Anyone have trouble getting their Copaxone renewed this year?

[meg321]

I have had so much trouble getting my copaxone renewed this year....Aetna specialty pharmacy faxed the renewal to my MS Dr.'s office in December and the Dr.'s office just sent the renewal in this week.  I have been calling and emailing also.en

Now it takes awhile to actually get it through .....I can't even remember what they said but I have 2-3 days left and thats after cutting back on my injections already.   I have done everything I can to get my copaxone now and still waiting...I don't get it.

hugs, meg

[twopack]

You probably won't feel a change unless/until a relapse comes along Meg.  SS has told me more than once that missing a single dose here and there doesn't seem to matter - but more than that isn't recommended.

The study of 3 injections per week showed good results BUT that was with 40mg of Copaxone per injection.

All that said it sounds like you're doing the best you can with the bad position others have left you in.

[meg321]

I have been doing them every other day for now But I wouldn't mind a few days off....how many days before I feel a change, Lulu?

I have never had this problem before with UCSF but I think they may have less help too.  SS was my next call....

thanks, meg

[SarahL2491]

They are also swamped by those changing insurance carriers.  For example, any tier 4 drug that is automaticaly turned down by insurance but you had "solved" last year, now the process has to be started all over again.  Multiply that by the number of pts changing insurance companies by the number of people staffed in the doctors office, it can be daunting sometimes.

[Lulu54]

I understand the neurosget swamped with renewals at the beginning of th year but it makes little sense that it happens this way. I hope your drugs arrive soon but don't panic if you are ofof the copaxone for a short while - there's enough changes in your system thanks to the copaxone that it will  carry you for a while.  You won't notice any immediate change in just a few days off this drug.

Good luck in getting this going soon....

[JaneK1975]

I didn't even realize there is an annual renewal process. But I have Aetna too, and I can vouch that their specialty pharmacy kinda blows. I have had to jump through many hoops to get refills scheduled, and every time I call for a refill the person who answers says something weird like, "I don't know if we can deliver there" (to an urban area in Massachusetts), or "I'll have to ask my supervisor if Saturday delivery is okay" (because I refuse to tell them it's okay to leave $4,000 worth of medication sitting unattended on my front porch all day while I'm at work).

If I was having trouble getting my meds I would call Shared Solutions and ask them what they can do to help. They will work with insurance companies and doctors' offices to get things done. They helped me out when I switched to Aetna and the pharmacy was dragging their feet.

Best wishes,
Jane