I had severe rash from Ibrutinib and was only in it for 10 days at low dose. Doc is trying to get Acalabrutin approved. Appreciate hearing from others in US who have. Thx!
Any tips on getting Acalabrutin approved when ... - CLL Support
Any tips on getting Acalabrutin approved when couldn’t tolerate Ibrutinib side effects.
i had a super duper rash all over my body at about 10 days in also. it was a combo of/rash/hives/petecchia. I too one medrol dosepak for 6 days and zyrtec all days and 3 weeks from day it started it was gone. You may have given up on imbruvica too quickly. Also-i am a retired retail usa pharmacist. To get an approval for acalabrutinib the doctor will have to document the issues. If it's only rash -and rash is considered least serious side effect-to a lot of drugs. I had people taking antibiotics that caused a rash-and because it was what was necessary-many physicians treat the rash. How long did you stay on the Imbruvica. Also acalabrutinib has fewer cases of AF. other side effects including rash could also happen with that.
MonD, I do not have any specific experience with getting acalabrutinib approved but have some experience in general on how insurance works.
Who is your doctor trying to get approval from, your insurance carrier? If that is the case it would depend on the language of your policy and the reasonableness of the adjuster making the call. The laws for group policies are quite different than for private policies as well. Group policies are covered by a federal law called ERISA that gives plan administrators great discretion. Private policies are more likely subject to the law of the state you live in.
It helps if you are being treated at a facility with a department skilled at dealing with insurance companies, blue cross balked at paying some of my bills and the insurance dept at md anderson did all the appeals for me, to the point I never got involved at all.