tdak Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Can I have a prescription filled by the VA if my personal doctor, not VA doctor, writes me the script? Tamara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Pete53 Posted May 26, 2007 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted May 26, 2007 Its possible I have done that 3 times. The Med has to be on the VA formulary and probably not restricted by VA. Example to get gabapentin in 1996 I had to get the script from a neurology Doc. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdak Posted May 26, 2007 Author Share Posted May 26, 2007 Thanks. I have several different meds I take due to athma/allergies/hypothyroidism/hronic pain from the brain surgery. It runs me anywhere from 85-115 a month right now, so anything will help. I do take a specialty drug called Xolair and I bet it's not on the VA formulary at all. I can't even get it at the regular pharmacy. Its an injectable shot and I take 2 every 2 weeks. It gets expensive, but I am glad they made it available. It helps me a lot. Tamara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Pete53 Posted May 26, 2007 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted May 26, 2007 Tamara: It may be on the formulary. You can "call" your VA on the Med Refill line and hit ) and ask for pharmacy. If it is not on the formulary here is the good news. A med like that if a Doc will write a quick note or letter saying only it will do the VA has to get it for you. It takes some work on your part but its like money in the bank. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdak Posted May 28, 2007 Author Share Posted May 28, 2007 Pete, Actually it is the only thing that will do for me. I have been through many other medications, and none worked at all. I have a extremely high IgE level, the doctors have mentioned Job's Syndrome to me, but still haven't ruled it out. IgE antibodies are found in the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes. They cause the body to react against foreign substances such as pollen, fungus spores, and animal dander. IgE antibody levels are often high in people with allergies. In my case, I get chronic bronchitis, upper respitory, pneumonia, rashes from things I am allergic to and because my IgE is so high, I am allergic to a lot. The average person with no allergies/asthma may have an IgE reading of 120 or less. If they have allergies and some asthma it might be 1000-1300. Me, well mine is 6510, so the slightest reaction to something triggers my asthma, so they put me on Xolair (Omalizumab). Xolair has only been approved since June 2003 and I have been on it since. It blocks the Ige or binds to it or something similar to that, but what it does is changes how my body reacts to allergies and reduces the asthma attacks. I have only been sick maybe 2 times a year with bronchitis, etc and maybe used my inhaler 1x a week since I have been on the Xolair. Before the meds, I was sick at least once a month, and using an inhaler 2-4x a day. So yes, it is the only thing that will do for me. I like to breathe :( . The biggest downfall is that Xolair costs about $500 a bottle and I need 3 bottles to make 2 shots. The other bad thing is that you can only use 1 bottle once and within 45 minutes of mixing it. It is not like insulin, where you can use one bottle for several shots. I have insurance now, but I still pay the top level pricing because there is no generic. It also has to be refrigerated and sent to me packed in dry ice. All I know is that I would be sick and at the doctors all the time again if it weren't for this medicine. There I go again, long winded, Tamara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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