1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Economizing on Blood Thinners

Posted by realitytest @realitytest, Nov 24, 2021

It was not good news when I was diagnosed with AFIB, but when I learned the prices it was twice as bad.
Since then, I've discovered that there are reputable pharmacies in Canada selling Xarelto (I'm sure others too) for far less, and now generics for pennies on the (American) dollar.
There are ~ 70 CIPA (Canadian pharmacy accrediting bureau) pharmacies listed, and though they mostly price match. you have to do quite a lot of research to find the best prices.
Here for now is one of THE best prices I've found for Xarelto 20 mg. ($139.90 for 84) and for the generic, (Rivaroxaban) $44.90 for 90, same strength. The first is made in Turkey (no idea why the odd #), and you can find the origin of the second by calling.
https://www.medicationscanada.com/drugsstore/xarelto/
+1-866-481-5817 | Fax : +1-866-330-2410

Enjoy. saving! (Mailing is usually ~ $10-15). After your first one or two orders the bureaucracy is much less.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

mikehuff | @mikehuff | Dec 4, 2021

The one I use is a Roche CoaguChek® Vantus meter.

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Suzie | @lizzieann | Jul 7, 2023
In reply to @realitytest "Martin Jensen, thank you for your very informative words. I. was especially interested in your comments..." + (show)
@realitytest

Martin Jensen, thank you for your very informative words. I. was especially interested in your comments about vitamin K as a bleed reversal chemical (although I will add that one of the great drawbacks of Coumadin for me, is being required to greatly limit green vegetables and even red wine. 🙁 )

In fact, at the moment I am able to afford my Xarelto (name brand) from a Certified Canadian pharmacy. especially with my cardiologist's kind donation of samples when I visit him (a month+ at a time).

Moreover I am temporarily skipping Xarelto altogether, because of the unfortunate new diagnosis of wet macular macular degeneration a blinding eye disease).which is worsened by blood thinners (this is with the permission of my cardiologist). My goal is with the help of an electrophysiologist, to control my AFIB through another modality - ablation, pacemaker, laser treatment and any other that seems most suitable. Ordinarily I wouldn't be recommended for such inferior treatment given my relatively moderate AFIB, but in the interest of preserving my sightedness as long as possible. I want to prolong my vision (central vision) for what may be years longer.

As a professional artist this is especially important to me.

Jump to this post

I have serious vision problems as well due to the medical roller coaster I got on and can't get off of. My nightmare began around September of 2022 and during a 7 day coma, I was given truly high doses of steroids to combat a horrible bought of pneumonia. For the following months after I would fight for my life with more stays in ICU and more steroids in very large doses as I fought pneumonia, sepsis, autoimmune flares, COPD flares among so much more.
I noticed that my sight was deteriorating fast. Blurry vision, double vision, can't see detail which really messed up watching the television. I'm unable to leave my home because I'm just unable to see and tripping is a huge fear since my balance is off kilter too. I did see an optomologist about 2 weeks ago (finally), and scared to death to find out WHAT NOW. I have Cataract in both eyes which the damage was actually expedited because of the high doses of steroids.
My Optometrist didn't even know about my recent illnesses and was very knowledgeable.
It seems like it just never gets any easier when you do get on a particular roller coaster. I have been through some extremely difficult and very frightening times with my health in the last 10 months that would make anyone's head spin in disbelief. I do know others must go through similar circumstances too and I tell you, my heart (although damaged now) certainly goes out to us all.
This has been a real struggle. So many issues and spinning just trying to figure out where to go next.
I just wanted to chime in on your vision as if everything else we have or are going through is just to warm us up. I know losing my vision has been very scary for me but now with a wonderful optometrist on board, a game plan in place, I feel optimistic about my vision. I see an eye surgeon next month to consult about cataract surgery. . It is a slow process for medical here and that is something I am having to get used to after living my entire life in South Texas. This has been a big obstacle for me.

Elizabeth

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nfceast | @nfceast | Jul 8, 2023

Elizabeth, Wow, it sounds like you’ve earned your place in heaven already. Hopefully that rollercoaster ride is slowing down for you.

A word about cataract surgery from an old-timer: I was profoundly myopic (20-800 vision) and had both eyes done in 12/2016 at the age of 75. I thought this would be a blessing and finally be able to see my toes when I woke up in the morning. The surgery improved my vision acuity but left me with another unplanned problem: I suffered until a few weeks ago with double vision that couldn’t be solved by contact lenses and eyeglasses with prisms. The problem was the intraocular lenses purposely installed were of two very different diopter powers, one for distance, one for closer vision. My brain was supposed to merge the two…but at that age those synapses just weren’t getting the job done. Finally the problem was solved by Lasik surgery on one eye to bring the two eyes closer together in vision. No more double vision after 5.5 years of feeling off-balance!

I understand that new changeable toric lens technology may have solved that problem. I’d recommend telling this story to your cornea surgeon just in case you fall into the same vision category as I did.
Best of luck with everything, Elizabeth 😀

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