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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 13:42:13
my BCBS insurance is now only going to pay for generic pristiq. i'm on 100mg in the morning.
luckily i got smart and in the middle of december i had my pdoc write a rx for 3mo of pristiq. so the brand name is finally now running out.
i was wondering if anyone here uses a generic pristiq and if they had any difficulties switching over?
i've been fairly sensitive to generics in the past. had difficulties with generic of:
wellbutrin (2 generics)
ritalin
adderall
zyprexamostly it seems that i've had bad luck with all the Teva mfg'd ones.
So what else is out there?
appreciate any assistance here.
ThanksB2c
Posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 13:52:46
In reply to Generic Pristiq anyone?, posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 13:42:13
ok...now i'm confused.
i've been looking online and all i can see is that Pristiq has patent till 2022??
but i got a letter from my ins co. last (august/sept maybe) that starting January 1, 2013 i would need to use the generic version for them to cover.now it seems that there will NOT be a generic available. all i could find is the below to Maybe help clue me in as to why i got that letter?
ANYONE help here...WTF going on?
PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI) today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida, filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market Desvenlafaxine Succinate Extended-release Tablets, 50 mg and 100 mg. Watson's ANDA product is a generic version of Pfizer's Pristiq®, which is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Pfizer Inc., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., and PF Prism C.V. filed suit against Watson on June 22, 2012 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware seeking to prevent Watson from commercializing its desvenlafaxine product prior to the expiration of U.S. Patent No. 6,673,838. The lawsuit was filed under the provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Act, resulting in a stay of final FDA approval of Watson's ANDA until August 29, 2015 or until final resolution of the matter before the court, whichever occurs sooner, subject to any other exclusivities.
Based on available information, Watson believes it may be a "first applicant" to file an ANDA for the generic version of Pristiq® and, should its ANDA be approved, may be entitled to 180 days of generic market exclusivity.
Posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2013, at 15:32:41
In reply to Re: Generic even Available?, posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 13:52:46
Sounds like this generic company is filing suit due to them not letting them produce the generic? Did you tell you insurance this? Could it be they want you on effexor as aren't they the same? The new laws are messing us all up. Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 16:07:31
In reply to Generic Pristiq anyone?, posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 13:42:13
so i started calling my ins company. turns out BCBS doesn't cover my Rx. It is CareMark.
so i finally got through to them and it turns out that they are not covering pristiq anymore, and they suggest that i change AD (YES! the INS company is now becoming my pdoc) and told me to change to either Effexor, venelfaxine (generic effexor), or cymbalta....SERIOUSLY???
i told them that i've been on MANY MANY medications and this is the only one that is working...
so they said that i could have my pdoc call an 800 number to try to get 'prior authorization' but the guy told me it could take anywhere from 5min, to 7 days to get a response, AND they still may not approve that.I've only got about 7 days left of pristiq!
so i'm calling my pdoc office in about 10 min.
wish me luck, this is the WORST possible time for and AD change! all you know my job situation...
b2c.....sorry but DAMN insurance company!
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on March 4, 2013, at 17:00:42
In reply to CAN THEY DO THIS???, posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 16:07:31
This is why America needs a national health insurance system, with one set of rulles, not a heap of insurance companies all with their own rules
Posted by b2 chica on March 6, 2013, at 11:29:12
In reply to Re: CAN THEY DO THIS???, posted by jono_in_adelaide on March 4, 2013, at 17:00:42
Boy you got that right!
i'm still waiting in hopes that something further happens.
Posted by b2 chica on March 6, 2013, at 11:34:56
In reply to Generic Pristiq anyone?, posted by B2chica on March 4, 2013, at 13:42:13
and YES i tend to freak out easily...called anxiety folks.
anyway, i had to do the prior authorization thing. when i called my pdocs office the lady made it sound like they did this alot.
and yesterday late i got a phone call from her stating all was well and that they'd call in my refill for the pristiq.phew...
i was so freaked out. i mean 8 years and i finally found a primary med that works for me.
it is NOT an option to mess with this!********************
but i still dont understand how they even have the RIGHT to suggest OTHER medications??!
i mean they are not physicians! how can they even TRY to make us switch!and what if i didnt know to call my ins company? what if i wouldnt have gone through a physician, and just tried to switch because thats what my ins co. said to do??
ugh...still fuming. but not freaked out anymore.
Posted by joe schmoe on March 7, 2013, at 6:54:04
In reply to ok, solved..., posted by b2 chica on March 6, 2013, at 11:34:56
Nice to see a happy ending on here for something. And to see the word "solved". Glad it worked out.
This is the end of the thread.
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