Home | Log In | Register | Calendar | Chat | Search | Help

VSL#3 DS

Forum Rules | Moderators | Password Help

[ << Previous Thread | Next Thread >> ]

Michelle8871 Regular Member Date Joined Sep 2008 Total Posts : 90	Posted 11/3/2008 10:40 AM (GMT -6)
	Just wanted to share some info I found out that you may want to look into...... I have been wanting to try VSL#3 but the cost has been too much for me take on right now. I just spoke with my medical insurance company and they told me that if my Dr. writes a prescription for VSL#3 DS (the prescription version) I can get a 3 months supply by mail order for $90!!!!!! That is a huge savings since the over the counter version costs roughly $75 per month ! So for the those of you using VSL#3 or thinking about...check with your insurance about their mail order plans and see if this option may exist for you! Good Luck! Michelle Newly diagnosed August 2008 Currently on 15mg prednisone, 12 Asacol per day, Mesaline enema nightly,Multi vitamin, Omega 3 and Calcium Realizing that disease is a real pain in the ass! Mother of a 5 year old and 12 old trying to get through each day with a smile on my face! Back to Top

beartooth Veteran Member Date Joined Dec 2006 Total Posts : 517	Posted 11/3/2008 2:07 PM (GMT -6)
	Michelle - Are you from the US? Or is DS only available somewhere else? What is the difference between VSL#3 and VSL#3 DS? Brandon 36 y.o. male Diagnosed w/ moderate UC in May '06 Meds & supplements: ~~Asacol~~, ~~Florastor~~, VSL#3, Wellbutrin XL, Prozac, multi-vitamin, Allegra, Lialda, ~~Colocort~~, Prednisone, flaxseed oil, L-glutamine. Back to Top

Michelle8871 Regular Member Date Joined Sep 2008 Total Posts : 90	Posted 11/3/2008 3:30 PM (GMT -6)
	Hi Brandon I am in the US...Massachusetts Someone else on here had posted about the DS prescription version so that is how I originally heard of it. I figured I would I would start with my prescription plan and see if they covered it before I even asked my Dr. The DS is "double strength" so I assume you only need to take 1/2 of the regular VSL#3 dosage. I am seeing my gastro tomorrow to find out IF he can write the script and get more details. Like I said MY insurance company said the VSL#3 is not covered BUT VSL#3 DS is. I will let you know what my Dr. says. Newly diagnosed August 2008 Currently on 15mg prednisone, 12 Asacol per day, Mesaline enema nightly,Multi vitamin, Omega 3 and Calcium Realizing that disease is a real pain in the ass! Mother of a 5 year old and 12 old trying to get through each day with a smile on my face! Back to Top

beartooth Veteran Member Date Joined Dec 2006 Total Posts : 517	Posted 11/3/2008 4:21 PM (GMT -6)
	Thanks for the info Michelle. I checked with my insurance, and the answer was "Absolutely not." I guess they don't even want me to appeal or request a special case. I'll just keep paying OTC prices. Brandon 36 y.o. male Diagnosed w/ moderate UC in May '06 Meds & supplements: ~~Asacol~~, ~~Florastor~~, VSL#3, Wellbutrin XL, Prozac, multi-vitamin, Allegra, Lialda, ~~Colocort~~, Prednisone, flaxseed oil, L-glutamine. Back to Top

Mrsarcasm Regular Member Date Joined Oct 2003 Total Posts : 80	Posted 11/3/2008 6:20 PM (GMT -6)
	I take VSL #3 DS. I take 2 packets of it. The same strength of the over the counter one woudl be 4 packets. My insurance company (personal choice) did not cover it. My doctor wrote an appeal. Saying that I have shown progress taking it and if this didn't work my next course of meds will include remicade. They approved it with-in 48hours. ___________________________________________________ Colazal - 9 pills Rowassa Enema - 1 nightly VSL#3- 1 packet daily Multi Vitiam - 1 daily Vitiam C - 500mg daily Nexium - 1 pill daily ~~Asacol - 9 pills~~ ~~Lialda - 4 pills daily~~ ~~Culturelle- 1 daily~~ Back to Top

