meant asking my OB for an 8mg/10pk script, and breaking these tablets in half for my 4mg dose. This brought the cost down to about $18/day for the weeks I was on so much. At the moment I've got it down to 4mg a day (2x 2mg doses of 1/2 a 4mg tab) which is still robbing us blind.
Do you have private health insurance? If so, have a talk to them about possible rebates for each script. We get about $20 back per script no matter how big or small it is, which doesn't really help, but if it means the difference between eating and not, then it helps.
One other thing I found helpful when I was trying to reduce my Zofran was to take Maxalon (metaclopramide/pramin) as 'top-up' doses when I wasn't quite making it between zofran doses.

I hope this helps. Overall, it is worth it, if you can find the funds from somewhere. All the best.

_________________
Hannah J.
Joseph born April 10th 2005
Eliah born December 15th, 2006

[BlueEeyore]

You might check this source for zofran:

http://www.globaldrug.tv/search.asp?Action=search&Definition=&Keywords=zofran

$11-14 per pill

_________________
Survivor of 18 months of HG - through 2 long pregnancies.

[di]

thanks

I feel better to know we are not the only ones having to borrow off the in-laws to afford the Zofran, I too am taking maxolon in the night time to cut down the Zofran. at the beginning of my pregnancy i was on te zofran and still throwing it up - waste of $15 a pop but there was nothing i could do. i think only time is really helping with a boost from the zofran. for the last 2 weeks i have been able to keep down hot drinks (never cold) which is great. we have actually moved in temporarily with hubby's parents, because they are near better hospitals and at least i know hubby is getting fed because i certainly cant make food for him! he's ok to do it himself of course but it takes a lot of the stress out for me i am lucky that my in-laws are ok and are looking forward to their newest grandchild. we are estimating the cost of the zofran so far to nearly 3 thousand dollars so i will definately look into your ideas for cutting the cost a bit - we are privately insured thankfully.
thank you so much
Di
1 HG pregnancy is enough for me....

[adelmaal]

I convinced my doctor to fill out the prescription because I had read it was safer for the baby than Phenergan, which I took in my last pregnancy. I went to the pharmacy to fill the prescription and on insurance it was still $90.00+ a pop for 12 tablets. I was shocked to say the least. I opted for Phenergan at $5.00 a pop for 10 suppositories. I sometimes feel sad that I am putting a price on my baby's well being because Zophran is safer but we just can't afford the Zophran...

_________________
Aryn-Leah

Alexandria Caelan, DOB 3/25/95
Cole Vincent, DOB 5/27/98
Raegan Reese, EDD July 24 2005

[Trina]

We are also finding Zofran costing us an absolute fortune... plus accupuncture costing us over 100.00 per week (That's in Australian Dollars)... as i'm sure you are all finding the same thing with the treatments... Zofran is costing us about 30.00 for 4 tablets... Unfortunately due to my husband's income the Australian Government feels that he earns too much money (Yeah right!!) and wont allow me a health Care card to get the zofran cheaper so i have to pay FULL price... This is just killing us... SIGH... The Zofran here is only really made cheap for Chemotherapy patients (and rightfully so) but i wished they broadened the medication conditions that zofran can be used for...

I couldn't believe it when i read your post... We are in the same position... I"ve had to give up Accupuncture because it's costing so much money, because i've had some good days lately my accupuncturist said to me that he'll give me a free treatment this coming Tuesday plus a free follow up one.... That is so nice.. and he is a professional accupuncturist as well... He has been treating me for the last 4 months and i said we have to stop treatment because of my Zofran tablets...

I've gone down to 2mg (halving tablets) a day and this seems to be working...

My husband said to me to give up the accupuncture and keep with the medication would be the best way... This way we can afford it still on a weekly basis.. But definately is killing us... It seems unfair that the Australian Government doesn't want to help HG sufferers.... Zofran should be on the cheap list or the "Cheaper" brand...

Keep in touch: nitragen@hotmail.com

I'm from Penrith NSW, Australia

_________________
Kind regards
Trina from Australia
HG Sufferer Twice
1st pregnancy: Beautiful baby girl Hayley 9/2003 (6 weeks - 21 weeks HG)
2nd Pregnancy: (4 weeks - )) Due: 27th June 2005

[HanJ]

trina - just to let you know that a health care card doesn't do anything for zofran discount. we've got one, and still have to pay full price. there's a few of us here in aus who have written to medicare people and are trying to get zofran on the cheaper list, but no luck so far.

