Still going on about Zemplar & Phoslo

[brenda]

Now I have found out Zemplar is available in Canada, just nobody wants to pay for it. I had to find the DIN for it so the pharmacist could find an order number. Which he did. That's great, now what about the cost? Can't seem to get a straight answer on that.  Does anyone else in Canada use Zeplar? My PTH has gone even higher now 2100. Yik's! Also, what about Phoslo? My insurance companies won't touch that either. I pay $165.00 out of pocket. But, I really need it. Anybody else seem to have these Canadian drug issues.    I'm so confused, and a little aggravated. Do they just not want to give me a chance to get better. More bucks in their pockets I guess if they get to do surgery again. What a vicious circle.

[Joe Paul]

Instead of Phoslo, why not use Tums? Here is a link, read it http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=2283.0
I cannot comment on Zemplar.

[Zach]

Have you tried either IV Hectorol or Calcijex?  They are also effective in reducing PTH levels.  But if the calcium goes too high, then you may need to change your phosphorus binder to Renagel or a combination of Tums and Renagel.

Then there is also the newest oral drug, Sensipar.  Very expensive, but it seems to work for some patients.  It helps lower PTH and Calcium at the same time.

[scyankee]

I am on both Zemplar at the center and taking Sensipar at home. So far
so good in lowering my PTH which was only at 330 at the time they started
this treatment.  The Sensipar is very expensive and must come from a
special pharmacy through my husband's plan. I was taken off of Phoslo and
switched to Fosrenol binders.
Hope this helps.

[Zach]

Just Be careful of FOSRENOL®.

" ... The duration of treatment exposure and time of
observation in the clinical program were too short to conclude that FOSRENOL® does
not affect the risk of fracture or mortality beyond 3 years. While lanthanum has been
shown to accumulate in the GI tract, liver, and bone in animals, the clinical
significance in humans is unknown. Patients with acute peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis,
Crohn's disease, or bowel obstruction were not included in FOSRENOL® clinical
studies. Caution should be used in patients with these conditions ..."

http://www.fosrenol.com/HCP/SafetyInfo.aspx

[Laura]

I have been taking Zemplar for a couple of years now and my Phos. level has been good - that is for a kidney patient.  If you let your pharmacist know you will be on this medication long-term, they should be able to keep it in stock for you.  I live in the U.S., but I don't know what the cost is because here the "cost" varies depending on what price a particular insurance company has worked out with the pharmacy or drug company. 

One question...I thought all meds were covered in Canada because of universal health care???  Do you actually have to pay out of pocket?

[angieskidney]

Now I have found out Zemplar is available in Canada, just nobody wants to pay for it. I had to find the DIN for it so the pharmacist could find an order number. Which he did. That's great, now what about the cost? Can't seem to get a straight answer on that.  Does anyone else in Canada use Zeplar? My PTH has gone even higher now 2100. Yik's! Also, what about Phoslo? My insurance companies won't touch that either. I pay $165.00 out of pocket. But, I really need it. Anybody else seem to have these Canadian drug issues.    I'm so confused, and a little aggravated. Do they just not want to give me a chance to get better. More bucks in their pockets I guess if they get to do surgery again. What a vicious circle.

Are you on Disability (Canada Pension or Provincial)? What province are you in? I know in Ontario you can apply for Trilliam Drug Plan. But even though you would need your Nephrologist to fill out a Section 8 for that medication. Hopefully your Nephrologist would back you on Zemplar!

One question...I thought all meds were covered in Canada because of universal health care??? Do you actually have to pay out of pocket?

Drugs are not part of the Universal Health Care. Each Province has their own plan. Ontario for example has OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) which only fully covers Hospital stays (up to semi-private) and all doctor visits (excluding Eye Doc's since Nov 2006) and Emergency Room visits.

Medications are NOT covered in Ontario BUT if you have any plan (they are cheaper in Canada then in the US) then you usually pay from 35 cents to $2 per prescription.  ALSO there are a LOT of drug stores that WAIVE the fee and you don't pay a red cent for your medications as long as you have that coverage.

[Laura]

Thanks for the info.  I didn't realize that all drugs aren't covered in Canada. 

[brenda]

I know that's what everyone think's, but, not all drugs are covered in Canada. Especially not with our Alberta Health Care / Blue Cross Insurance. Get this, they will cover Tums, vitamins, Tylenol etc but, anything newish takes a couple of years to make their "list". My Dr. did send a letter asking for special consideration but they turned me down.  Tums were not doing a good enough job, Renegel is not covered here and is very! expensive but I will ask the Dr. about some of those other things. All I can do is see what he says and what Blue Cross says. We don't have it as spanky here in Canada ( Alberta anyway, we are the richest province with the worst health system) as you all might think we should. But thanks for all the suggestion's. I've never had to take anything before on a regular basis but tums and eprex so all this medicine stuff is making me crazy!