Question about Psoriasis prescription treatments

[HelenePA]

My daughter has 2 scripts for hers.. one is 147$ (ointment that we can get up to 3 times a month) and the other is a shampoo at 92$ 92$ for shampoo!! I dont know weather to laugh or cry! And those prices are our copays!! The insurance has taken some off! They are tier 3 drugs what ever that means? Is there ANYTHING cheaper that our dr might be able to prescribe to try first? I dont wanna jump the gun and go with the big expensive stuff if there is cheaper stuff out there that might work just as well and doesn't cost as much as the others. Can I just add they gave us samples of this OTC stuff that is 15$ at walmart (cutar) that worked good on her! Almost cleared it up on hear scalp! I am still laughing at a 92$ shampoo.. she is my expensive kid.. nothing can be easy or cheap with her.. she's our million dollar baby and I wish I was kidding!

 

[tazdev3225]

My son had severe psoriasis when he was younger. We used OTC shampoos. We tried the prescription one and it didn't work any better than the OTC. This was quite a few years ago so maybe they are more effective. Good luck. I would be shocked at that price too.

 

[SC Minnie]

Helene-

DD has psoriasis too. She had her first 'out break' in kindergarten. We tried prescription ointments- there were 2 of them one started with a D and the other started with a U. We were to use the D one then the U one at the same time. The Dermotologist suggested the T Gel shampoo and that worked pretty good. It smells bad but worked.

One thing we notice with DD is she gets it pretty bad when she is stressed so we try to work on that when we notice it. I had also read that things in the diet can make it worse too like nitrates so we watch those too.

I didn't really answer your questions but hopefully you can get it under control then the OTC meds will work on the occasionaly outbreak.

 

[MushyMushy]

DH has it too and the lotions and shampoos really only keep it at bay for a while. He went to a dermatologist not too long ago and they wouldn't give him any oral meds until he went through treatment with the lotions and shampoos... they said insurance won't even cover any of the more expensive stuff until all the other options have been exhausted.

I wonder if that's what they're doing with you. Did you ask about any oral meds?

 

[tazdev3225]

Helene-

DD has psoriasis too. She had her first 'out break' in kindergarten. We tried prescription ointments- there were 2 of them one started with a D and the other started with a U. We were to use the D one then the U one at the same time. The Dermotologist suggested the T Gel shampoo and that worked pretty good. It smells bad but worked.

One thing we notice with DD is she gets it pretty bad when she is stressed so we try to work on that when we notice it. I had also read that things in the diet can make it worse too like nitrates so we watch those too.

I didn't really answer your questions but hopefully you can get it under control then the OTC meds will work on the occasionaly outbreak.

I agree with the stress factor. My DS had severe outbreaks when he was stressed out. The T-Gel does smell, sort of like tar, but it does work.

 

[worm761]

DS has psoriasis. I think it all depends on where she has it. If it is on her scalp and the OTC shampoo works, then use that. There is no need for the prescription stuff if OTC works. DS has it on his legs most often. His doctor prescribed a cream called Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP, 0.1%. Without insurance it costs less than $10. This usually stops the bleeding. He flairs up, it cracks, and bleeds. DS's pediatrician said that if we can't find a med to control it (we have) that he would have to undergo UV treatments. Believe it or not, going to the beach clears him right up. The UV rays work to make the psoriasis go away! How old is your DD? Would you be comfortable putting her in a tanning bed in the winter? I am in Florida so we have warmish weather year round so no need. But a tanning bed would be a cheaper alternative to the UV treatments. Maybe these are things you could discuss with DD's pediatrician.

 

[HelenePA]

That OTC stuff they gave us cutar has tar in it now I tried the tar shampoos but they didn't work. that cutar is like a lotion or something it cleared up 90% of her scalp and her belly button I don't know if that 92$ stuff will work any better if it was 8$ I might try it but 92$!!! I can't get over it!!

 

[HelenePA]

My dd will be 9 in October and the sun does help in the summer but winters up here aren't as nice as yours on fl! If it gets bad I'll take her tanning to see if that helps in the winter maybe I'll go as well as a mommy daughter thing

 

[powellrj]

Did you try the pine tar soap? I know it really stinks, but my DS found it worked as well as the prescription lotions. I know you said the shampoo didn't work, but soap is cheap enough you might try it.

 

[HelenePA]

Nope didn't try the soap.. I didn't even see it until today when I was googeling cu-tar to see if it was OCT or a script! I will pick up soap and more cutar stuff I dont see me getting the 92$ shampoo.. http://www.clobex.com/default.aspx I even looked to see how much it was from Canada and the only one I found online had the spray 2oz listed at 188$ OUCH!

 

[lisajl]

I had to buy a cream for $350--yes, $350. I have found that if I drink more water, less soda, that helps.
I have to agree with the PP on the stress aspect, too. When I stress--I look terrible.

Good luck!

