What’s your high/low $$?

[GtownBrown]

I was just reflecting on my financial journey with T. I waited for years to start because I had to get my car paid off first. Then the hunt for affordable c0mp0und began and went on for months. I really couldn’t go over $300 a month. At long last, I found a reliable source and kept it under that for a few months. I was about to switch to SlimdownRx when suddenly my insurance decided to pay! I literally cried in the car the first time I paid a $25 co-pay for four Mounjaro 10mg pens back in June.

Then out of the blue in early Oct., my insurance reversed their approval for technical reasons. At the same time, the FDA announced the end of the shortage, and I knew compound’s days were numbered. It was time to go into that gray area I had avoided.

Two months later, I have nine months of T purchased and have added cag. to the mix. So here is my $ journey:

Most paid: $270 per month and $11.66 per mg

Least paid: $25 a month insurance copay for brand, and .50 cents per mg.

Now paying: $35 a month for T at .70 cents per mg plus $4.80 of cag. added.

How about you? What’s your most/least look like?

 

[zpped]

You pretty much covered the range unless someone bought brand name at full price.

 

[GtownBrown]

You pretty much covered the range unless someone bought brand name at full price.

Lots of people paid more on compound, either through telehealth or medspas.

 

[nurseratchit]

I was just reflecting on my financial journey with T. I waited for years to start because I had to get my car paid off first. Then the hunt for affordable c0mp0und began and went on for months. I really couldn’t go over $300 a month. At long last, I found a reliable source and kept it under that for a few months. I was about to switch to SlimdownRx when suddenly my insurance decided to pay! I literally cried in the car the first time I paid a $25 co-pay for four Mounjaro 10mg pens back in June.

Then out of the blue in early Oct., my insurance reversed their approval for technical reasons. At the same time, the FDA announced the end of the shortage, and I knew compound’s days were numbered. It was time to go into that gray area I had avoided.

Two months later, I have nine months of T purchased and have added cag. to the mix. So here is my $ journey:

Most paid: $270 per month and $11.66 per mg

Least paid: $25 a month insurance copay for brand, and .50 cents per mg.

Now paying: $35 a month for T at .70 cents per mg plus $4.80 of cag. added.

How about you? What’s your most/least look like?

I haven't done all the math but I am thankful for the shortage because, in the beginning I was all set to pay 500/month if they could have got my prescription filled. I was going to put it on my HSA but still. Paid similar prices with compound and I think you dodged a bullet with SDRX as the pharmacy they used was pretty sketchy. I did order from them and it worked fine, but they are the only one to my knowledge that had 1 year BUDs which seems especially suspicious when SDRX also started letting people buy 9 months at a time. I have save an unopened vial to have tested in a year to see how that claim holds up. The cheapest tirz I've gotten was .65 cents/mg. I've tried 5 different varieties and so far they all work the same. Have since switched to reta and will hold on to the tirz for maintenance.

 

[Jackal]

I paid 236 for 45mg of tirz back in July (fire sale!!!) and I was so happy. My husband paid 399 (twice)for 10mg of compound while waiting for an appointment with his doctor to hopefully prescribe brand name. Thought I was getting a deal but with age comes wisdom. Since we met our deductible we have "screwed" ExpressScripts for 13000.

 

[morganite]

I haven't done all the math but I am thankful for the shortage because, in the beginning I was all set to pay 500/month if they could have got my prescription filled. I was going to put it on my HSA but still. Paid similar prices with compound and I think you dodged a bullet with SDRX as the pharmacy they used was pretty sketchy. I did order from them and it worked fine, but they are the only one to my knowledge that had 1 year BUDs which seems especially suspicious when SDRX also started letting people buy 9 months at a time. I have save an unopened vial to have tested in a year to see how that claim holds up. The cheapest tirz I've gotten was .65 cents/mg. I've tried 5 different varieties and so far they all work the same. Have since switched to reta and will hold on to the tirz for maintenance.

Yes, our journeys are so similar! About SDRX, I used them as a compound pharmacy and actually had only good experience with them… still using their T’ currently on 10 and it’s been working well…..

 

[nurseratchit]

Yes, our journeys are so similar! About SDRX, I used them as a compound pharmacy and actually had only good experience with them… still using their T’ currently on 10 and it’s been working well…..

I had no problems with SDRX, but their choice of pharmacy is sketch. Ouisa couldn't figure out how to do 2-day shipping to my area. Both shipments took 6 days and arrived warm. The second shipment was to replace the first. When they screwed up again I just asked SDRX for a refund which they promptly did. In the meantime, I had gotten an order from Hallandale through Lavender Sky with a much easier and speedier process and they had no problem shipping me cold product in 2 days. Ouisa also somehow manages to send to all 50 states but isn't actually licensed to do so. I did send my vials for testing and as I recall they still tested above 98%. It still worked for me too but I'm glad to have found better options.

