i got a prescription for vsl3 and my copay is $50 for 20 days worth. is it possible to half dose to cut my cost because i cannot afford anymore money to combat this disease.
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I think you have to use the full amount for it to be effective but maybe someone else knows otherwise.
You are lucky your insurance pays for it. My dr wanted me to try it back when I had UC and my insurance wouldn't cover it. It was like $300 a month. Needless to say I never took it.
You are lucky your insurance pays for it. My dr wanted me to try it back when I had UC and my insurance wouldn't cover it. It was like $300 a month. Needless to say I never took it.
You can cut it in half if you want. The prescription is DS meaning it's double strength. On the package it says the dose is 1/2 to 4 packets a day.
I take 1 a day and have not had pouchitis. $50 is a deal for 20. That would be $75 for 30, or $100 for 40 packets. I pay the full price until we reach our deductible and 40 packets is over $200. I haven't had to pay for it since last April so it may cost more than that now.
I take 1 a day and have not had pouchitis. $50 is a deal for 20. That would be $75 for 30, or $100 for 40 packets. I pay the full price until we reach our deductible and 40 packets is over $200. I haven't had to pay for it since last April so it may cost more than that now.
the package says "Drug Interactions
Avoid taking with antibiotics. Some antibiotics may inactivate certain strains of
bacterium in VSL#3®DS" but my doc said to start on both. as expensive as it is should i keep taking it along side the antibiotic?
thank you te. i will be grateful then
the package also says for uc and pouchitis. does this mean if it works for us we didnt need to lose our colons?
Avoid taking with antibiotics. Some antibiotics may inactivate certain strains of
bacterium in VSL#3®DS" but my doc said to start on both. as expensive as it is should i keep taking it along side the antibiotic?
thank you te. i will be grateful then
the package also says for uc and pouchitis. does this mean if it works for us we didnt need to lose our colons?
Personally, I would wait until I was done with the antibiotics. Why throw good money after bad? Doctors don't get involved with the practical issues like cost. They don't keep track of everyone's insurance copays. All they know is that the patient keeps saying they are not improving, so they figure, "Let's throw this at it. What can it hurt?"
I'll say it again for emphasis. If you start and end multiple things all at once, you can't tell what is working and what is not. So, one change at a time, particularly when you are having such a difficult time figuring out what to do.
From the studies I have read, it does not cure either pouchitis or UC, but helps prolong remission. So, I seriously doubt it would change outcomes in a major way, but more in line of improving the management.
Jan
I'll say it again for emphasis. If you start and end multiple things all at once, you can't tell what is working and what is not. So, one change at a time, particularly when you are having such a difficult time figuring out what to do.
From the studies I have read, it does not cure either pouchitis or UC, but helps prolong remission. So, I seriously doubt it would change outcomes in a major way, but more in line of improving the management.
Jan
I agree with Jan to wait until your course of antibiotics is over. But if you don't want to wait that long here is what I do since I have chronic pouchitis and am on continuous antibiotics.
I take the VSL#3DS in the am when I first wake up with almond milk to help with the taste. Then mid-afternoon I take the Cipro (about 3 hours late). At dinner I take the Cipro again. Then before bed I take the VSL#3DS with almond milk.
I would start slow with the VLS#3DS as it can cause it's own cramping and gas. I started with just a 1/2 packet for a week, then one packet for a week. Then depending on how you feel you can jump right to 2 packets a day or go another week on 1 1/2. Take it slow.
I take the VSL#3DS in the am when I first wake up with almond milk to help with the taste. Then mid-afternoon I take the Cipro (about 3 hours late). At dinner I take the Cipro again. Then before bed I take the VSL#3DS with almond milk.
I would start slow with the VLS#3DS as it can cause it's own cramping and gas. I started with just a 1/2 packet for a week, then one packet for a week. Then depending on how you feel you can jump right to 2 packets a day or go another week on 1 1/2. Take it slow.
wiggles,
It says for management of UC and ileo (probably spelled wrong but that means pouches.)
I think it says to time it 3-4 hours apart. I had to take it with the antibiotics as I get c-diff infections easily when on antibiotics.
I take it once a day and half a packet twice daily might be better.
We are all different but alike.
It says for management of UC and ileo (probably spelled wrong but that means pouches.)
I think it says to time it 3-4 hours apart. I had to take it with the antibiotics as I get c-diff infections easily when on antibiotics.
I take it once a day and half a packet twice daily might be better.
We are all different but alike.
thank you guys so much. not sure where id be without this site...
Many insurance plans have the same co-pay for a month's supply regardless of the dose. Many doctors will accommodate you with a higher written dose than you might need, as long as it's safe and conforms to the product labeling. So if your insurance is like that you could ask your doc if you could try a 4 packet per day prescription, and adjust your dose to whatever seems to work for you. No one will notice if you only have to refill the prescription every second or third month.
