zemplar, anyone?

[Savemeimdtba]

So, I finally got that a medicine for my PTH... Zemplar, and I've gotten sick every time I've taken it so far.  Last night I had chills and threw up for the first time in six months and I was not happy with that Now this wasn't the drug my Dr. originally wanted to prescribe... this is the drug that medicare "recommends" and they won't approve any others.  Has anyone taken this drug and had these side effects?  Do you think medicare would "care" and let me get a different drug because of the side effects? - it's also Christmas and my Dr's on vacation for two weeks.  So I guess I'm kind of screwed..

[silverhead]

Sharon had the same reaction from  Zemplar, You should be able to get the other one if the Doc certifies that you have a bad reaction to it, isn't there another doc available to prescribe it for you?

[Savemeimdtba]

probably... but it took 2 months to get this one approved so I'll probably have to continue taking this one until I can be granted a different one. 

[kellyt]

I was on Zemplar pre transplant and I never had any side effects.  I'm sorry you're going through this.  Sounds horrible.   

[BigSky]

So, I finally got that a medicine for my PTH... Zemplar, and I've gotten sick every time I've taken it so far.  Last night I had chills and threw up for the first time in six months and I was not happy with that Now this wasn't the drug my Dr. originally wanted to prescribe... this is the drug that medicare "recommends" and they won't approve any others.  Has anyone taken this drug and had these side effects?  Do you think medicare would "care" and let me get a different drug because of the side effects? - it's also Christmas and my Dr's on vacation for two weeks.  So I guess I'm kind of screwed..

Not sure I understand what you mean by medicare recommends and they wont approve of others.  Do you mean your insurance company that runs your part D plan?

I have used Senispar for the past 5 years for PTH and its been on Medicare's  approved drug list since Part D was instituted.

[dwcrawford]

I was on the pill form of Zemplar before I started dialysis.  The side effects were horendous.  Plus, it was very, very expensive.  I was on part D and only 120 per quarter however the retail price ate up my "donut" hole money quickley.

[kellyt]

I, too, took the little grey pill.  My copay was $55.  It was my highest copay med.  I'm glad I'm not on it anymore.  The day after I purchased my last refill my doctor told me to stop them.  I was so mad.  $55 down the drain.

[tyefly]

   I just started  zemplar last week.... I have had no side effects......  I am glad of that....  I am only beginning to feel the effects of too many medications, too much cost, and too much time for all of this stuff.....

[BrandyChloe]

I've been taking Zemplar for several years now. Started at 1 mcg and moved up to 2 mcg this past 3 months. Guess I'm lucky because I have had no side effects and it kept my PTH levels down. I hope you have good luck with getting a different med.

EAC

[girliekick]

i took it pre dialysis, no side effects i know of but i generaly felt crappy during that time. Please put a call in to ur doc,  i dont blame u for being frustrated but it may play out in your favour. Hope things get better
girl

[pdpatty]

Zeplar ,if given as part of your dialysis treatment is covered by Medicare. It is shown on the report I get ever few months. Before I went on dialysis I took Hectorol pills then when I went on PD ,I was supposed to inject myself with Zemplar once a week. This I couldn't do,so the PD nurse did it at the center. Then when I started hemo,it was given to me ,in the line,at center.
Now I get it every treatment Medicare,as far as I know,never had to approve it before they gave it to me. It is a standard treatment.
 The other drug for us is Epotin(sp),not Epogen. Thereis a big dollar difference.

I was told that pills are not covered under part B but injections are. That is why we  had to pay for the Hectorol.

[Goofy]

I've been taking Zemplar for over a year now   (pill form)  and have never had any side effects.  I've been lucky to get samples from my doc every month.  My co-pay is $180 and I hope I can still continue to get the samples.

All my co-pays are high..for meds and office visits.  I pay $50 co-pay to any specialist I see and I see a few and so does my husband.  I think we're going to end like the people who can either afford food or meds.  I really worry about stuff like that.

[dwcrawford]

I didn't need Zemplar a few weeks after starting dialysis.  If you need to continue with it they'll probably switch you to  the injection typs and it will be included with the dialysis.

I find it much cheaper to get a really high powered supplement insurance policy.  Mine is 250 or more but I have zero co pay on anything, 0 deductible and lots of other benefits.

If you continue to use Zemplar pill form, watch not only your co pays but also what is being charged against your donut thing.  Ir is a really expensive drug and can eat your lunch.

[RightSide]

Chills are a known reported side effect of Zemplar.

I never experienced them though, not even at a dose of 12 mcg.  (My PTH was over 1200 when I started dialysis, so I needed a heavy dose of Zemplar to knock it down.)

[silverhead]

Medicare really has to catch up with the times, so many drugs, Zemplar included, are paid for by Medicare if you receive them during treatment in a center, but those of us that do home hemo are out of luck and have to pay through the nose for them.........

[Savemeimdtba]

Ok, I think it's actually MEDICAID that was giving me the problem - my bad.  My private insurance is primary, then medicaid then medicare (I am quite insured ).  I don't have a copay and Part D of medicare is free.  My primary insurance has to run out before medicare will do anything, I think.. and that's real nice of them.  Anyways, I do PD so taking during treatment isn't an option.  I'm going to try it one more time tonight to make sure it wasn't just a bad week or something and had nothing to do with the medicine.. and then if I get sick I will call the Dr. tomorrow and ask for a different prescription 'cause I'm not doing this throwing up game again - had enough of that for a whole life time. 

[djgaryb11]

I have been taking Zemplar for over a year now and have had no side effects...However, my prescription plan will no longer include Zemplar on their formulary of drugs, and I am going to have to switch to another that is on their formulary for 2010...so my nephrologist is switching me to Hectorol....hopefully it will not give me any side effects

[kitkatz]

They say I am very unusual because I get an allergic reaction to Zemplar.  My skin itches like it is burning. They were giving it to me when I started at my new center. I wondered why my skin felt like it was itching like crazy.  I made them stop giving it to me.  Calcijex, too. I am strange, I guess.

[Jie]

I have switched from Hectorol to Zemplar for two months now. I am feeling a lot colder than before, so maybe it is the side effect of Zemplar (chills). I am also feeling more itchy than before. The benefit for using Zemplar is to increase my calcium level. My calcium level was slightly below the normal range before using Zemplar. 

[Goofy]

I just started PD so I don't have a feeling of how the center work but I called and told them I ran out of the samples of Zemplar my doctor gave me.  The nurse said she had some kind of coupons to get a Zemplar perscription for $5.00.  She said the coupon is good for a year.

I'll be going in next week to get my monthly blood samples and I'll get the coupon then.  When I do, I'll post regarding the details of the coupon.  I'm sure if mt dialysis center can get them, maybe yours could too!