Whew...humira | Arthritis Information

Just got a phone call, my humira is approved! I'm so relieved!! Thought I was gonna have to jump thru those insurance hoops. Good news Murph!! Very good news.

Great.

The ins companies are going to have to approve more and more often - it is proven to work. The more folks who use- the stronger the proof gets.

GOOD LUCK with Humira. May you be a miracle child!

We can do our own comparison of Biologics! How long until you get to start? - impatient rox

That's great, Murph!

Kelly

Thanks everyone!

I'm been on it for a month with the study... it works great! Thru the study it doesn't go on my insurance, it goes thru Abbot Labs. I have less stiffness, aches, inflamation...only thing I've noticed is more headaches, occasional backache and this is weird, my scalp is more sensitive.
Question for those using it, why do they want to have it sent to me? She said it would arrive UPS...I thought I'd just take the script to my regular pharmacy?
The copay is a month and they will only give me one month at a time, they do that for my other prescriptions too.

The lady also said that they call me to remind me when it's coming to make sure I'm here to get it.

I might be mistaken Murph; but I think the regular neighborhood pharmacy just does not ordinarilly carry it. I'm not sure why I think that...but I do for some reason.

If you'd prefer I imagine you could mention it to your pharmasist and see if they could order it for you. I'm sure they could.

Mine has always been delivered too.

Could be lovie...cuz when I wennt to get the first script at my pharmacy, I had to come back a few days later after they ordered it.

Thank you, I alway look forward to your posts

What wonderful news!!

I've always had mine delivered thru mail and never questioned otherwise. Its easier for me to not have to remember to pick it up at the pharmacy.

They call to remind you when you refill is due and thats when you schedule a delivery time. Very easy!!

Glad to hear you are feeling better with it.

I've never had any drugs mail order before ...so it does sound easy.
called the study nurse to check with her on this as my husband had to ask me tons of questions and stress me out lol...the nurse said that thru mail order the insurance company gets the drug at a lower price and they don't usually approve injectables thru the pharmacy (walk in).
Murph, Both of our insurance had companies that they contract with that I had to get my Enbrel through. That is part of the hassle I am going through. You don't have a lot of options on where to get it. Good luck. The one they got it thru here is called Pharmacare. They will be sending me the first shipment the end of Sept. Yep I was sent to Pharmacure. They were very nice but said they could not break up box for three weeks and United would only approve three weeks to start out with. Maybe because you have already been on it and it has been working for you? I have no idea because now I am trying to get a 3 month supply through Medco Well, I know that thru the study humira works with your doctor, insurance company and pharmacy to help you get approved. Could be that is the reason or not, or that they approve 30 days only on all my meds. The mail order place said "one problem, they would only approve 30 days at a time". I said that's no problem for me.
For example, my doctor gives me a script for 100 5mgs of prednisone at one a day ..which means I should have over 3 months of pred. They usually try to give me 30 saying my insurance company will only pay for 30 days..so I told them not to go thru the insurance..I'll just pay outright for 100 pills at about ...besides, I'm sharin w/my ferret I wish I knew someone that would help me take my pills If I get his prednisone thru the vets it's almost for 2.5 mgs a day..a month supply...unreal! He can share my bottle of 100 for 8 bucks Murphette~
You sharing your pred with your ferret made me laugh a tumor in the pancreas that produces too much insulin. I look him and he only weighs 2 3/4 pounds and takes 2.5 mgs, here I am 160 something pounds and take 5mgs. He hasn't gotten a puffy face

Lucky ferret!! This last round I took for 10 days starting at 40mg then down to 20mg (For the bronchitis problems) and I got a puffy face!! NO FAIR!! I'm still trying to get ride of that puffy face. Funny how it can come on so fast....and takes so long to go away!!

Guys do you mean Pharmacare? That's who I get mine through....but I've also learned that although it comes from Pharmacare; that's actually the CVS in Charlotte. I live in Concord....about 20 miles from there.

And delivery is great...provided it's delivered to a place someone will always be there to received it. I have mine sent to my office; and If I happen to be out of the office at the time of delivery a co-wroker will sign for it for me.

If you're having it sent to your home you need to be there to recieve it....or you'll come home to find it sitting on the hot porch; which could be a problem.

Yea, mine is Pharmacare. I had no idea who they were...but when I called the study nurse she said my insurance went thru them. My UPS man comes in the morning and I'm usually home..she said they call with reminders. I think I'll flag him down next time I see him and let him know what's coming and all that.

Funny we should be talking about this. I just got off the phone with Pharmacare. She called me just now to remind me I'm due for a shippment.

I'd been off for the last four weeks and the past two times she's called me I'd say "Can you put on your calendar to call me in a week. I'm off my meds and should be able to start back in a week or so" Like clock work she'd call. I had to ask them to hold it two times she called....and today she says "Are you well yet?" I was thrilled to tell her I was!!

Good news Lovie! Glad you are feeling better.

The ladies I talked to at Pharmacare seemed to be really nice and upbeat. I hope they are always that way I went to Target to fill my humira thru the study insurance, and the clerk said . I told her that I'm not supposed to pay for it and it has to be run thru the study insurance...I asked her if she ran it thru United Healthcare, she said yes. I thought that was weird!!! So I guess I can get it at the pharmacy.

How many injections are you getting for ? Just two?

I get 4 for . When I switiched to weekly verses bi-weekly; my co-pay didn't increase. I thought that was strange....but not so strange that I questioned it!!

Will they still follow your progress in the study?

I get 2 injections (one months worth) @ a month copay. I'm sure if I went to weekly it' would still be . The highest we pay for drugs that aren't generic is .

My next appt for the study is 10/25 and it's the last one. Not sure if they will follow my progress afterwards...they may give me a questionairre from time to time. It was a very easy study...the only pain in the butt was the palm pilot. Mr. Palm Pilot became my friend...he beeps certain times when it's time to give a report... but I won't miss him

Interesting.

I'm glad you had a good experience with the study. Not everyone is so lucky.

Now you'll be able to take whatever you want; right....as long as it's ok with your other meds. You couldn't take anything for pain or anything could you?

Nope, I couldn't take anything....when 10/25 comes...I may just take something and kick back for awhile I have a bad habit that if I can't sleep, I'll take something to help me, but that is not very often. Like right now, I'm wanting to take something for my cold with codine in it to knock me out awhile.

I know that feeling. I stayed in bed for 4 days straight taking that stuff along with muscle relaxers (for the back pain) and pain pills (along with my antibiotic) when I had that bronchitis. Needless to say it was hard to return to the real world when I finally decided to get my act together and get back to the land of the living. It felt good for a few days though.

Sometimes that's what we need. Rest. Often to do that....I've got to have something good!!