Barr launches generic Actiq

When will this generic version be available to the public? I have been paying $2500. a month for my prescription.

My pharmacy told me that next month (November, 2006), they will only be able to get generic. Is this correct? They also state they got generic this month, is this correct? I can't even get a full prescription due to the price of the Actiq. I get 21 pops less than I should because the price of Actiq went up last month. Please help with any information. Thanks.

As far as I know, the generic is now available (at least in CT). I only kow this because my insurance doesn't cover a brand name drug fully if there is a generic available, and this month I got charged $450.00 WITH the insurance. I hope you find that the generic is available where you are now.

Lori,
Yur insurance company should have overriden the cost because nobody in your area had the generic. They should have been willing to do that for you one time until you could specifically place an order for the generic at the pharmacy. Call them up and see if they will refund your money due to lack of availability.

Unfortunately, the "generic" isn't much cheaper. My wife is on 1200mcg and she uses 5 boxes a month. The brand cost $1,230 a box. The generic?$920 a box. She is on Medicare Part D. Fortunately, I can cover the $3,850 donut hole, which we reach by Feb.
After that, Part D picks up 95% of the cost. Last year, Part D paid $56,000.00 for Actiq and her other meds. Can you believe this. If everyone had my wife's drug costs, Medicare would go bankrupt.

I have been taking Actiq for over 3 years and my insurance company does not want to allow me to pay my generic copay for the generic Actiq because they say that the medication is still being produced by Cephalon, thereby, making the drug a "multi-source" medication. This is a total scam by the Insurance companies to try and keep from having to pay for the medication. The irony is that from September to December 2006 Blue Cross blue Shield under their Medco pharmacy provider allowed me to pay the $15.00 copay, however, On January 1, 2007 Prime Theurapeutics took over the administration of Blue Cross's pharmacy benfits and said that the drug would not be considered generic and now I have to pay over $900 for 2 boxes instead of the four that I had been receiving for over 3 years. This is a travesty of justice and to add insult to injury my insurance company raised my monbthly premium to $271.00 from $236.00.

This is the only place on the net indicating that Part D will cover part of the cost of Barr's version of Actiq. At this poin, I haven't reached 65 and my current private policy provides me with Barr/Actiq (four boxes per month) for just the co-pay. I live in NC, if that makes a difference. I'd love to hear from folks who get any coverage of the drug under Part D. I'd also like to know if Part D covers part of the cost of benzodiazepines, like clonazepam, because I've been advised that it does not. Please post comments here.

My prior inquiry was flagged, but apparently not found fit for a reply. What I want to know is simple: Will Part D cover all or part of Actiq, now that Barr makes it?

What is the name of the generic form of actiq?
Also how many units come in a box?

NATHAN SHILBERG wrote:

Unfortunately, the "generic" isn't much cheaper. My wife is on 1200mcg and she uses 5 boxes a month. The brand cost $1,230 a box. The generic?$920 a box. She is on Medicare Part D. Fortunately, I can cover the $3,850 donut hole, which we reach by Feb.
After that, Part D picks up 95% of the cost. Last year, Part D paid $56,000.00 for Actiq and her other meds. Can you believe this. If everyone had my wife's drug costs, Medicare would go bankrupt.

Which Medicare Part D prescription plan does your wife have? I have chronic back pain (failed back surgery) and my private insurance just quit paying for Actiq, claiming it is only for "cancer pain". My pharmacy said I could pick up my Actiq prescription if I pay them $3,000.00 cash! I'm disabled and am planning on enrolling in Medicare part D during their enrollement period, but I'm very confused as to which plan I should chose (I need the plan that covers Actiq w/ the lowest out of pocket co-pay). Your help with this is greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Jen

Which Medicar Part D prescription plan does your wife have? I have chronic back pain (failed back surgery, sciatica, schermann's disease) and my private insurance just quit paying for Actiq, claiming it is only for "cancer pain". My pharmacy said I could pick up my Actiq prescription if I paid them $3,000.00 cash! No way can I afford that! I am disabled and am planning on erolling in Medicare Part D during the enrollement period coming up, but I'm very confused as to which Medicare insurace plan I should chose (I need the plan that covers Actiq for back pain w/ the lowest out of pocket co-pay/ expense). Your help with this is greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Jen Davis

Jen Davis wrote:

<quoted text>
Which Medicare Part D prescription plan does your wife have? I have chronic back pain (failed back surgery) and my private insurance just quit paying for Actiq, claiming it is only for "cancer pain". My pharmacy said I could pick up my Actiq prescription if I pay them $3,000.00 cash! I'm disabled and am planning on enrolling in Medicare part D during their enrollement period, but I'm very confused as to which plan I should chose (I need the plan that covers Actiq w/ the lowest out of pocket co-pay). Your help with this is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Jen

