Is Anyone Familiar With Sulfasalazine?

[jodibelle352]

Today has been a day of uncertainty for me.

I went to get my Entocort filled and just about had a massive coranary when the cost to me was $127.88. Needless to say I refused the script because I could NOT afford it.

David contacted the pharmacy once I got home to see if there was something equivalent too Entecort that we could take instead and that would be within our financial means.

Mike our pharmacist told David to contact our GI or PP and see if they would change my script to: Sulfasalazine. My PP said called and said if it was approved by my GI then he was okay with the change in script.

I'm so tired of lining the pockets of the pharmacutical companies because the doctor's promote Brand medications that insurance companies offer kick backs from. I'm also tired of having MRSP's which I've already had 4 with each and everyone showing the same thing but now I'm having to make payment arrangements to pay off what Medicare WON'T pay.

David is about ready to throttle me for being so bullheaded and stubborn and threatening NOT to continue with any medication at all. What he doesn't seem to know or understand is that I'm NOT threatening, I'm DAMN serious about not taking any medications AT ALL! I'm not trying to be belligerant or STUPID I'm being very serious. WE CAN NOT AFFORD THESE PRICES WITH MEDICATIONS.

We've filled out papers and asked for State help but according to the State of Michigan/Government we are only intitled to any financial help after we've exceeded $1250.00 a month on medical bills. We live on $1856.00 per month. Can someone explain how in the heck the State thinks we are supose to live on $606.00 when our rental on a handicapped apt. is $478.00.

I truly am furious! I actually want to GIVE UP and say "Hey, all you A-holes! You've broken my spirit, I'm in tears and I NO LONGER care!" I'm ready to just give into defeat and say;"piss on it all". I haven't been this upset and depressed for awhile but today's situation with my Entocort really upset me and right now all I have are the family and friends on this board that I can vent to without being told to "Shut Up!" Quiet frankly I want to know who I can write to so that my message gets across to the Jack Ass wether he/she is a Rep. or Dem. or the Pope! Enough is Enough!

I'm doing my best to take care of myself and I thought I was doing a darn good job of reaching 100lbs! Apparently, now because of all the red tape b.s. with the Government our Part-D Prescription Insurance is NO LONGER covering my Entocort for a $4.00 copay anymore. Dealing with anymore of this today is making things worse emotionally and mentally because I'm so upset that I am not able to consentrate. I DON"T WANT TO GO BACK INTO THAT DEEP BLACK HOLE OF DEPRESSION AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I everything I'm feeling right now is telling me "Jodi, your in trouble, reach out for help before you fall." So I'm turning to YOU/ALL OF YOU!

Love Ya and God Bless:
Jodi

[Dee]

Hi Jodi!
If I'm not mistaken it's a drug to treat ulcerative colitis.
I do know it's in the class of sulfa drugs.
Can you tolerate sulfa??
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to call the manufacturer of Entocort to see if they can help you out.
Or maybe Wayne has a suggestion of something else that would have the same effect as the Entcocort.
I know on my mail in drug company invoice, a 3 month supply is over $1,700....... I am blessed so far that Jack had good insurance & prescription thru Whirlpool.
((((((HUGS))))))))
Dee~~~~

[Dee]

Also!!
Keep that chin up Jodi, because I'm not going to let you fall!!!!!!!

Love
Dee~~~~~

[jodibelle352]

Hi Dee:

Thank You for the information about this other drug. I've just been so upset since about 12:30p.m. when I dropped Bailey off to Pre-School and went to pick up medications that when the pharmacy hit me with their best shot of $127.88 for just one medication which was my Entocort I just "lost it" my fight was "gone".

I've been working so hard to get the "prayer list" going for little Adrian Gerber and a "card shower" I haven't had time or even cared about my problems. I just couldn't see this little guys request going unanswered. He's only 11 yrs. old so why not try and get those on our support boards to help out and send a few cards.

