who has gotten Augmentin XR covered by insurance?

[EAMom]

We have United Health care.

 

They cover the Azith. 250mg no problem.

 

Did anyone get XR covered by filing an excemption (is that what it is called?).

 

Thanks!

[momaine]

We have United Health care.

 

They cover the Azith. 250mg no problem.

 

Did anyone get XR covered by filing an excemption (is that what it is called?).

 

Thanks!

last year it was a covered drug in our plan but they took it off the list this year. I tried to get an exception but failed to get approved from United healthcare. I didn't have a doctor's note to back it up though. I've read on this forum that Dr. K prefers regular augmentin.

[P_Mom]

EAMOM.....are you thinking of switching? If so, may I ask why?? I know how you always loved Zith.

[EAMom]

EAMOM.....are you thinking of switching? If so, may I ask why?? I know how you always loved Zith.

 

After IVIG #2 (done in late May 2010) we got improvement but still have some movement issues (not sure if they are compulsions or tics) that haven't resolved. We also have a fine motor tremor that has shown up. Dh spoke to some docs that recommended switching, so we thought it would be worth a 1 mo. trial. AS a note, these "movement issues" went away after IVIG #1 (Aug. 2009) but returned with her relapse in Feb. 2010 (after a non-strep fever). So, it was disappointing that they didn't go away after IVIG #2. They aren't so bad or debilitating, but serve as a reminder that we definitely aren't at 100%.

 

PS. but I still do love Azith.

[P_Mom]

That is interesting....about the IVIG. I have a friend whose son had significant improvement after IVIG with dr. K....backslided, did a second IVIG with little or no improvement. I wonder if there is something to that? Do you think 100% is attainable??

I mean, Swedo's studies put the kids at 80% improved...whether they got PEX or IVIG.

I just wonder.

[EAMom]

Do you think 100% is attainable??

 

I sure hope it is!

 

But, by Dr. K.'s criteria (success= 75%), well, we're probably already there.

 

Handwriting also isn't great. It's better than it was pre-IVIG (or immediately post), but still not great. We also still have math issues. Yet, with the learning issues, it's a bit hard to sort out how much of that is PANDAS.

 

But, we're encouraged by stories like Worried Dad's, whose son continued to improve on Augmentin XR, even post IVIG...so it's worth a try.

 

What we might do is pay out of pocket for a month...and then maybe try Aug. 875mg the next month to see if we notice a difference. There's also Moxatag, which Alex mentioned. I'll have to check if that one is covered.

[P_Mom]

Please keep us updated. I know your daughter has never had high strep titers...neither have my sons. We never did IVIG or high dose antibiotics. If dr. K success rate is 75%, then we are there, too. But, yes, the high dose does seem promising. Wonder if it could mop up the remaining bit??

 

Let us know!

[MomWithOCDSon]

Our XR was covered by insurance, though at the highest deductible level as a non-generic.

 

Now we get the newly-available generic form of time-released amoxi-clav . . . same pill size, perceptively same efficacy, and on our insurance, it's treated as a generic so we're only paying $15 per 30-day supply.

[Fixit]

That is interesting....about the IVIG. I have a friend whose son had significant improvement after IVIG with dr. K....backslided, did a second IVIG with little or no improvement. I wonder if there is something to that? Do you think 100% is attainable??

I mean, Swedo's studies put the kids at 80% improved...whether they got PEX or IVIG.

I just wonder.

 

 

Well that's not hopeful....

prior to this onset ds always had simple tics...

at this onset he had one tic, then changed,then rotated, then combined..got worse and worse

 

finally..after a few abx..and the taper..we are definitely 80% better than our worst point...but this place is not great...is this the best i can expect to sustain????? and since tics are the hardest to eliminate..this scares me, as ds is all tic

 

if the docs think most of the kids would/will out grow it...and you've done ivig...does that just put you a step closer so they can outgrow the rest...or is that the point of achievement and we hold on not to relapse..and there are the FEW who get to escape this??

 

i've read enough here to realize we probably don't know this answere...but does anyone have thougths on this..or has there been a change in theory about this SOT

Edited August 31, 2010 by Fixit

[tpotter]

We are in the same boat. XR was covered, but now there is a generic, and you should probably look into it. But, on the other hand, you can ask for an exemption of necessary. We did that with Lamictal (name brand), because my son is being treated for seizures. We, unfortunately had to try a trial of the generic first (which is not recommended with seizures, because you stay on whatever you started on if it's working...whether generic or name.) He had a reaction almost immediately, and then they approved him forever.

[EAMom]

oh...I should add there is also some anxiety...but it's hard to tell how much of that is PANDAS. Unfortunately, she's really behind in some academic areas math, spelling, handwriting (I'm sure PANDAS is at least partly to blame) depsite an IQ in the gifted range. She's supposed to be using her alphasmart in classs (for her journal, etc) but she won't b/c she doesn't want to be "different" from the other kids. Ughh.

 

So, part of the issue is we don't know how many of our current "issues" are PANDAS or not.

[PhillyPA]

How do you get your children to take Augmentin XR? Are they not giant pills? I want my son to take it but I doubt he will swallow those big pills. How do you do it?

[MomWithOCDSon]

How do you get your children to take Augmentin XR? Are they not giant pills? I want my son to take it but I doubt he will swallow those big pills. How do you do it?

They are giant pills, but our DS is older so it hasn't posed a problem.

 

I may be mistaken, but I think there is a liquid form of the time-release Augmentin referred to as Augmentin ES, rather than XR. Somebody double-check me . . . isn't that the case? If so, maybe that's an alternative.

[EAMom]

How do you get your children to take Augmentin XR? Are they not giant pills? I want my son to take it but I doubt he will swallow those big pills. How do you do it?

They are giant pills, but our DS is older so it hasn't posed a problem.

 

I may be mistaken, but I think there is a liquid form of the time-release Augmentin referred to as Augmentin ES, rather than XR. Somebody double-check me . . . isn't that the case? If so, maybe that's an alternative.

 

I think the EX is "extra strength" so this isn't the same as extended release (XR).

 

I have heard of cutting up the Aug. into halves (or quarters) and taking it that way. ??? does that work. I think that pill is okay to half as long as both halves are taken at the same time.

[matis_mom]

We have United Health care.

 

They cover the Azith. 250mg no problem.

 

Did anyone get XR covered by filing an excemption (is that what it is called?).

 

Thanks!

Our insurance was covering the brand name one, but now that there is a generic they will only cover the generic. I think the difference in price is pretty significant. So I don't know about apealing or anything, but maybe they will cover the generic, or you may choose to pay out of pocket (I think is something like about $100 for generic versus $600 for brand name!)