@pacathy My first and second go round, year one $4.00 and change , year two $10.00 and change via RX at Walgreens both from Pari Labs. The Sodium Choride Solution 7% does indicate on the box Sterile, Preservative -free, Non -pyrogenic.
The last box from Walgreens is Ritedose Labs also indicates Sterile Unit -Dose Vials.
This year I was taken back when Walgreens indicated it would be $60.00 for this new prescription.
I have what I need for now so I said no thank you for now at $60.00.
I am shopping around.
Barbara
@blm1007blm1007 When I looked at Good Rx, it said Walgreens was 60, but I called the local one yesterday and the gal said it would be $20 for 120 vials. I can’t get out there for a couple days, but will let you know.
@pacathy Base Labs website says they use a sterile process. My other choice is Naveh, which I got from my pharmacy one time, and it was less harsh than all of the others - maybe buffered in some way? I checked with my independent pharmacist who said the fact that 7% is no longer covered (apparently a big deal because some Cystic Fibrosis kids are on Medicare) has caused them to work with their suppliers. Their price for existing customers will be $25 for 60 vials this year, which is about what I have paid for the past 2 years, They are only accepting new customers using GoodRx and the price will fluctuate.
Aargh! I hate when a cheap, effective, non-drug treatment gets cast aside, leaving people searching for affordable options.
@sueinmn Thank you, Sue! When it’s for nebs, I’d just taken sterility for granted, but the price and wording on the cheap one, which I think said “purified” water made me wonder. Base Labs wording was similar and much of pic was obscured. I’m relieved.
@pacathy I've been nebbing 2x/day with Resp-Ease 7% for the past year per my ID doc from Day 1 of my diagnosis of MAI. My boxes from Amazon:
Base Lab are labeled "Sterile 7% hypertonic sodium
chloride solution". Manufacturer Venture Healthcare.
My ID doc and pulmonologist are UMN/Mayo Rochester, and they assured me of sterility of my vials.
@terrimn
Thank you, Terri! I had always taken for granted it would be sterile if ok for nebs, but because price was so good, I read all the info and I think they said purified, but didn’t say sterile anywhere. That seemed weird. 😀 Supplies in hospitals were always clearly marked. I couldn’t see all of boxes in pics to see if it was there. Relief!
@pacathy You definitely need a prescription for it. I have Medicare Advantage and copay is super low. Also, you can get a script for 120 vials and it would be the same copay. I have two prescriptions written by 2 doctors and I realized the last one I got only had 60 vials. A few months back, I paid about $4 for 120 vials. So, definitely the cheapest.
It seems there are issues with Medicare and United Healthcare covering the script for 7% saline. I am getting it from my CVS pharmacy for $85 for 120 4 ml vials. Since I use it 2x a day with levelbuterol in my nebulizer treatment, that's a 2-month supply for $42.50. This seems reasonable based on what I've seen on Amazon.
@blm1007blm1007 I picked up 7% saline at Walgreens yesterday and it was $21 for 60 4ml vials, cheaper than other options for me since my Mcare with retirement prescription plan doesn’t cover it. That’s in a suburb very close to Philly. I don’t have receipt with me, but think it had HSA next to price. I didn’t use Good Rx-higher this time.
Interesting thing- quantity says 240 which I think should be 240 vials, but when I pointed that out, they said it’s the ml’s and said 4x60 is 240. : ) I’ll just get MD to clarify next time.
@blm1007blm1007 I picked up 7% saline at Walgreens yesterday and it was $21 for 60 4ml vials, cheaper than other options for me since my Mcare with retirement prescription plan doesn’t cover it. That’s in a suburb very close to Philly. I don’t have receipt with me, but think it had HSA next to price. I didn’t use Good Rx-higher this time.
Interesting thing- quantity says 240 which I think should be 240 vials, but when I pointed that out, they said it’s the ml’s and said 4x60 is 240. : ) I’ll just get MD to clarify next time.
@blm1007blm1007 That was my guess. I think they just looked for lowest price. They didn’t ask me and I don’t have. an HSA because my retiree plan is excellent for almost every thing.
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@kathyjjb oops and the wal-mart pharmacy dispenses "sterile" doses. Highly recommend going to Wal-mart.
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2 Reactions@blm1007blm1007 When I looked at Good Rx, it said Walgreens was 60, but I called the local one yesterday and the gal said it would be $20 for 120 vials. I can’t get out there for a couple days, but will let you know.
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1 Reaction@sueinmn Thank you, Sue! When it’s for nebs, I’d just taken sterility for granted, but the price and wording on the cheap one, which I think said “purified” water made me wonder. Base Labs wording was similar and much of pic was obscured. I’m relieved.
@kathyjjb I’d called ours and Costco a year or two ago and they said they didn’t have it. It the Walgreens doesn’t work out, I’ll try Walmart again.
@terrimn
Thank you, Terri! I had always taken for granted it would be sterile if ok for nebs, but because price was so good, I read all the info and I think they said purified, but didn’t say sterile anywhere. That seemed weird. 😀 Supplies in hospitals were always clearly marked. I couldn’t see all of boxes in pics to see if it was there. Relief!
@pacathy You definitely need a prescription for it. I have Medicare Advantage and copay is super low. Also, you can get a script for 120 vials and it would be the same copay. I have two prescriptions written by 2 doctors and I realized the last one I got only had 60 vials. A few months back, I paid about $4 for 120 vials. So, definitely the cheapest.
It seems there are issues with Medicare and United Healthcare covering the script for 7% saline. I am getting it from my CVS pharmacy for $85 for 120 4 ml vials. Since I use it 2x a day with levelbuterol in my nebulizer treatment, that's a 2-month supply for $42.50. This seems reasonable based on what I've seen on Amazon.
Any comments?
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1 Reaction@blm1007blm1007 I picked up 7% saline at Walgreens yesterday and it was $21 for 60 4ml vials, cheaper than other options for me since my Mcare with retirement prescription plan doesn’t cover it. That’s in a suburb very close to Philly. I don’t have receipt with me, but think it had HSA next to price. I didn’t use Good Rx-higher this time.
Interesting thing- quantity says 240 which I think should be 240 vials, but when I pointed that out, they said it’s the ml’s and said 4x60 is 240. : ) I’ll just get MD to clarify next time.
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1 Reaction@pacathy Do you think the HSA refers to Health Savings Account? Do you, did you have one?
Barbara
@blm1007blm1007 That was my guess. I think they just looked for lowest price. They didn’t ask me and I don’t have. an HSA because my retiree plan is excellent for almost every thing.
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