However, once I stopped at the "Drug Shop" all Holy Hell broke loose and I have felt like someone kicked me in the pit of my stomach. I've already made 6 trips to the "John" and I'm mad at myself for letting the stress of the situation get the better of me. I have worked so hard to live withing our means and not complain. I haven't been able to afford Enterolabs like most of you but thats ok because I've been keeping a journal and doing my best to stay GF. It's sorta the long way around things but I'm dealing but there's just NO WAY I'm handling this cost for my Entocort when before Jan. and all the stupid changes with our prescription coverage and insurance premiums went to hell I just was NOT going to pay such and outrageous price for this medication. NO WAY!

As you can probably already tell I am LIVID and even though I know I need to let this go I'm truly hurt by what happened today. My Grandmother use to tell us: "Never pray for lesser burdens but for broader shoulders." Right now my shoulders feel like I'm unable to straighten up. LOL

Thank You so much for your Love and Support!
Love and God Bless:
Jodi

[starfire]

Jodi,
The following is from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-i ... n/DR601285
Sulfasalazine , a sulfa medicine, is used to prevent and treat inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis. It works inside the bowel by helping to reduce the inflammation and other symptoms of the disease. Sulfasalazine is sometimes given with other medicines to treat inflammatory bowel disease .
Sulfasalazine is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have not been helped by or who cannot tolerate other medicines for rheumatoid arthritis.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, sulfasalazine is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Ankylosing spondylitis
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Tablet
Enema
Suppository
Tablet, Enteric Coated
*****************************************
If I were going to take it for MC I believe I would try to take the Enteric Coated Tablet.

I agree with Dee, though, that you should contact the manufacturer of Entocort and see if they offer any help for people who can't afford the drug. I don't know how long the patent is good for Entocort but it will go generic once the patent is expired provided some manufacturer feels that it is profitable enough to make it. It has been around for AT LEAST 5 years because it was available when I came down with MC. The patents are usually for 7 years if I remember correctly.

My Mother, at one point, received a free med which was normally over 300 dollars a month at that time. Her doctor contacted the manufacturer for her and helped her fill out the paperwork required. They did that for her for 2 or 3 years.

Love, Shirley

[Dee]

Jodi!
I might be little, but I do have very broad shoulders from what people tell me, so let me walk with you with the burden that you are carrying.
Don't give up hope because we have alot brains on this board and I'm sure others will jump aboard to help & give suggestions.
Breeeaatheeee, now do it again, & again.........
We'll think of something ....




Love
Dee~~~~~

[jodibelle352]

Thank You Shirley:

I will search to see what company makes Entocort and try and contact them. I'm not trying to be "negative" but we've tried getting help with David's inhalers from GSK and with the amount David get from S.S. they have turned us down for making to much money. But I'm still going to see what I can find out with Entocort and maybe there patient assistance program is run differently than GSK.

Love and God Bless:
Jodi

[jodibelle352]

Hi Dee:

I'm doing my excersizes and taking a deep breath in through my nose then out through my mouth.

It's been suggested that I contact who makes Entocort and see what there "patient assistance" program is like and wether David and I meet the guidelines.

I'm just having a rough time fighting back today. At times it's just to darn hard not continuously fight for something just to know your going to get "kicked" again and knocked on your butt!

Love Ya!
God Bless:
Jodi

[Jan]

Jodi,

When I looked up Sulfasalazine (googled it) it shows that it is in the same class as the drugs we've seen called Asacol or Colazol. To the best of my knowledge, there isn't a generic for Entocort. The closest generic is predisone and I wouldn't wish that steriod on anyone.

I agree with Dee that you should get ahold of the manufacturer (Prometheus Laboratories Inc) to get some help. Sometimes the Dr. has to be the one to ask. You might check with your GI to see if he will help. He might be able to give you enough samples to hold you over while you work through this.

Good luck and don't give up hope yet.

Jan

[jodibelle352]

Thank You Jan:

I'm going to search for Prometheus Labs and see if it's possible to contact them through e-mail or calling.

Love & God Bless:
Jodi

[Jan]

Jodi,

I tried to PM you (in fact you may get several since I'm not sure if I did it right).

