It has been reportered that in 2019 insurance will no longer cover Rytary because of its high cost- what’s the true story on this ?

[Parkit]

Rytary cost

[Joynb]

It would help,to,know where you are. Insurance is different in each country. Rytary is not available in Australia yet.

[rhyspeace12]

I live in California. My husband gets Rytary free through an organization . MY insurance would cover it for $137 a month if we didn't get it free. I can find the name of the organization to contact if you want it. My neurologist got me the information to apply..

[Parkit in reply to rhyspeace12]

I’d like to see the info on it -just in case I have issues with the generic

Thx

[rhyspeace12 in reply to Parkit]

The extended release is different from Rytary. Rytary is little beads inside the capsule that release over 4 hours at different times. It has worked well for my husband. The extended release Sinemet didn't. Rytary is too new to have a generic version.

[RS313 in reply to rhyspeace12]

Hello,Did your husband have to ween off of the Sinemet? i have dyskenesia and the C/L ER doesnt cover my symptoms very well.

[rhyspeace12 in reply to RS313]

My husband is doing well on the Rytary, 2, every 4 hours, and if he needs to add one regular Sinimet at a low dose he does. It is free with the assistance program I found. 855 421 4608. It is still also covered under my Medicare Supplement for $98 a month, a change from the price last year, actually cheaper.

[cjsg]

We have started taking an extended release c/l. I think it is generic.. It doesn't have the Rytary name. Just called c/l extended release. Works great.

[jackedmonston]

I'm on Medicare Part D. When PD doc tried to prescribe Rytary my insurance (Humana) said I would have to show that generic didn't work first. So I took generic and it worked fine. Still on it.

[ssnowhite]

You should contact your insurance company and ask for a formulary exception. My company covered Rytary the last two years,but took it off their list for 2019. I completed the exception request,with my neurologist providing my drug history (PD 14+ years). It was approved by company. Good luck; contact maker of drug if the request is not approved, the company y has programs to assist

[rhyspeace12]

The organization you want for assistance with getting Rytary is tafcares.org. Go to their site and see the list of diseases they cover. Click on Parkinsons and you will learn how to apply for assistance. Or you can call 855 421-4605. They are VERY helpful and organized. They ask whether you want the drug free once a month, or I believe it was $50 a month .I chose free, the only criteria seems to be that you need assistance, not a really low income. They will send information to you to take to the pharmacy.

My husband was having lots of off time and frantically always trying to get more carba/dopa levodopa . The Rytary totally eliminated that. He takes 2 Rytary every fours hours and one before going to bed.

[rhyspeace12]

tafcars.org has another phone number too. 855 845 3663.

[JerMan22]

Yes, I'm in the same boat as you are. Rytary worked for me when the generic gave me severe side effects. I'm in CA too, and I also have my primary insurance pay some and a foundation pays the rest. I haven't been notified if my insurance is changing that, and I'll have to check on that. But there are other ins companies in case you can't get yours to see reason.

[FMundo]

I had to apply for an exception to my insurer as Rytary which was granted.

Basically I was beginning to experience off periods of one hour between my four daily doses of C/L 25-100. Rytary solved the "off" problem for me.

What we're talking about is a class of medication that is termed "Carbidopa/Levodopa Gastroretentive Drugs." Rytary and it's generic equivalent are examples. Shortly there will be the "accordian pill" know as AP-CD/LD produced by Intec. This will be even better at extending the effectiveness (lengthening "On" time. PD effects autonomic functioning, gastric emptying of some, peristaltic movement. As Carbidopa-Levodopa is the most effective medication for PD, its critical to see that it gets "absorbed" even as things get sluggish. Thats what these new drugs provide for. There is no way the insurance companies are going to shut this down. Its important therapy that is effective, essential and rapidly growing in popularity - for good reason.

An interesting add-on. Intec expects to add other drugs to their stable of accordian pill offerings. Many drugs need a "time release" delivery vehicle. One of their early offerings will be cannabis . . .