 

[HelenePA]

I dont know how much stress she could be under she's 8.. its the summer no school I dont make her do chores or anything.. she doesn't drink soda, she is a juice or milk person. She is always laughing smiling in a good mood.. I really dont think she's stressed out.. that would be me

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Use what works best for her. If the OTC stuff works, why pay the $92.00 for the prescription stuff.

Unfortunately, your derm. will probably give you things that work while some don't. And it stinks that your insurance doesn't cover a bigger chunk. I deveoped psoriasis around your DD's age. My derm would only prescribe me mild meds and when that didn't work, UV txs. My doc wouldn't do anything aggressive because he said there isn't alot of research done on psoriasis meds regarding long term side effects and he didn't want anything effecting me having children later on.

I now am on the Enbrel shots. Thank goodness I only pay $40.00 and month because without insurance they are over $1300.00 a month.

Good luck to you DD

 

[lisajl]

I dont know how much stress she could be under she's 8.. its the summer no school I dont make her do chores or anything.. she doesn't drink soda, she is a juice or milk person. She is always laughing smiling in a good mood.. I really dont think she's stressed out.. that would be me

Oh! Sorry--missed that somewhere! LOL! Our niece had a skin issue but it had to do with her bedding. Could she have trouble with that?
Lisa

 

[RNMOM]

Helena, I just began having psoriasis the last few years. It recently has started in a couple spots on my scalp. My derm gave me samples of Luxiq which is a foam steriod. I use it after I style my hair...I put just a small squirt on my finger then rub it in well. That way it doesn't get all over the place. Think of spraying rediwhip if you know what I mean. In other words this stuff will shoot out fast.

I have been using T-gel for years due to my intense sensitivity to most other shampoos. I am now using the Daily Control 2in1 that conditions also. It is working very well for me by keeping the itching and spread down.

I would suggest you speak with your doctor about the cost of these products. Ask for samples and do as others have suggested, use the otc stuff if it works. Everyone is different and it varies a lot as to what works. There are a lot of good web sites for psoriasis sufferers. Lots of good advice there too.

 

[monkey68]

Any chance your derm might be able to get you a sample of the expensive stuff so you can see if it's worth buying or not? My dermatologist is actually really great about giving me tons of free samples because my insurance doesn't cover much.

 

[Ephany]

Sometimes an ointment might not have a generic form, but the cream will or the cream won't have generic but the ointment will. Is the doctor willing to change the form to something more affordable? Otherwise I'd definitely ask for samples and keeping trying the OTC stuff first. That's a ton of money for shampoo, even if it is prescription.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have psoriasis on the sides and in the arch of my feet. Not a lot of "square inches" but located in an area that doesn't do well when it is cracked and bleeding. One thing I have found after having this for 12 years; Nothing works for very long. Some ointments work for a while and then I have to switch to somthing else. For steroid cream I use Betamethasone Val. .1% cream. Its $4. from the generic list at Walmart. I also use Dovonex. Expensive and works for a while. I use Tazorac. Expensive but works for a while. I also bought a UVA light box and that works for a while. Exposure to sun light and better yet, salt water (ocean) and sun light works best. Summer is only so long however.
Good luck to her. I would stick to the topicals because the systemic drugs have a lot of side effects that you would not want to expose her to.

 

[HelenePA]

Sometimes an ointment might not have a generic form, but the cream will or the cream won't have generic but the ointment will. Is the doctor willing to change the form to something more affordable? Otherwise I'd definitely ask for samples and keeping trying the OTC stuff first. That's a ton of money for shampoo, even if it is prescription.

Nope the ointment doesn't have a generic form http://www.taclonex.com/ this is what is the 147$ stuff.. they DO have coupons at the office they didn't give us and only offered us after we called to have it changed because the cost is SO high! He is calling something in tomorrow.. he was out of the office today so the nurse wasn't sure what he would change it too. This was after we called back 2 times.. Do drug company's give incentives to dr's who prescribe only the expensive stuff? Honestly we are a pretty healthy family. besides when I was pregnant we haven't had a script filled in probably 7 years. We've never encountered anything like this before. I do not understand why he would write us something so new and probably not covered by most insurances when there is lower costing stuff out there that might work and we could try first.. I am annoyed and will probably look for a new derm for her.. gotta go baby crying

 

[RNMOM]

Helena, I agree with you about going right to the expensive stuff. Sounds fishy to me. Can you change to a different derm doctor? I would.

I do believe the doctors get a lot of freebees from drug companies. Least of all is the free samples. That and the pens and such you see around. As for the trips, maybe so. Heck the politicians get them.

I use Ultravate ointment. I sometimes react to the cream base so we stick with the ointments. I use very small amounts and rub it into the skin very well. That is important.

Here is a link to the National Psoriasis Foundation and they have a discussion board with an area for meds. You can ask questions of a lot of like minded folks. Hope it helps. Go under the connect box.

https://www.psoriasis.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=798