Check out this website for info. Astra Zeneca is the parent on this.

http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affo ... medicines/

Jan

[Bifcus16]

Hi Jodi,

I am horrified every time I hear of how hard it is for US folk to get the treatment you need. In my part of the world we love to whinge about our health care system, because waiting lists for some surgery are too long, and hospital emergency departments are too busy etc etc, but it is nothing compared to what you suffer. We get all drugs for a set rate about $23, and around your $4 mark if you qualify as a pensioner (aged, disabled, whatever). Of course, the government is often slow to put the latest wonder drug on the approved list, and some drugs have stringent access restrictions, but those problems seem minor compared to the US system.
It sucks

If only you could move countries!

Sulfasalazine was mentioned here a little while back. Bev tried it and had difficulties with it in this topic:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 48&start=0

I realise that may not be what you want to hear, but others may well have a different experience so don't write it off too quickly.

Please hang in there. There will be a way to get well and you will find it.

A big cyber hug for you.




Lyn

[tex]

Hi Jodi,

Sorry, I've been at work, and just now returned. If I remember correctly, Astra-Zeneca sold their marketing rights concerning Entocort EC to Prometheus Labs. If you don't locate something soon, I'll try to look up some "assistance" programs for Entocort.

Here's the rundown on Sulfasalazine: It's an old drug, originally approved by the FDA around 1950. It's considered to be what's known as a prodrug, in that it's not active in its ingested form. IOW, it becomes active only after it's broken down by bacteria in the colon, to form both 5-aminosalicylic acid, (5-ASA), and sulfapyridine. Sulfapyridine is a sulfa drug, and it was originally used to help control dermatitis herpetiformis, (the skin rash that some celiac patients develop, but sulfapyridine is no longer manufactured for sale in this country). The 5-ASA that is created in the colon, is the same drug that is marketed as mesalamine, with brand names such as Lialda, Rowasa, Pentasa, Asacol, etc. IOW, assuming that your colon bacteria are working correctly, and you're not intolerant of, nor allergic to, sulfa drugs, taking sulfasalazine should be very similar to taking Asacol, or one of the other 5-ASA meds, only much less expensive.

Prednisone, is just about the only reasonable substitute for budesonide, (the active ingredient in Entocort), and while it is reasonably priced, the side effects can be quite Draconian for some individuals, especially when it comes time to withdraw from it.

Love,
Tex

P. S. Looking back at Bev's post, (that Lyn posted a link to), there's a good chance that she may have been reacting to the sulfapyridine that is derived from the sulfasalazine, (when the colonic bacteria break it down), since that's basically the only difference between Asacol and sulfasalazine.

[Dee]

Jodi,
I am not taking lightly what you are dealing with now and by no means is my toilet post meant as an insult..
I have just found that thru alot of my toughest trials, a little bit of humor eased my tension & anxiety....
You know me well enough and I would never intentionally set out to hurt anyone.

(((((((HUG)))))))

Dee~~~

[tex]

Jodi,

Astra Zeneca offered patient assistance in the past, but I can't find any evidence that they are currently offering it, (since Prometieus now handles the product). Prometheus does not offer any patient assistance, that I am aware of. Here is an old number for a patient assistance program at Astra Zeneca, that you might call, just to make sure, (in case it might still be available): 1-800-424-3727

Here is a site that indicates that assistance for purchasing Entocort is currently available, but I know nothing about them:

http://www.freemedicineprogram.org/drug/ENTOCORT+EC/

I have my browser set to reveal the country of origin of websites that I browse to, and it shows that site to originate in Canada, though I don't see anything on the site itself, that mentions that fact. That does not mean that it might not be applicable for U. S. citizens, though, since I see that they offer a Spanish version.

After reading some more on that site, I doubt that there is any point in applying there, because the ultimate source of the free drugs is the drug manufacturer, and as far as I can tell, that program is no longer available for Entocort EC, (not since Prometheus took over the merchandising of Entocort EC).

Love,
Tex