Questions about prescriptions

[richlin]

Has any got Enteragram outside of insurance? My insurance doesn't cover it and it costs $1300 even with a preauth. I'd like to know how to get it without paying an arm and a leg.

Also for Amitrptyline how many of you have used it for PI-IBS? It's actually helping me quite a bit, the only major side effect is waking up in the morning is extremely difficult. However, I'd like to know if I can take this for a short term (3-6 months) and stop using it and feel the same. I'm afraid if I go off of it I'll just end up with my previous symptoms. I've read that amitrypline has neurogensistic properties.

[NikaNik]

Hi, Richlin,

I was one who took Enteragam and it was great (my c diff specialist prescribed it while I was on treatment - a 30-day Dificid taper, and to take for several months following it to help heal the gut). My insurance also did not cover it but I was able to get it MUCH cheaper through Foundation Care Pharmacy (you just have your doctor send them the prescription). Here's the site: http://www.foundcare.com

Hope that helps.

Nikki

[Bobbie]

I looked up "neurogensistic" twice. There is no such word. Assume you mean neurological?

Ask pharmacists about side effects of meds - great source and what they study for five years.

Several have reported good results with EnterGram. Thx for the info. Nikki.

[richlin]

@nika How much did it cost OOP each month?

@bobbie - hehe, your are right. I made up that word.

I was trying to find the equivalent of neurogenesis

[beth22]

Richlin - We have had other posters years ago that took amytrytiline and it helped. You could try looking in the search box. I tried it, but even a small dose made me feel like a zombie, so I did not continue.

[NikaNik]

I can't recall the exact amount but I want to say it was something like $75.00 a box.

[Ril]

I take Enteragam now for IBS. For a while at the start of the new year when insurance changes coverage they were refusing to pay and Foundation Care was going to charge me $49/box.
Amitryptilline is an antidepressant but because of it's chemical properties has been found to be effective for other things as well. I think that is what you were asking Richlin. It is one of the older ones. It does have side effects and you can easily find them on line or ask your dr or pharmacist. Whether you feel better when you stop the medication depends upon whether you still have IBS or not. It is a treatment but not a cure.

[richlin]

Yep, I'm on Amitriptyline 20mg a day.

My theory is that my EC cells are elevated after the c-diff infection and are still in "attack mode", thus the increase in 5HTP in those cells (5HTP is used for motility in the guts to induce diarrhea and flush out toxins). The amitriptyline helps with the soft stools and my sleep, probably by lowering the extra 5HTP thats being created in the gut.

I understand Amitriptyline is not a cure, it just masks the symptoms. If I have PI-IBS (which my GI thinks I do), it'll take on average 1-3 years before I start noticing a lessening of symptoms. Hopefully, by the time I drop out of taking Amitriptyline my gut will have calmed down and healed to a state of normalcy.

The unfortunate side effect is its super hard to wake up in the morning and I feel foggy throughout the day.

[richlin]

@beth22 Those posters who took amitripyline. Are you doing better now?

[beth22]

Yes. I can't remember their names. It was a few years ago. You might find them in the search section. But, they said it really calmed down the GI tract and made them feel better. I didn't like feeling like a zombie, so I did not continue taking it.