_________________
Hannah J.
Joseph born April 10th 2005
Eliah born December 15th, 2006

[Trina]

We have been discussing the same thing that they should allow HG sufferers the same benefits as chemo patients....

Yeah i have heard that healthcare card wont cover it but it was worth a try...

I even went into Centerlink and talked to them about things... I dont think it will do much...

All doesn't seem so fair hey?

_________________
Kind regards
Trina from Australia
HG Sufferer Twice
1st pregnancy: Beautiful baby girl Hayley 9/2003 (6 weeks - 21 weeks HG)
2nd Pregnancy: (4 weeks - )) Due: 27th June 2005

[aussiegirl]

Ok, I'm about to rock the boat here. I live in Queensland and I got my first prescription of Zofran last Thursday. I used my Healthcare Card and got it for $4.60.

Now, the only thing that I can think of, of why it was so cheap, is that I got it from a hospital pharmacy on my discharge and the hospital may have subsidised it from their own pockets.

Maybe if you check with some hospitals they may be able to tell you if they subsidise it or not.

I hope this helps.

[aussiegirl]

I checked it out with my chemist, and Zofran is subsidized by the government.
The amount of Zofran I get is just 4, 4mg tablets which would cost me $44.33 normally but only costs me $4.60 with my healthcare card.
Now, that may be only in Queensland, but I don't know.
Sorry if I have complicated things some more.

_________________
Kirstin
Georgia (6/20/96) HG
Ethan (6/7/99) HG
Cheyenne (9/26/00) Hg
20 weeks preg.

[HanJ]

kirstin - can I have the name and address of that chemist? do they do mail order prescriptions? if so, I'm REALLY interested. I'm on a health care card, and would really appreciate the discount rate!!! please, do post details!

_________________
Hannah J.
Joseph born April 10th 2005
Eliah born December 15th, 2006

[Trina]

Kirstin... YOUR KIDDING!!!!

Here in NSW it's a standard 28.60...

Can i also have the name of your chemist... Dont worry i wont mention names...

Looking forward to your post...

email: nitragen@hotmail.com

_________________
Kind regards
Trina from Australia
HG Sufferer Twice
1st pregnancy: Beautiful baby girl Hayley 9/2003 (6 weeks - 21 weeks HG)
2nd Pregnancy: (4 weeks - )) Due: 27th June 2005

[km976]

I gather most posting here are not from the US...

On my fifth hsopital stay my DR decided he was going to try Zofran with me. My bills were being picked up by the state, but Zofran was not on the list of drugs they would pay for.

I needed two doses a day and that would cost $50 per day.

The state insurance didn't want to pay, but my DR, the hospital and pharmacist and put in a call to let them know that they could either pay for the meds or pay for me to stay in the hospital.

They did agree to supply the meds, but only a five day supply at a time.

I feel bad for anyone in a bad financial spot on this as Zofran is a life saver, just hang in and do your best.

[Beth B]

The situation is worse with the US drug prices. My insurance won't cover Zofran except for chemo, so we're paying out-of-pocket. It's close to $40 (US) for an 8mg tablet, and I take 3 a day.... My parents gave us some money and we're selling stock, whatever we can. I've found a Canadian mail-order pharmacy that offers the pills at $22 each, but I placed my order there a month ago and still haven't received the Zofran. It's so frustrating that so many of us are suffering financially on top of everything else!

_________________
Beth

Mom to 2 HG babies:
William 12/02
Thomas 9/05

[rmd]

Hi,

I know here in the states, with my health insurance I can get 12 zofran pills for $25US. The way I foud around the huge cost out of pocket (since that would really be a 3 day supply) is to have the meds done through IV (which are more effective fo rme anyway, since my HG is so bad). I needed 24 hr hydration and then I got IV zofran too. My home care is covered at 100%, so I do not have to pay any addtional co-pays for IV meds. Not sure if you have options like that overseas.

Hoping for better days for you all.

Robin