Cost of drugs

Can anyone give a definitive list of the cost of each drug/type?

[Hidden]

Hi Julie I'm on Rituximab which I know can be expensive, on saying that I don't know the cost of other treatments.

If you go onto the nice website you can get loads of info on drug costing, got the following information for Rituximab on there;

The cost to the NHS of 100-mg and 500-mg vials of rituximab is £174.63 and £873.15 respectively, excluding VAT (‘British national formulary [BNF]’ 53). The cost of a single course of rituximab is £3492 (two 1000-mg i/v infusions). However, costs may vary in different settings because of negotiated procurement discounts.

mand xx

[Hidden]

Ha thanks Mand. I just knew it wouldn't be straight forward depending on where you live. I wonder how I can find out what the sp is down here in Devon?n n

Jujlie xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Julie, this may be helpful on the postcode lottery.

guardian.co.uk/society/2000...

I encountered a postcode lottery situation about twenty years ago in wanting to have IVF treatment, were told we had to pay but if we lived up north it would be free.

Don't really understand it all I just know it's not fair, never had any problems with my RA treatments though so I should be fortunate there I suppose.

Mandy xx

[cathie]

My rhumy nurse who was in charge of the anti-TNF infusions was quite well informed and while very discreet, would answer questions like this. She once told me that my 8 weekly 500mg inifliximab cost about £1k. I think it was that, or was it £1k a year? Anyway, a lot! And we started to wonder what we would do if we had to pay for it ourselves.

[Gina_K]

Julie, I can only say in € that 2 x Humira injections per month cost approx €600 - €700 per month. In Rep of Ireland, you pay the first €120 of prescription costs per family or individual per month, which means I pay €120 each & every month for everything but that is the maximum. (you pay pharmacist & I suppose he gets the rest of cost of state) If you earn less than approx €50,000 per year (two people) You get GP & prescriptions free with whats called a medical card. I know my Consultant referred me through the 'public system' to get Humira approval (not available as private patient as is covered under a 'High Tech prescription') Red Tape I had'nt a clue! I have to say she speeded things up because she felt with cut backs I might not get approval in years time - Gosh now I realise how lucky I was!!!! Hope above makes some sense. xxx

[Andrea_Shapiro]

I believe that Enbrel is about £9 000 a year. This is the estimated cost of drug, not with admin. I believe myself to be a lucky person!

[Andrea_Shapiro in reply to Andrea_Shapiro]

I'm being sarcastic here, by the way!

[Hidden in reply to Andrea_Shapiro]

Hi Andrea

Lucky person you !! ( also sarcastic)

How are you finding the enbrel? Im about to start it- what has it helped with most?

Fiona x

[Hidden in reply to Andrea_Shapiro]

so very lucky Andrea, oh don't we know it... tongue in cheek

[LavendarLady]

Hi all. I was told the anti tnf cost £10,000 a year per patient. I was on Humira - no side effects but not as effective as it should be so consultant switched me to Enbrel. Again no problems with it but still not working at full capacity i.e. I still get flare ups - don't know if that's normal or not but my consultant now wants to switch me to the anti tnf which is dripped into you over 2 weeks at the hospital. Apparently it should last anything from 9 months to 3 years without a top up. Does anyone have experience of that? I would like some info from the horse's mouth as it were! Lavendar Lady

[Hidden in reply to LavendarLady]

That's probably Rituximab your talking about, that's given by infusion you have one then another two weeks later ,how long it's lasts differs from person to person.

I've been on it for nearly three years now after failed Infliximab,Humira and Enbrel.

mand xx

[LavendarLady]

Thanks Mand. That's a great help. I see my consultant end of this month so will probably tell him I am willing to give it a go. Anything which makes life better is good. Hope all goes well with you. Lavendar Lady

[Hidden]

I was told my Enbrel cost over £10k a year!

Crazy with the price I was really expecting a miricle drug but not working miricles yet!