Rough dosage and costs for Valcyte, Valtrex, Famvir

[snowathlete]

Hi all,

I am presenting some options to my family this weekend as they want to talk about how they might be able to help me try a treatment. This is one of the main options.

I need to give a rough idea of dose, cost for each of these drugs. I know it depends on many factors, but i need to start somewhere.

Valtrex - 4000mg a day - 120 a month from India. ? a month on Private prescription.

Valcyte - ?mg a day - ? a month from india. ? a month on Private prescription.

Famvir - 1000mg a day - 100 a month from india. ? a month on Private prescription.

Can you help me fill in the blanks?

Thanks
Joel

 

[Ema]

My doctor and I settled on a starting dose of Valcyte at 900 mg twice a day. It comes here in 450 mg tablets so that is 4 a day. The pricing here in the US would probably not be much help but I think it is around $2000 with no insurance for a 120 tablet supply.

 

[maryb]

10 days on Valtrex (branded) in the UK at present 110, think I paid about 180 for a 10 day supply from Breakspear, very expensive but I didn't do well on the generic from India.

 

[snowathlete]

10 days on Valtrex (branded) in the UK at present 110, think I paid about 180 for a 10 day supply from Breakspear, very expensive but I didn't do well on the generic from India.

Thanks Mary. What dose is this at?
Presumably the 110 price you mention is at a UK pharmacy, but not the Breakspear one?

Ema - thanks for the info on Valcyte. I think an equivelant amount in the UK would cost about 1500 for the generic form from the internet. Is the price you mentioned in the US for a generic version from a pharmacy?

 

[maryb]

That would be 4 x 500mg tablets a day - about 110 from general pharmacies - breakspear were more expensive supplying them via their own pharmacy at the time but they may have come down in price from them now anyway, I don't think they would up the price intentionally.

 

[heapsreal]

I use famvir at 250mg twice a day, i order 500mg x 60 tabs for $155, so $77 a month for this. It has taken 2 years to get my lymphocytes down to normal(ebv/cmv) . I buy my av's from magicpharma. Whats holding me back i think is chronic sinus infections which im slowly getting on top off and feeling better and soon will be treating some low hormonal issues that i hope will improve stamina and hopefully exercise recovery and PEM, also hopefully it helps with immune function too. Once i have all this dialled in i hope to be getting close to feeling really good. Im getting signs of feeling better but sinuses seem to be causing relapses.

cheers!!!

 

[rk1966]

I use famvir at 250mg twice a day, i order 500mg x 60 tabs for $155, so $77 a month for this. It has taken 2 years to get my lymphocytes down to normal(ebv/cmv) . I buy my av's from magicpharma. Whats holding me back i think is chronic sinus infections which im slowly getting on top off and feeling better and soon will be treating some low hormonal issues that i hope will improve stamina and hopefully exercise recovery and PEM, also hopefully it helps with immune function too. Once i have all this dialled in i hope to be getting close to feeling really good. Im getting signs of feeling better but sinuses seem to be causing relapses.

cheers!!!

I have terrible sinus issues (and after 2 sinus surgeries!!!) I SWEAR by accupuncture. Have you tried it? It worked better for me than 2 surgeries did!

 

[heapsreal]

I have terrible sinus issues (and after 2 sinus surgeries!!!) I SWEAR by accupuncture. Have you tried it? It worked better for me than 2 surgeries did!

not yet, but having good results with doxycycline, i think it depends on my immune system keeping it down once off antibiotics. I have started doing some light exercise which i havent done in 12 months, so i think im heading down the right path with my sinuses?????? fingers crossed.

cheers!!!

 

[satoshikasumi]

Take into consideration that there is a patient assistance program available for Valcyte but not some of the other drugs. I don't know if it applies to non-US patients, though. Usually, the requirements for getting free drug from the drug company are: you need to have a low income, and you need to get a denial of payment from an insurance company or government, appeal the denial, and get denied again. Then, your doctor needs to submit this information to the manufacturer along with a letter of medical necessity.