Does anyone have an answer to this? I also use it for pain other than Cancer & have Humana medicare D & they will not pay for any of it. it is horrible to have to pay $1200 for 30 of these. I have maxed out all my credit cards.; Any help would be so appreciated. Thank you

Jen Davis wrote:

<quoted text>
Which Medicare Part D prescription plan does your wife have? I have chronic back pain (failed back surgery) and my private insurance just quit paying for Actiq, claiming it is only for "cancer pain". My pharmacy said I could pick up my Actiq prescription if I pay them $3,000.00 cash! I'm disabled and am planning on enrolling in Medicare part D during their enrollement period, but I'm very confused as to which plan I should chose (I need the plan that covers Actiq w/ the lowest out of pocket co-pay). Your help with this is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Jen

For 2007, Blue Cross Part D covered the generic for a $10.00 copay. They have moved it to a specialty tier for 2008, and have since refused to cover it through the coverage gap.

I am looking to switch to Aetna in Feb. They are supposed to provide gap coverage for the drug. Email me at bgcf57a@msn.com. Thanks.

Does anyone know if Medicaid will pay for generic Actiq?

Does anyone know if MEDICAID, NOT MEDICARE, will pay for generic Actiq?

Hi: I have been reading all of the posts here, and I could not agree with you more, I take the actiq 800mg, have no prescription insurance, so I had the script written under another name, do you know medicare said, no we will not cover that, I have it under appeal, I also called cephalon and they told me that I had medicare and no prescription insurance, I was not able to get into a prescription assistants program, I am disabled and had no idea that medicare had a prescription drug program, it was when I called for extra help they told me, medicare says I have to wait until November to enroll, I have been taking this drug for about 5 years, I had the script written when my friend was on medicaid and they never bothered her or me, as soon as it went to medicare they denied the claim, I now have nothing and have to wait for my doctor to call well care and see what he can do, I have an allergic reaction to codeine, I can not take any pain meds with out getting hives, the actiq is the only thing that calms down my nerve pain, on top of my torn acl. Does anyone know the name of the generic made by barr and is it available?? I think it is time that everyone on this board unite, I called a program for extra help with this medication and I was told that it cost the makers of actiq 6cents on the dollar to make the medication not to mention there research was given a grant to make this medication, I was told two things, I tried to switch to fentora which is about the same as actiq and was told I had medicare and no prescription assistants that I was not eligable for there prescription drug program for fentora and they do not have one for actiq, they did have one, but it is no longer available since this medication is now available in generic form, what a disgrace, it is now going to cost me at least $3000 a month, since I can't find help anywhere. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Pam Simon wrote:

This is the only place on the net indicating that Part D will cover part of the cost of Barr's version of Actiq. At this poin, I haven't reached 65 and my current private policy provides me with Barr/Actiq (four boxes per month) for just the co-pay. I live in NC, if that makes a difference. I'd love to hear from folks who get any coverage of the drug under Part D. I'd also like to know if Part D covers part of the cost of benzodiazepines, like clonazepam, because I've been advised that it does not. Please post comments here.

Can you give me the name of the generic brand from Barr/Actiq I can't find it on the web site for Barr., I would greatly appreaciate it. Thanks

Annmarie

Generic versions of Actiq, Balziva introduced by Barr.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY: Generic Drugs)(Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.)(Brief article)
Chain Drug Review, October, 2006
Content provided
in partnership with

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.-- Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched a generic version of Actiq, a cancer pain management product. In addition, the company has announced Warner Chilcott Ltd. has waived its exclusive license for Ovcon 35 and that Barr is therefore launching a generic version of that product under the Balziva trade name.

Actiq is the brand name for Cephalon Inc.'s product, which Barr has launched under a license agreement that Cephalon granted it in 2004. That license gives Barr a non-exclusive right to sell a generic version. Cephalon is supplying Barr ...

This is what I found doing research on the name of the generic. Hope it helps....I too am on the medication which is at the time paid for by W.C. but I will soon be responsible for payment. With insurance 400 mcg. 120 quantity for one month is $845.

Tammi

Jodi Cole wrote:

When will this generic version be available to the public? I have been paying $2500. a month for my prescription.

I have Full Blown AIDS and I can't get CEPHLON to allow me to be in their Patience assitance program
because I don't have Cancer....AIDS is very much
painful as cancer, I am getting a layer to sue them.

Pam Simon wrote:

I'd also like to know if Part D covers part of the cost of benzodiazepines, like clonazepam, because I've been advised that it does not. Please post comments here.

Hi Pam, I realize this is really really late, but just came across this website. I have AARPMedicareEnhancedRX~they do cover benzo's, actiq is still expensive with them, they don't cover muscle relaxers-but they are pretty cheap depending on which one you need. I take clonazepam, ativan, zanaflex, restoril (for sleep) and quite a few othes and they cover them all. I'm sorry I didn't find this sooner, so you could get on the plan for this year, but keep it in the back of your mind for next year.