Cost of Cytomel 25mg Not $10/month

[bluestarmom187]

The doctor gave me an rx to get filled prior to my surgey. The rx is for Cytomel 25mg Qty.60. I called around today to get the cost and was told by Walgreens it would be $93.00 and then by Walmart $ 73.47. I thought that they thyroid meds were only going to run about $10.00 a month as was posted out here on the forum. Am I being giving a more expensive drug then others and/or why did my doc rx Cytomel?

I did sign up today for the WA state discount rx program and that will knock off about $10.00 of the cost. What thyroid medicine were you guys talking about that cost $10 month?

[Barb135]

If you have to take the cytomel, you might check around some more.  I just started taking it a couple weeks ago and it cost me just over $42.00/mo.  But then your dosage is higher than mine so that might have something to with it too.  

[pep88]

The Rocaltrol is calcium.  Because your parathryroids (which produce calcium and live in your thyroid) will undoubtedly be somewhat jostled in the process of removing your thyroid, your surgeon wants to make sure you have an adequate supply of calcium.  Thus the perscription.  Some people have little or no problem with this, some have huge issues.  

If you are not taking any T4 meds now then there would be no reason for you to take the Cytomel now.  But the Cytomel will give you what your body needs post TT and pre-RAI without being in your system long term.  I'm sure your doc will want you to become hypo (go off all meds) pre RAI.  Post RAI, you will go on Synthroid or a generic T4 drug for the rest of your life.  The Cytomel is just a temporary short acting drug that you take between TT and RAI so that you can go hypo quicker for the RAI.

[bluestarmom187]

My surgery is on the 18th.


TO:pep88 > They did not tell my to take this prior to surgery they just want me to get it filled and bring it with me and take after surgery. The Rx also has calcium 1250 mg and Rocaltrol .25 mg. I think that she said that the Rocaltrol is for nausa.  Does this mean that they will also be giving me synthriod after surgery?

Thanks for the info.

[stella5349]

Take a look on the Health Pages on the step by step RAI post I put on here. That also gives you some information on what pep88 says.

When is your surgery date?

Generics are cheaper - around the $10 mark. I don't believe Cytomel fits into that catergory

[pep88]

Any generic T4 med is very inexpensive.  However, Cytomel, a T3 drug, not so much.  The Cytomel, to ease your mind, you will only be taking for a very short time.  You take this prior to your surgery and pre-RAI only.  Because T3's short lived in the body (about 4 hours), they can take you off of any T4 meds early, prior to surgery.  Then they don't have to wait and weene you off post surgery and wait for RAI.   Because of this, you will be quickly ready for RAI.  Then it's back to the generic T4 meds post RAI that you can get at Walmart for cheep.