Rytary

[twss]

I have seen much improvement with Rytary but my insurance will not cover.

Any suggestions on acquiring?

[johntPM]

I call Rytary "a convenience drug". It packages levodopa/carbidopa in a form which lasts longer than L/C IR or CR. This is a good thing, but it is still using L/C.

You may wish to consider asking your doctor to suggest an alternative drug regimen which is made up of three or four doses of L/C timed and sized to approximate the pharmacokinetics of Rytary. See:

neurotalk.org/parkinson-s-d...

John

[parkie13 in reply to johntPM]

The carbidopa-levodopa ER is a generic version which is fairly inexpensive. You could try that and see how it compares to Rytary.

ER is extended release

Meant to send it to twss

[PDGal4]

Begging to differ here, C/L ER is not a generic version of Rytary. According to my neurologist, C/L ER is a hard coated C/L and the release is very haphazard. He recommends only for nighttime use. Rytary is time released at various intervals. Not saying the C/L ER doesn't work for some people but less than perfect delivery.

As to insurance and Rytary, I would check with your doctor and also go on the Rytary website (rytary.com) where if you scroll down there is a link for obtaining financial assistance for Rytary.

[Juliegrace in reply to PDGal4]

I think Mary (parkie13) meant that c/l ER is available as a generic and is more affordable, not that it is a generic for Rytary.

[parkie13 in reply to Juliegrace]

That's what I meant , thanks

[PDGal4 in reply to Juliegrace]

Thank you for clarifying. I did misunderstand.

[JAS9]

Look up PAN Foundation. They take in charitable donations and help those of us who can't afford our meds. PAN has helped me pay for Rytary for 3 years now, paying everything that my insurance wouldn't. It is on a first-come basis, so you'll want to act quickly. There's at least one other, but I can't remember its name. Msg me back if you need it and I'll look in my emails.

Before Rytary, I tried several strategies to take Sinemet, including small timed doses, but I couldn't tolerate any of them. Rytary was like a miracle for me.

[boundless in reply to JAS9]

They will send you a financil statement to fill out. But if you have abank account or any stocks, forget about it. They add all of that to your income.Especially dividends regardless of how small they are.

[Janlavelle]

Rytary has a program. Go to myrytary.com for patients. They’ll help you out.

[Adnelg54]

Contact the manufacturer... they may have ways to get it for less

[Rsox67]

Contact the distributor IMPAX they have helped me.

[DianeF]

The c/l ER has worked well for me. No down time at all.

[Mogul1 in reply to DianeF]

Could you describe dosage

[Mogul1 in reply to DianeF]

And intervals? Thanks

[Mogul1 in reply to DianeF]

Hi Diane, I have gone from C/L to Rytary, then back to C/L 50/200 trying to find the right combination. My best results have been with 50/200C/Tk

[Popeye529]

Have you tried myrytary.com. Sometimes they have coupons. I was paying $25. a month. I now pay $100. because I couldn’t find anymore coupons If we only knew,,,probably cost the company a couple of pennies to make.

[MWLE]

Rotary use to have a subsidy/coupon to help people to switch over to them - only for a few months.

Also ask you neuro to provide a justification to the insurance to go to Rytary. My dad nuro did that for him.

Be warn, the release of the med doesn't seem consistent and the c/l med are more because of the time release.

[Mogul1 in reply to MWLE]

Stacking.

My neurologist

Told me about the

stacking concept when I complained about personality changes at the end of the day. I was hyper when normally I would be tired, easily agitated, speech slurred, overly animated when speaking. and exhibited drunk-like behavior, worse than I have

Described.

My understanding of stacking is an accumulation of meds during the course of the day that haven’t activated or “released”. Taking another Rytary on schedule in the evening combined with the release of the “Stacked” or accumulated meds that had not released resulted in what I feel, and this is just my opinion from personal experience, was an overdose. The personality change was very unpleasant for my wife...VERY unpleasant. So I stopped Rytary and have gone back to C/L 50/200. I quickly discovered that I needed to increase my dosage compared to previous use. I took Rytary from March to December.

For me, there seems to be very little accuracy in the release mechanisms of either of these meds. That is so frustrating. We are messing with our brains (not to mention relationships!).

Now that I am aware of Stacking (I described it to my Dr as “stock piling”). I realize it can happen with C/L as well.

The most likely cause is trying to adjust my med schedule after my schedule has been disrupted. I believe it is vital to stick to the med schedule with extreme accuracy. I’m also trying to keep a log describing my behavior on a daily basis and the accuracy of my daily schedule. I also take 1 Azilect and 3,000mg of B1 in the morning. I have learned to accept down time when it occurs, usually because of disrupted schedule, and I don’t panic and take more, but there are times when an adjustment needs to be made. In such a situation, i take 1/2 to 1 1/2 depending on activity level and time to next med interval.

I am still working on my schedule for C/L 50/200. I have the morning worked out. 2 50/200 on rising and 2 3 hours later. The third interval has been a tough one for me.

At times I take 2 and at other times I take 1 1/2. My philosophy is to taper down to one for the afternoon intervals to avoid the personality changes. I most certainly have not been perfect, but nobody bats 1.000!

Several comments before this one is from Diane saying she has no downtime on C/L. That is AWESOME! Congratulations. How does she do it ?!