Information About Revlimid And Etc.

Could someone that has taken the drug, Revlimid, tell me more about the cost of it.  My mother is 78 years old and has had MM for 2 years.  She has bee treated only with dex but now her protein levels are going up and they want her to add Revlimid to reduce the proteins. She was quoted  $9,600.00 for a month supply.  Is that correct?  My parents can not pay that much for the drug. Does anyone have any suggesions?  Please help!  I am not ready to let her go without giving all that we can give to fight MM.

I thankfully have good insurance.  But your amount is in the ballpark of what my ins. company is being charged.

 

 

Thanks for responding.  i was so surprised to learn from my mother that this medication was that high.  Is it worth taking it with side effects from it and the expense?  They are on a limited income since they have not sold their home. How much time will she receive from the use of this medication? These drug companies are making so much money!

Good Evening Beinva;

I got the info below from Bloomsburg.com

 Besides showing better effectiveness, Velcade should cost about $35,000 to $40,000 for a course of therapy, compared with $70,000 for Revlimid, he said.

I believe a normal course of therapy for Rev was 8 cycles. (This can be increased if the patient is showing little side effects.)

The advantage Velcade offers over Rev besides the cost is that their study was with patients with a higher average age. I believe the age was 75 y.o. This may be the route to persue for you

Take care;

Kevin

My father has a suplimentary insurance and it was covered except for a co-pay.  You should contact the office of the doctors social worker and see what they can do for you.  Maybe they can send you to a website or something that is offering help.  Or contact the Multiple Myeloma foudation and see what they can do to help you.

Anita

Hi Beinva ~~  I am presuming that you are in the United States.  Is this correct?  I am in Australia, and when my doctor approached Celegene about getting the drug for me he was able to get it on 'compassionate grounds', which means no cost to me.  I have been on it for 18 months and it has been my saviour.  Only 10mg per month - for 21 days - with no side effects, and I haven't felt this good since I was diagnosed.  I have heard that 15months is about the optimimum period for use, but so far it is still working. Perhaps you can try this through your doctor where you live.  Just a suggestion.  Best wishes, Cath

 

Thanks, Kevin.  I had no idea that medication would cost so much.  I will rely information to my mother.

Belinda in Virginia

Thanks, Anita, I will.   It is so scary when you have to pay out of pocket for these medications. 

Belinda

 

On 1/29/2008 beinva wrote:

 

Thanks, Kevin.  I had no idea that medication would cost so much.  I will rely information to my mother.

Belinda in Virginia

Good Evening Belinda;

Yes, they are expensive. But I don't know if it's the meds so much or the research involved that drives the cost upward.

I believe the other posters here have presented you with some viable options to offset the cost. I recall reading somewhere that there was a program, perhaps with Velcade, that if you couldn't afford it and you get your Dr. to sign a form agreeing to not charge you for their services they would donate the meds. I know this sounds to good to be true but I do recall seeing this somewhere. I will check around. But you might be able to GOOGLE this info.

Take Care;

Kevin

 

I went and contacted the mm foundation for you and they said to try and contact a place called the Patient Advocate Foundation.  The mm foundation spends all of their money on research.

Anita