Not all VSL#3 is DS (Double strength). It will say on your box whether it is DS or not. Regular VSL#3 did not help at all for me but the DS is helping a lot. Each of us is different so it is worth a try. Be sure to keep the DS refrigerated!
mines ds and definitely in the fridge. im going to see if my doc will accommodate me as well. $75 a month is still a lot on top of everything else this disease costs. flushing the toilet alone the first few months is costly then wipes creams doc copays anti anxieties anti biotics. sheesh.
The VSL DS is exacly the same product (as the "single strength"), but 1) there's twice as much in a packet, and 2) it requires a prescription. This second item can be very helpful if you have prescription drug coverage.
I would recommend taking it starting 2-3 days before you stop your antibiotic treatment, but then only if you feel like the antibiotic worked and you're pouch is clean/pouchitis free. I find it's less of a shock to the system and I've had better results when doing that. It takes upwards of 30 days for everything to stabilize, one of the initial issues you might notice are an increase in gas while you adjust, but give yourself 30 days before you stop taking it.
DS, or any vsl, does need to be refrigerated but you can go up to 7 days unrefrigerated if need be. I've found this is helpful when traveling with it.
You can cut the dose, but for now I'd take 2 full packets a day, spread out as close to 12 hours as you can get. I find that works best for me. If you manage remission for awhile you can start cutting back and see what happens.
DS, or any vsl, does need to be refrigerated but you can go up to 7 days unrefrigerated if need be. I've found this is helpful when traveling with it.
You can cut the dose, but for now I'd take 2 full packets a day, spread out as close to 12 hours as you can get. I find that works best for me. If you manage remission for awhile you can start cutting back and see what happens.
LionsPride,
Are you taking 2 packets of DS daily or regular strength? I'm on a 3 month snow bird vacation and I'm seeing too much of the bedroom and loo. I'm treating my cuffitis but think there's something else. It don't think the c-diff is back but it maybe or it could be pouchitis with cuffitis. I'd like to take a round of flagyl but don't think my Internist or GI's would write me a prescription without seeing them. It's used to treat c-diff and flagyl so if I'm not better by tomorrow I'm calling one or all of them, until I find someone to prescribe it for me.
Wow I really got off subject, sorry. I'm sick and tired of all of this.
Are you taking 2 packets of DS daily or regular strength? I'm on a 3 month snow bird vacation and I'm seeing too much of the bedroom and loo. I'm treating my cuffitis but think there's something else. It don't think the c-diff is back but it maybe or it could be pouchitis with cuffitis. I'd like to take a round of flagyl but don't think my Internist or GI's would write me a prescription without seeing them. It's used to treat c-diff and flagyl so if I'm not better by tomorrow I'm calling one or all of them, until I find someone to prescribe it for me.
Wow I really got off subject, sorry. I'm sick and tired of all of this.
I take the DS, my insurance covers it - well some it. I think 30 day supply at that dose costs me something like $100 give or take.
It won't help you unless you're starting from a clean slate. The idea behind any probiotic is that (I'm generalizing before someone jumps on me) bacteria are territorial. By populating the pouch with 'good' bacteria (that doesn't hurt you, and in fact can help) it helps defend 'bad' bacteria from taking root and causing pouchitis. So by that logic, unless you're starting from a clean slate the good can struggle to take hold because it's being fought off by what's left of the bad. It's hard to know when you're completely clean because often times while on antibiotics the bad bacteria is below the threshold of causing you issues, but as soon as you stop it comes right back. In case like C-Diff, or worse something with an antibiotic resistance it becomes especially difficult.
Most of what I've ready about it seems to favor it as a treatment for maintaining remission after pouchitis. I'm not sure on the effects for cuffitis.
Hang in there. For what it's worth if you have a relationship with your doctor you have a good shot of them phoning something in if you explain your situation. Outside of that, depending on insurance, you can try and find a local urgent care center where the costs aren't too bad.
It won't help you unless you're starting from a clean slate. The idea behind any probiotic is that (I'm generalizing before someone jumps on me) bacteria are territorial. By populating the pouch with 'good' bacteria (that doesn't hurt you, and in fact can help) it helps defend 'bad' bacteria from taking root and causing pouchitis. So by that logic, unless you're starting from a clean slate the good can struggle to take hold because it's being fought off by what's left of the bad. It's hard to know when you're completely clean because often times while on antibiotics the bad bacteria is below the threshold of causing you issues, but as soon as you stop it comes right back. In case like C-Diff, or worse something with an antibiotic resistance it becomes especially difficult.
Most of what I've ready about it seems to favor it as a treatment for maintaining remission after pouchitis. I'm not sure on the effects for cuffitis.
Hang in there. For what it's worth if you have a relationship with your doctor you have a good shot of them phoning something in if you explain your situation. Outside of that, depending on insurance, you can try and find a local urgent care center where the costs aren't too bad.