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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ezrahite on June 10, 2010, at 6:16:52
Does anyone here know how much an HMO-run pharmacy would have to pay for 5 mg Selegiline pills compared to 10 mg Parnate? I need to gauge how likely my insurance is to OK an off-label use of selegiline, so I can work out what I want to try next before my next appointment.
Posted by Brainbeard on June 10, 2010, at 7:28:35
In reply to Parnate vs. Selegiline - the price, posted by Ezrahite on June 10, 2010, at 6:16:52
Posted by Ezrahite on June 13, 2010, at 0:50:41
In reply to Parnate vs. Selegiline - the price, posted by Ezrahite on June 10, 2010, at 6:16:52
I was at the pharmacy yesterday and as it turned out the pharmacist was able to look prices up for me. It's about $1.50 for a 10 mg tranylcypromine, $2.25 for 5 mg selegiline, so selegiline is about three times as expensive per mg. It may be much cheaper somewhere but not through a conventional pharmacy it seems.
Posted by jedi on June 13, 2010, at 13:22:54
In reply to Parnate vs. Selegiline - the price, posted by Ezrahite on June 10, 2010, at 6:16:52
> Does anyone here know how much an HMO-run pharmacy would have to pay for 5 mg Selegiline pills compared to 10 mg Parnate? I need to gauge how likely my insurance is to OK an off-label use of selegiline, so I can work out what I want to try next before my next appointment.
I would just call my insurance company and ask them if they will cover the selegiline. It would seem to me they would be much more likely to cover the generic pills than the very expensive brand name EMSAM. Are the selegiline pills still considered off label for depression?
Jedi
Posted by Brainbeard on June 13, 2010, at 13:29:48
In reply to Re: Parnate vs. Selegiline - the price, posted by Ezrahite on June 13, 2010, at 0:50:41
> I was at the pharmacy yesterday and as it turned out the pharmacist was able to look prices up for me. It's about $1.50 for a 10 mg tranylcypromine, $2.25 for 5 mg selegiline, so selegiline is about three times as expensive per mg. It may be much cheaper somewhere but not through a conventional pharmacy it seems.
I'm surprised to hear that. I was referring to online pharmacy prices.
Posted by Ezrahite on June 13, 2010, at 18:46:47
In reply to Re: Parnate vs. Selegiline - the price, posted by Brainbeard on June 13, 2010, at 13:29:48
The Indian pharmacy I use has selegiline for about 14 cents a pill. But when you factor in shipping, I don't think anyone is as cheap as the $10 copay if my insurance will cover it.
Posted by Ezrahite on June 13, 2010, at 19:14:58
In reply to Re: Parnate vs. Selegiline - the price » Ezrahite, posted by jedi on June 13, 2010, at 13:22:54
> I would just call my insurance company and ask them if they will cover the selegiline. It would seem to me they would be much more likely to cover the generic pills than the very expensive brand name EMSAM. Are the selegiline pills still considered off label for depression?
> Jedi
>The pills haven't been approved for depression, even though that's what they first were used for; and they do work somewhat differently than the patch. But the pharmacist seemed to think that they would be considered equivalent. I think I could get them to cover 5-15 mg a day. Anything above that loses the MAO-B specificity anyway.
Ez
This is the end of the thread.
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