How much does Caverject cost ?

[terraplane]

I just got my bill for my trial injection .Went in Feb . 6th for a 10 mcg injection of Caverject , so they could determine what to write the script for .
Drs . charge $108.00 , Pharmacy charge $316.00 , I don't understand $316.00 for a 10 mcg dose of Caverject .

Opinions please ............................Chuck

[JimStars]

Terra,

Welcome to the wonderful world of FDA Approved and Patented Medications.

Although for a single syringe/system?? I've seen prices in 40-50-60 dollar range Per Syringe
(and that is the retail cost) but never as high as $300 for one.

$300 for six might be more likely ...

I am a MUSE user sometimes and those too are around $300 retail for 6 injectors. Those too are FDA approved and patented systems so they charge charge charge for the right to use em.

Aren't you glad now that Trimix is not FDA approved or patented??
Cheap stuff.

J

[terraplane]

That was my thinking also Jim.....think I'm going to make a phone call Monday . Sounded like they charged me for the whole damn package .

[Eugene]

I use Edex that is similar to Caverject. My insurance report shows that the pharmacy charge was $362.00 and of that amount I had to pay $12.00. This was for six injections. Your cost for medication is a function of what kind and how good your insurance is. Of course, that assumes one has insurance. Darn, If I had no insurance and had to pay $362 for six Edex, I think I would stop using it. That drug is simply too expense to use on a regualr basis without some form of insurance.

[terraplane]

Eugene , that is exactly why I am using Trimix.....I knew Caverject and Edex were expensive , and my insurance pays zip for ED drugs , that's why I'm stuck paying for the Caverject . Thanks for the info .

[JimStars]

Terra/Eugene,

That's the drawback to those two. You are paying for the Caverject or EDEX *system*. A Patented system. They are really just freeze-dried Alprostadil. Figure that PGE-1/Alprostadil goes for around $1000 per gram on the open market. So 1 mg would be $1 (and that is 1000mcg -- a helluva lot!) so your typical EDEX or Caverject 20mcg is 2 CENTS worth of material. Maybe freezedried is, say, twice the cost? So you can see that you are paying for the damn system not for the cost or materials. But that is pretty typical for almost any drug these days, Pennies to dollars to manufacture, but tremendous markup to pay for all those drug studies that never made it to market. So for my money MUSE is a bargain since you are getting 1000mcg amounts Still $300 retail for 6000 mcg total in the six sticks.

So who wants to come up with the next system and make millions on it??

J

[Bluewhippet]

I live in the UK and Trimix is simply not available. I have ED from Type 2 Diabetes and started using Caverject 9 months ago after 10 years on oral medication - Viagra and Levitra (Cialis never worked for me). Fortunately our National Health Service provides me with Caverject on prescription at no cost but only 4 packs ( 2 X 20 mcg per pack) each month. I need between 25 and 30 mcg to get an erection which lasts for 45 mins to 1 hour 30 mins. I could pay for additional doses, on prescription, which in UK costs about £ 24 per pack (approx $36). Cheaper than Eugene quotes but still expensive.

I have noted that a 1000 mcg stick of Muse is a similar price to a 2 X 20 mcg pack of Caverject. The question I have is could the pellet in the 1000mcg Muse stick be dissolved in bacteriostatic (sterile) water and then be used for injection? That would give 50 20mcg doses of Alprostadil (PGE-1) (the active ingredient of Caverject) at a fraction of the cost. Of course, once dissolved, the mixture would need to be refrigerated.

Finally, I am surprised that Caverject is much more expensive in the USA. Presumably it is a reflection on your mainly insurance based medical services and that is what the market will bear.

[JimStars]

BlueW:

The question I have is could the pellet in the 1000mcg Muse stick be dissolved in bacteriostatic (sterile) water and then be used for injection? That would give 50 20mcg doses of Alprostadil (PGE-1) (the active ingredient of Caverject) at a fraction of the cost. Of course, once dissolved, the mixture would need to be refrigerated.

Hah... I've done that. It worked. I did not die. Mr happy did not shrivel up and die. But would not really recommend it.
But it did work and gave a fine (if a bit achey) erection. I only tried it a half dozen times. Sometimes I used my normal Trimix dose and added 5u of the MUSE solution for a boost.

J

[tomlander]

Terra<

The initial injection in the doc's office should have been a freebie. Upjohn provides docs with free samples to use in situations just like yours. My guess is that the doc billed you out for something that he got free. As to the $300, that is truly outrageous and either the guy is a thief, or his billing manager made a big mistake. Like others have shared here on the thread, $300 is the going price for six doses, not one. You're going to have to see a doc again in six months to get your script re-written, so either clear the air with this guy now, or start searching for another doc.

[terraplane]

Tom , I finally got a call back from the nurse this morning , she said their cost was a little over $100.00 for the one injection , and she would see what she could do for me . I still feel like I'm getting screwed , I've been going to this guy for four years , he did my surgery , I think they could bend the rules a little . If not I will find another Uro. My Trimix script doesn't expire for a year , so I have time .

Chuck