Nexium and GERD

[ge0rgette2]

Over the past 10 years, at least, I've been on and off Nexium.

I can't afford it anymore as my insurance won't cover it.

I've been taking Zegerid and it's just not the same.

I've tried all those over the counter ones, anyone dealing with the same

If so, what are you doing for relief?

 

[Chelley00]

Call your insurance and see what they will pay for. Insurance companies usually have contracts with pharmaceutical companies that dictate what they will pay for. I used to take Prevacid but my insurance wont' cover it anymore. I then moved to Protonix which I loved forever, but had to go off of it for different reasons, and now I take Aciphex. Protonix has been my favorite.

Also, you can ask if your insurance will cover it since you've tried something else. My insurance doesn't like to pay for my Aciphex, but when my doctor fills out the paper that says I've tried all the stuff they want me to, they'll cover the Aciphex.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Never tried those. Nexium always worked for me but not at $5 per pill after insurance.

 

[Christine]

There should be at least *one* PPI drug that your insurance will cover. Find out what it is and have your doctor prescribe it.

If there is nothing, I have been told by my gastro that you need to "step down" from the PPIs. If you quit cold turkey you will get horrible acid rebound that can go on for months. Take an OTC H2 blocker (Zantac/Tagament/Pepcid) twice a day to try to get you through that.

If you truly have GERD that does not improve with diet modifications, weight loss, etc., it is necessary for you to be on a PPI so you don't damage your esophagus. That's why I think your insurance must cover one brand of PPI.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I take generic protonix.I have been on it for years.

In the hospital they gave me nexium and it did nothing for me.

 

[ge0rgette2]

I'm going to ask about Protonix ...

Nexium is 400 for 90 day supply THRU the insurance company.
Unsure how much protonix is, i'm going to check this morning.

Zantac and prevacid, etc... they don't help me.

Zegerid worked for a bit, but not anymore.

 

[BMNABrinx]

My husband HAS to take Nexium. No other medication will work for him. Have you looked at the website for Nexium? I was able to get a discount card for hubby's prescription. I think I only pay like $25 a month for it now.

 

[Gianna559]

I take Zantac but not often. Every medication I've been given for my GERD treatment has made me so nauseous. The Zantac is the only one that didn't make me sick. I don't take it frequent enough to know if it helps. :/

 

[Karabee]

NEXIUM has no generic but they do have a card. Check it out, it might help the payments.

http://www.purplepill.com/taking-nexium/purple-plus-savings-card.aspx

 

[ge0rgette2]

TY Karabee, but I don't think that will work for my insurance.

My copay is $92. for a 30 day supply and $245. for a 90 day

 

[disney212]

I have tried them all and the only thing that works for me is Dexilant 2x per day. My gastro wrote up a reason for the insurance and now they cover it with $40 for a 90 day supply if I use the insurance company mail order. It is much stronger than the others so that is the reason my insurance covered it, there is nothing OTC that is comparable. Good luck!

 

[Dizisfun]

My husband HAS to take Nexium. No other medication will work for him. Have you looked at the website for Nexium? I was able to get a discount card for hubby's prescription. I think I only pay like $25 a month for it now.

My MIL also takes Nexium and I know that the pharmacy gave her some kind of a discount card (or helped her get the card) to help with the cost of Nexium. I'm not sure what she pays per month but the discount is quit a bit.

 

[jedspad]

I am pretty sure if you go to the Nexium website and get the card it is a pretty good savings, I think you only have to pay $25 per month. It is worth a try, I don't think it has anything to do with your insurance

 

[ge0rgette2]

It doesn't get ran thru your insurance... Nexium works for me, but costs an arm and a leg when ran thru insurance.. If I can recall, i've been off for about 9 months maybe a years time, that it costs me 225.00 for 3 months..

 

[maxaroni]

I am dealing with similar situations. The doctor gave me samples of nexium and that worked wonderfully. When the samples ran out he gave me a prescription for generic protonix. Insurance wouldn't cover it without something from the doctor. Got it approved but my copay was $42 so I thought of the OTC meds. I wound up worse only to find out that the normal prescription does is double what the OTC meds of prilosec and nexium is. I am back on the protonix but now doubled on that due to stress related heartburn