I have been through a hoop--so to speak, which took me two months and $80 to jump through. I have taken Avandia since 1999, when it first became available on the market. Despite its bad press, it has kept my type 2 diabetes under excellent control with few or no side effects.
A year ago we had to go onto a new health plan. After begging and pleading I was allowed to have a one-year prescription. About December 9th I began the process of renewal. The renewal was due for the first of this year. Thanks to three three-day mail holidays and an ice storm in the Northwest, plus an intern pharmacist who tried to call me, and did't know I don't text or answer voice mail messages, and he only worked weekends so that was another delay in getting vitally needed information to me. I finally learned that the manufacturer had stopped manufacturing the prescription. I called several well-known pharmacies and none of them had any Avandia to dispense,
Well that was only partially true. I contacted the company involved and was told I had to apply to be admitted to their access program. I spent more time finding the web site without help, and finally downloaded an application form, but that wasn't all, and my meager supply of pills was dwindling. I cut them in half to make them last longer, even though my blood sugar readings went somewhat higher. I had to send the application to my doctor because I am spending the winter in Arizona and he is in a northwestern state --more delays and waiting for phone calls. Everyone I talked to knew I was running out of the pills. Finally the doctor decided to send another kind of prescription to the mail order pharmacy for me to try. I made the online order but stopped short when I was charged $646.50 for the substitute. (Avandia only cost about $240 for 90 days supply and I was already in the prescription doughnut hole). My credit card could not stand such an increase that month. I cancelled the order.
I went without any Avandia for the next 10 days, controlling the blood sugar with smaller amounts of a companion drug and watching my diet. Except for episodes of diaharrea from the companion medication being too strong, I did fairly well. I guess I had weaned myself off Avandia when I was taking the half pills.
So finally, on Feb. 7th I got a phone call telling me I was accepted into the access program and my doctor's correct prescription was entered with the only pharmacy that dispenses Avandia, who contacted my regular mail order pharmacy to set up my account, and by the miracle of next day mail, a 30-day supply with 11 refills available arrived at my door on Feb. 9th. If this is part of the O'Bama/Medicare Part D plan what happens next January 1st?
