Aa
Ampyra Cost Adjustment
I got a call from the specialty prescription department at my Prescription Benefit plan. They said my Ampyra prescription was ready to go and they wanted to confirm my shipping address. They then said my co-pay was $300/month!
I asked if that was my co-pay or the cost of the prescription and the said the prescription was close to $1,000/month. I said I'd need to think about it. Then they mentioned that there were grants and programs to help people afford the medication. They offered to look into it and call me back in a day or 2.
They called yesterday and told me my prescription was ready to go and they wanted to confirm my shipping address. They then said my co-pay was $40/month!
I confirmed my shipping information :-)
Acorda Therapeutics, the maker of Ampyra, has a policy/program that ensures that no one pay more than $40 co-pay/month.
Kyle
I asked if that was my co-pay or the cost of the prescription and the said the prescription was close to $1,000/month. I said I'd need to think about it. Then they mentioned that there were grants and programs to help people afford the medication. They offered to look into it and call me back in a day or 2.
They called yesterday and told me my prescription was ready to go and they wanted to confirm my shipping address. They then said my co-pay was $40/month!
I confirmed my shipping information :-)
Acorda Therapeutics, the maker of Ampyra, has a policy/program that ensures that no one pay more than $40 co-pay/month.
Kyle
Ampyra is an interesting drug for a lot of reasons - Alex is spot on about the compounded version being very affordable, but it does have some risks because not all compounding pharmacies are the same and there is a known increased risk, albeit small, or more seizures.
You can also experience seizures on Ampyra, and if you have a history of them your doctor won't even prescribe it.
The compounded version gives a very quick burst of energy, whereas the Ampyra version is evenly distributed across about 2 doses a day., I have to admit I also take Ampyra, but only take it once a day, because the second dose leaves me sleepless at night.
Somewhere between 40-45% of people on Ampyra experience benefits, everyone else just stops taking it because it doesn't work for everyone.
Acorda got approval for Ampyra based on the walking speed test - it was the easiest and quickest thing to prove to get this drug on the market. Anecdotal chatter has Ampyra helping with upper limb weakness, heat sensitivity, optical neuritis and cognitive function. I believe research trials are being done on all of those areas to also get approval .
It is true, there is a patient program that no one should pay more than the $40 per month copay except for people on government insurance.
That's what I know,
Lu
You can also experience seizures on Ampyra, and if you have a history of them your doctor won't even prescribe it.
The compounded version gives a very quick burst of energy, whereas the Ampyra version is evenly distributed across about 2 doses a day., I have to admit I also take Ampyra, but only take it once a day, because the second dose leaves me sleepless at night.
Somewhere between 40-45% of people on Ampyra experience benefits, everyone else just stops taking it because it doesn't work for everyone.
Acorda got approval for Ampyra based on the walking speed test - it was the easiest and quickest thing to prove to get this drug on the market. Anecdotal chatter has Ampyra helping with upper limb weakness, heat sensitivity, optical neuritis and cognitive function. I believe research trials are being done on all of those areas to also get approval .
It is true, there is a patient program that no one should pay more than the $40 per month copay except for people on government insurance.
That's what I know,
Lu
Alex - I meant to mention that I'm only taking 1/2 the regular dose, so I'm not at risk for over doing it. My research tells me you don;t have to maintain Ampyra at certain levels in your blood. Since I don;t really need its benefits at night I'm just taking the morning dose.
Kyle
Kyle
Many people tell me it helps with their cognitive and some have said it helps with their arms. I have one friend in a wheelchair who takes it. Supposedly it might help any nerve function not just those for walking which makes a little sense to me.
Ampyra should only be taken as prescribed. It has a real danger of causing seizures. Doses taken too soon can be very bad. I have heard of people taking a little extra or sooner than 12 hours on a big day to feel better and having a seizure. Ampyra was developed at twice the dose the MS Specialists used for all those years so it has more risk. That is why they say you can't take it if you are at risk for seizure.
Alex
Ampyra should only be taken as prescribed. It has a real danger of causing seizures. Doses taken too soon can be very bad. I have heard of people taking a little extra or sooner than 12 hours on a big day to feel better and having a seizure. Ampyra was developed at twice the dose the MS Specialists used for all those years so it has more risk. That is why they say you can't take it if you are at risk for seizure.
Alex
" I get free lunches and have some fun. "
What else is there? :-)
They tend to talk about Ampyra only in terms of walking speed. I suspect that's because it is quantifiable. I know my legs feel stronger and I can do more when I take it. These are subjective things that are hard to measure.
What else is there? :-)
They tend to talk about Ampyra only in terms of walking speed. I suspect that's because it is quantifiable. I know my legs feel stronger and I can do more when I take it. These are subjective things that are hard to measure.
Kyle,
Of course it is only $40 a month. MS Specialists were sending people to compounding pharmacies for a long time before Ampyra came on the market for a drug just like Ampyra, but it had to be compounded it cost $40 a month period. Ampyra made it into a pill and started charging outrageous prices. In this case a drug started as generic and was then patented. Is that not genius of them to come up with $40 a month copay. They are still making a big profit. I love to go to the free Ampyra talks and bring this up. The speaker will sputter and say the time release is not the same or they can't talk about it. I get free lunches and have some fun. Also if someone there can't get Ampyra I can tell them to ask there doctor about the compound. Some insurances will only pay for Ampyra for walking and I know many people in wheelchairs it helps with other MS symptoms.
Alex
Alex
Of course it is only $40 a month. MS Specialists were sending people to compounding pharmacies for a long time before Ampyra came on the market for a drug just like Ampyra, but it had to be compounded it cost $40 a month period. Ampyra made it into a pill and started charging outrageous prices. In this case a drug started as generic and was then patented. Is that not genius of them to come up with $40 a month copay. They are still making a big profit. I love to go to the free Ampyra talks and bring this up. The speaker will sputter and say the time release is not the same or they can't talk about it. I get free lunches and have some fun. Also if someone there can't get Ampyra I can tell them to ask there doctor about the compound. Some insurances will only pay for Ampyra for walking and I know many people in wheelchairs it helps with other MS symptoms.
Alex
Alex
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