Socalsd Regular Member Date Joined Jul 2008 Total Posts : 100	Posted 11/3/2008 7:35 PM (GMT -6)
	I have Bluecross of Ca and I have a prescription for VSL DS#3 My co pay is $40 for 6 boxes. Prednisone 30mg a day Clotrimazole Troche (keeps the thrush away from the Pred. Remicaid VSL 3DS 34 year old male Southern California Back to Top

lovesara10 New Member Date Joined Jan 2011 Total Posts : 1	Posted 1/25/2011 9:10 PM (GMT -6)
	Hi I just checked with United health care (UHC) which is a horrible insurance and Medco is their lousy prescription plan and it states the VSL #3 DS for 30 days (20 units which I believe = 20 packets ) with 900 b. Cell at 1 packet a day would cost me out of pocket over $975.68 and for 90 days would be over $2690.98. Are they nuts Wow and some of you take 4 packets a day. You are so blest not having lousy useless prescription plans like Medco. I am very upset since right now i am taking 1/2 cap Mira lax a day plus 2 stool softeners and 1 Co lace Laxative a day and still having a problem. I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis which means my colon and stomach is paralyzed. I hate UHC with a passion. I pay over 125.00 monthly and get very little for it. But this is the only insurance we are offered. And to buy this stuff OTC would be just as nuts. Thanks for letting me vent. Rae Back to Top

Uncle George New Member Date Joined Jan 2011 Total Posts : 1	Posted 1/30/2011 2:57 PM (GMT -6)
	I get my vsl#3ds from my dr. You must have it written for a 20 pack not 30. This way the insur will pay. It's a package thing . Bc bs paid 80% then Medicare paid the rest. I use it for UC. 2 months now 1 pack a day. Getting better. Low fiber. Green juice and soft foods. Off of all junk food and I am on gluten free stuff. I feel much better and the bleeding is controled. Thanks Uncle George . Post Edited (Uncle George) : 1/30/2011 1:00:46 PM (GMT-7) Back to Top

aguywithuc Veteran Member Date Joined Jun 2010 Total Posts : 1903	Posted 2/2/2011 10:23 PM (GMT -6)
	Mrsarcasm said... I take VSL #3 DS. I take 2 packets of it. The same strength of the over the counter one woudl be 4 packets. My insurance company (personal choice) did not cover it. My doctor wrote an appeal. Saying that I have shown progress taking it and if this didn't work my next course of meds will include remicade. They approved it with-in 48hours. Thanks. I added that to my summarized bloodwork over the last decade for my GI visit today and he sprang into action and fired off another prescription and was going to make his case for it in the same way that an attorney attacks an injustice. He will be leading with the same business implication your doctor used - "Pay now or pay MORE later'. Back to Top

SMSHartnett New Member Date Joined Feb 2011 Total Posts : 1	Posted 2/9/2011 11:01 PM (GMT -6)
	Hi All, I had to go to a special pharmacy to request the DLS-DS. There was no code for it so the insurance company would not initially pay for it. I was persistent and I had a prescription. They finally decided to pay for it and it is nothing short of miraculous. So if you insurance doesn't pay for it, buy some of the regular, try it for 10 days. Tell your doctor if it is working well. If so, call Sigma Mu, your pharmacy, and your doctor. Be diligent in getting them to work this out. This stuff is great and has made my life much easier. Back to Top

MotherofTeenwithNoUC Regular Member Date Joined Mar 2011 Total Posts : 222	Posted 3/27/2011 8:41 PM (GMT -6)
	United Health Care insurance is the worst insurance company! I spend over $600 per month paying insurance premiums to UHC for my son and I, have a $1500 deductible per person and $6000 max out of pocket per person (which I met by Feb 5 of this calender year). My 14 year old son was diagnosed in January of this year with severe UC. He had been bleeding in his stool for 3-4 months and didnt tell me. By the time I got him admitted to the hospital, he had lost a third of his body's blood and was severly anemic. His entire Colon was ulcerated. He hid his symtoms from me for months, even after being seen in the ER and by a GI Dr. three and six months previously. He ended up spending 9 days in the hospital on IV steriods and was sent home on 50 mg Prednisone daily,which has been weaned down (6 weeks later) to 5 mg per day, Asacol 800mg HD (6 tablets per day), Poly-Iron (2Xday) and VSL#3 DS (1/2 packet 2Xday). My insurance won't cover the Asacol 80mgHD and it is $700 per month. We have so far been surviving on sample bottles but the Dr won't give us anymore. (Forgot to add that I am a single parent). The Dr prescribed VSL#3 and my insurance would not cover it. It was $159 a month for a 30 day supply.... however , they would cover VSL#3 DS for $30 per month copay. We have been using the DS (double strength) and cutting the dose in half (half packet twice a day) But since starting the VSL#3 DS, he has started having symptoms again of cramping and diarrhea. Dr says the next step is Imuran. Does anyone have any feedback on this drug? Thanks, Mother of newly diagnosed Teen with UC Back to Top

