When I first started dealing with GERD a couple years ago I was prescribed Nexium by he ENT specialist. It was on the non-preferred list of drugs and carried a much higher co-pay ($50 or 25% of cost.) I used it for about three months until my sore throat cleared and then I started using an OTC antacid. Pecid, for maintenance.
This worked good for a while, but the sore throat returned and my GP doctor wrote a prescription for Nexium. After he first month, my insurance administrator company (BCBS of AL) balked, they wanted me to step up to Nexium if this was to be a maintenance drug. I needed to start with a generic or preferred, we went with Protonix off the preferred list for a $25 a month co-pay.
The Protonix has worked out fine for the last year or so. The other day I got a letter in the mail telling me that starting October 1st, Protonix is being bumped to the non-preferred list, meaning a bigger co-pay. Guess what is replacing it on the preferred list? Nexium.
For grins I called my pharmacy to see what these medicines cost. They could only tell me list prices; 40mg Nexium is $180 a month, 40mg Protonix is $150 a month. The generic, omeprazole (AKA Prilosec) in a 20mg dose costs $110 a month and if I needed 40mg that would double to $220. Seems kind of backwards to me, the non-preferred drug is now the cheapest while the generic is he most expensive.
And just is what’s up with the generic, omeprazole, at $110 a month? You can get Prilosec OTC for less than $20 a month at the local drug store….
I know these costs don’t really accurately reflect he price of these drugs because the discounts negotiated by Blue Cross Blue Shield. The pharmacist told me to call BCBS to find out the real cost, but I didn’t feel like dealing with that today (maybe tomorrow.)
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 420
I guess that it paid to be part of a plan. My company uses Medco. Their monthly prices are –
Prilosec 40 mg – 167
Nexium 40 mg – 123
Protonix 40 mg – 100
Omeprazole 20 mg – 47
These are the full prices, not just my portion. It is odd that you were quoted more for the generic than for the name brands. That must have been a mistake. hopefully, they are more careful when they fill your prescription!
I was surprised by the generic price as well. As it worked out I was low enough to get a Protonix refill before the price increase.
Since I’ve done a little research on these medicines I find out that quite possibly why I am currently battling an episode of bad heartburn is long-term use can cause the body to produce an extra amount of the hormone called gastrin and gastrin is the substance that tells your stomach to make more acid. I have been taking Protonix for over a year consecutively…
I am going to wean myself off the 40mg of Protonix by alternating with the 20mg Prilosec until I an taking nothing but an occasional Pepcid. And if the sore throat does return I’ll go back to a course of Protonix.