 

[RedSkip]

Most: $34.30/mg from a compound pharmacy.
Least: $0.63/mg for lyophilized product.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

You pretty much covered the range unless someone bought brand name at full price.

I bought brand at full price. Initial Ozempic pen, so like $1100 for 3 or 4mg if I recall. A vial of that amount of Semaglutide is what, $4 or something now?

 

[cldfront]

My 74.7mg vial (3 month supply) from a medispa when I started was $3000. $40.16/mg
Least $0.59/mg

 

[brentm]

I was paying 400 a month for telehealth/compounding. SEMA only. This was for both me and my wife.

Now I'm just paying average market prices for gray market Tirz/Sema. I haven't really costed out what I'm paying overseas prices on because it's so affordable. 60 cents a mg maybe?

 

[GtownBrown]

I bought brand at full price. Initial Ozempic pen, so like $1100 for 3 or 4mg if I recall. A vial of that amount of Semaglutide is what, $4 or something now?

The profit margin is mind-boggling.

 

[nonyabizznez]

Most: $105.70/mg (1st box 2.5 Mounjaro) $1057!
Insurance approved a week later, couldn't wait!
Least: $0.67/mg for gray, I've been on 5mg for the duration and at goal. Could go cheaper but like 15mg vials.
Very Most: $375 for NO product (crypto into black hole)

 

[nonyabizznez]

I had no problems with SDRX, but their choice of pharmacy is sketch. Ouisa couldn't figure out how to do 2-day shipping to my area. Both shipments took 6 days and arrived warm. The second shipment was to replace the first. When they screwed up again I just asked SDRX for a refund which they promptly did. In the meantime, I had gotten an order from Hallandale through Lavender Sky with a much easier and speedier process and they had no problem shipping me cold product in 2 days. Ouisa also somehow manages to send to all 50 states but isn't actually licensed to do so. I did send my vials for testing and as I recall they still tested above 98%. It still worked for me too but I'm glad to have found better options.

No experience with SDRX or Ouisa but there's enough info out there to think "Denise" the apparent pharmacy owner is betting the end of compounding will beat any legal effort to do her in. (EVERY State, don't think so) I picture her as a Real Housewife all glammed up driving her liquid gold Maserati between her strip mall pharmacy (soon to be a manicure salon) and the bank. Ching Ching

 

[GtownBrown]

Most: $105.70/mg (1st box 2.5 Mounjaro)
Insurance approved a week later, couldn't wait!
Least: $0.67/mg for gray, I've been on 5mg for the duration and at goal. Could go cheaper but like 15mg vials.
Very Most: $375 for NO product (crypto into black hole)

Dang. I think you win!

 

[nonyabizznez]

Dang. I think you win!

It's not as bad as it looks:

I've got 1650mg Tirz in the freezer at a high of 1.80/mg (June 24) and a low of .67 (Nov 24). I just did the math and the average w/o black hole is $1.06/mg ($1755tl) with black hole $1.27 ($2130tl)

So for $2130 I got 6.5 years of product (I'm at goal at 5mg) at the cost of 2 months script. And it's a good thing I got it because my insurance is requiring new Prior Authorization in 2025 so who knows?

I also filled my Mounjaro script every month (Medicare about $160/mo copay with donut hole) Thanks to Lavender Sky (back in the day) I haven't used most of it so I've got 49 Mounjaro shots in the fridge! So I'm out <4k (including script) and down 75lbs with years of backup.

ETA - forgot to account for what I've already used so 7.5 years of product.

 

[noggin]

Most: $10 a mg from domestic source
Least: $0.44 a mg from china

 

[MarisWinter]

I had no problems with SDRX, but their choice of pharmacy is sketch. Ouisa couldn't figure out how to do 2-day shipping to my area. Both shipments took 6 days and arrived warm. The second shipment was to replace the first. When they screwed up again I just asked SDRX for a refund which they promptly did. In the meantime, I had gotten an order from Hallandale through Lavender Sky with a much easier and speedier process and they had no problem shipping me cold product in 2 days. Ouisa also somehow manages to send to all 50 states but isn't actually licensed to do so. I did send my vials for testing and as I recall they still tested above 98%. It still worked for me too but I'm glad to have found better options.

AHHHHHHH….the truth of Slim/Denise/Ouisa lives on in the mind of someone other than four of us. Thanks.