rey Regular Member Date Joined Nov 2007 Total Posts : 305	Posted 3/28/2011 7:09 AM (GMT -6)
	i read the ingredients recently on the vsl 3 box and i think it had lactic acid listed as an ingredient close to the top- i'm not sure about this- but if you have lactose intolerance/allergy would this cause harm? thanks Back to Top

songlady Veteran Member Date Joined Aug 2009 Total Posts : 3226	Posted 3/28/2011 8:33 AM (GMT -6)
	rey - I don't know the answer to your question. Mother - I, too, have United HC - but possibly a different plan within it, since I have had some different experiences than you have. Right - the regular VSL is not covered by insurance for anyone, as far as I've heard, because it's considered over-the-counter. The DS says on the box "by prescription only" - so, yes, it's covered for me, too (although I'm paying 120 copay for a 3 month supply.) I'm sorry he's having symptoms again!! Are you looking for feedback on Imuran? I might suggest starting a new post with that in the title. Some folks here have used it, and you'll get more responses if you start a new thread with "Imuran" to catch their eye.... Hang in there! My son was 13 when diagnosed; I feel for you. Co-Moderator, UC Forum Age 55. Diagnosed UP 1983, UC 1986 Asacol - 16 pills/day, Rowasa and Canasa occasionally Metamucil - 2 doses/day VSL#3DS 2 x daily, Multivitamin, Calcium and D homemade yogurt each day doing well! Son, 17, dx pancolitis 2007, in remission Back to Top

MotherofTeenwithNoUC Regular Member Date Joined Mar 2011 Total Posts : 222	Posted 3/28/2011 8:56 PM (GMT -6)
	Thanks Songlady. Does anyone know if the VSL#3 DS is equivalent to double the normal VSL? For instance, taking one Asacol 800mg HD is not equivalent to taking 2 Asacol 400mg. My doctor prescribed the VSL#3 regular strength for my son, but the insurance wouldnt cover it. The VLS#3 DS (double strength) is covered but I am not sure if taking half the double strength twice a day is the same as taking 2 packets of the regular strength per day. My son started having some problems again when he started the VSL#3 DS and I wondering if it is too much for him. His Dr told me to call the pharmaceutical company to confirm it was equivalent. His GI didnt even know that they made the DS and couldnt find it on the VLS#3 website. He is a well know pediatric GI in the area, and when he told me that he didnt even know that they made a DS strength, I started to worry. I went on the website and couldnt find it either. Yet the pharmacy filled the prescription for it. Thanks for your input. Dr increased Prednisone another 5mg a day (was being weaned off) Asacol 800mg HD (6 tablets a day) Poly-iron 2x day VSL#3 2xday Back to Top

songlady Veteran Member Date Joined Aug 2009 Total Posts : 3226	Posted 3/29/2011 6:36 AM (GMT -6)
	The DS is exactly twice what's in ther egular packet. The regular packets are 450 billion per, and the DS packets are 900 billion per. So 1/2 packet of DS is equivalent to one packet of regular. My son's pedi GI has been using it for years. It is curious that it's not on their website any more, though - I've noticed that too. Co-Moderator, UC Forum Age 55. Diagnosed UP 1983, UC 1986 Asacol - 16 pills/day, Rowasa and Canasa occasionally Metamucil - 2 doses/day VSL#3DS 2 x daily, Multivitamin, Calcium and D homemade yogurt each day doing well! Son, 17, dx pancolitis 2007, in remission Back to Top

Forum Information

Currently it is Saturday, May 18, 2013 12:27 PM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 1,812,731 posts in 203,126 threads.
View Active Threads

Who's Online

This forum has 133227 registered members. Please welcome our newest member, Heather D.
344 Guest(s), 11 Registered Member(s) are currently online. Details
Baza, Heathersdad, notsosicklygirl, TC-LasVegas, Scaredy Cat, reachout, Skooley, steve7505, Heather D, Buddy Blank, figsk8

©1996-2013 HealingWell.com LLC All rights reserved.

Advertise | Privacy Policy & Disclaimer