The MTX debate. Why the price has skyrocketed, and what can we do about it?

General
1

This is a followup to part of a discussion on another thread. The MTX discussion began, but I realized that it was probably not a good place to hash it out (didn't want to co-opt the poster's discussion), so I decided to start a new thread.

I've been spending the last week trying to find a way to afford my MTX since the price just doubled at my local mom and pop pharmacy, and I can no longer afford the medication (no insurance as of yet). Sigh. I used to spend about $10 a month on the stuff, which I could easily afford. Last month I spent $37 for 28 pills. This month the same pharmacy is now charging $73.00. I've called every pharmacy in a 25 mile radius, and they all range between $71-$125 per month. AAAACK!!! Added to the rest of the scripts I take, I just cannot do it. I even contacted Rxoutreach.org, who charge $28 for 12 pills and you must order a 90 day supply at a time. Yikes! Not much of a savings there.

So, while researching about any available Patient Assistance Programs for MTX (there aren't any that I've found so far), I stumbled upon this little gem of an article in the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/methotrexate-shortage-scarce-cancer-drug_n_1276304.html

And in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/11/health/policy/supply-of-methotrexate-a-cancer-drug-may-run-out-soon.html?_r=0

And from the Arthritis Foundation:

http://www.arthritistoday.org/news/methotrexate-shortage180.php

If you read these articles, you will notice that the MTX they are talking about is the injectable (particularly the preservative free variety) and the articles date back to 2012. This should not be affecting the cost of MTX pills today. But, of course, it does.

I found an online pharmacy from Canada that appears to ship medications out without requiring a prescription (Canadian Health & Care Mall), but that makes me a little cautious. Especially since I looked up the addresses of their supposed offices (3 worldwide) on Googlemaps, and there is nothing remotely resembling the pictures of their "buildings" in the locations they have listed. Harumph!

So what can we do? How can we get someone to advocate for those of us who need this medication but cannot afford it? How can we get the manufacturers of MTX (APP Pharmaceuticals, Hospira Inc, Sandoz Inc, and Mylan Inc) to lower their prices again? What do you all think?

2

http://www.ashp.org/DrugShortages/Current/bulletin.aspx?id=961

The pills started selling poorly once folks learned the injections worked better, required lower dose and had fewer side effects and several discontinued making it. FWIW I do 20 a week and a two months supply costs less than $50.00

3

Lamb: you are freaking amazing. :D (they need emoticons on here!) How do you have all these facts at the tip of your fingers?? Oh...and also...where do you get your MTX? I only take 7 pills a week...on Sundays usually, and I am freaking out. I'm off the Enbrel because I have to be off it for at least 2 weeks before starting Remicade (its been almost 3), but the clinic where I'm supposed to get the Remi infusion is not answering their phone and not returning my calls. The first week I called them twice to set up an appointment. The second week I called them 4 times. This week I've called them every day, very politely asking if I could get a followup call so I can set up an appointment...to no avail. Now I can't afford the MTX, which means at the moment I am only treating symptoms, not the disease. This scares me a great deal! I was actually thinking about doing some research to see if injecting would be less expensive in the long run, but haven't gotten that far yet.

Sybil: you are so sweet. I can just see us taking up the cause on each side of the Atlantic picketing drug companies. That would be really funny....and somehow painful considering the whole PsA thing.

Thanks for your responses!

4

My bad - 20 mg by injection not 20 pills but it is a huge difference in price. I get it at Safeway. It'll be 5.00 with my new Obama care

5

My experience has been that injections are definitely less expensive. Mine run about $25 per month for the drug and the syringes. For some reason, insurance did not cover it for me? Maybe because I didn’t try the pills first? Idk. But the point is that it’s affordable enough.

6

I'll have to call my Rheumy and see if he will let me self inject the MTX. I am NOT paying for office visits each time, especially since I've been self injecting first Humira, then Enbrel for about 4 years....and I haven't used the sureclick. I prefer the good old fashioned needles and syringes!

Sybil: Don't you dare feel like a twit! I love your comments. Always!

I called the insurance Marketplace folks again today (For some reason i keep locking myself out of my application...Operator Error (as usual). Anyway she plain and simply told me I should wait for about 1 1/2 months before signing up because although OK did not choose to expand Medicaid, she thinks I'm eligible. Failing that, I am still hanging out waiting for my next denial of Disability (grin...this time I'm gonna get approved! I can feel it!). Hubby never goes to the doc. So we wait. I have until March 31 to select my plan and pay the first premium, so I'm going to do that.

According to the all the calculators we should qualify for some subsidies and/or tax breaks on our insurance premiums, but the lady I spoke with today said we don't. I think we need to wait and see what Medicaid/Disability decides to do with me before we make any assumptions (the last time I talked to someone, I had all but paid my first premium and was set for the total year premiums to be about $574 for both of us). <shrug> who knows....

7

I get my drug from the pharmacy, fill my syringes and inject. If you can do Humira or Enbrel, then MTX is an absolute BREEZE to inject sub Q. Very fine needles and the medicine does not sting! I found that Humira was a real stinger, and really dreaded my injections. MTX is nothing like it.



tmbrwolf329 said:

I’ll have to call my Rheumy and see if he will let me self inject the MTX. I am NOT paying for office visits each time, especially since I’ve been self injecting first Humira, then Enbrel for about 4 years…and I haven’t used the sureclick. I prefer the good old fashioned needles and syringes!

Sybil: Don’t you dare feel like a twit! I love your comments. Always!

I called the insurance Marketplace folks again today (For some reason i keep locking myself out of my application…Operator Error (as usual). Anyway she plain and simply told me I should wait for about 1 1/2 months before signing up because although OK did not choose to expand Medicaid, she thinks I’m eligible. Failing that, I am still hanging out waiting for my next denial of Disability (grin…this time I’m gonna get approved! I can feel it!). Hubby never goes to the doc. So we wait. I have until March 31 to select my plan and pay the first premium, so I’m going to do that.

According to the all the calculators we should qualify for some subsidies and/or tax breaks on our insurance premiums, but the lady I spoke with today said we don’t. I think we need to wait and see what Medicaid/Disability decides to do with me before we make any assumptions (the last time I talked to someone, I had all but paid my first premium and was set for the total year premiums to be about $574 for both of us). <shrug> who knows…