newbie intro and a question about getting a prescription for Byetta
I’m skimming through older posts, and ordinarily I’d lurk a bit (and
definitely read more thoroughly through the old posts) before asking a
question like this, but I have an appointment at a diabetes clinic on Monday
and would like some ammunition before then. And gosh you guys are prolific
posters.
I was diagnosed about 7 years ago and have pretty much spent the time in
denial. I’ve taken the medications prescribed (all oral so far) but that’s
about all I did except for spurts of diet and exercise. So far I’ve avoided
complications (that we know of), but the writing’s on the wall unless I do
something about it now, so I’m pretty committed right now. I’m very
overweight (BMI above 40). My last A1C was 9% and I’m sure the specialists
will want to put me on insulin. I don’t want it, but will do it if
necessary. I would rather talk to them about Byetta first, though. The
thing is, I am a medical transcriptionist at the same hospital and I have
never once seen a reference to a patient using Byetta, though I’ve seen
thousands of documents on diabetic patients, which makes me wonder if
there’s some resistance to prescribing it. This is a major teaching
hospital, not a small community hospital, and ordinarily they’re cutting
edge. (Just because I haven’t seen it doesn’t mean they don’t prescribe it,
of course.)
Is it difficult to get a prescription for it? I’ve checked with my
insurance carrier and they classify it as a tier 2 drug (which determines my
co pay) but the rep claims they have no problem with it as long as it’s for
diabetes and not just weight loss. Am I just imagining that there might be
trouble with this? If it is difficult, what strategies can I use to
convince them to do it?
Thanks for your input.
Debbie
November 10th, 2003 at 11:00 pm
Dedbbie, You may not have seen it because Byetta is a pretty new med. It was
just approved last June. It has been marketed primarily to endocrinologists so
far. For me, one of its biggest advantages over insulin is that insulin
contributes to weight gain and byetta does not. In fact, clinical trials showed
a small weight loss for most patients. It is approved for use in combination
with metformin or metformin and a sulfanurea like Amaryl. Many insurance
companies won’t pay for it unless patients have been unsuccessful with
controlling their glulcose levels with other oral meds and are using the meds I
mentioned. I have used it in combination with insulin which is off-label, so my
insurance company won’t pay. You might go to www.byetta.com and print off the
prescribing information that is available there. It’s got a lot of detail for
docs to look at. I doubt there is any resistance to prescribing it–it’s just
new. Pat in Idaho
I’m skimming through older posts, and ordinarily I’d lurk a bit (and
definitely read more thoroughly through the old posts) before asking a
question like this, but I have an appointment at a diabetes clinic on Monday
and would like some ammunition before then. And gosh you guys are prolific
posters.
I was diagnosed about 7 years ago and have pretty much spent the time in
denial. I’ve taken the medications prescribed (all oral so far) but that’s
about all I did except for spurts of diet and exercise. So far I’ve avoided
complications (that we know of), but the writing’s on the wall unless I do
something about it now, so I’m pretty committed right now. I’m very
overweight (BMI above 40). My last A1C was 9% and I’m sure the specialists
will want to put me on insulin. I don’t want it, but will do it if
necessary. I would rather talk to them about Byetta first, though. The
thing is, I am a medical transcriptionist at the same hospital and I have
never once seen a reference to a patient using Byetta, though I’ve seen
thousands of documents on diabetic patients, which makes me wonder if
there’s some resistance to prescribing it. This is a major teaching
hospital, not a small community hospital, and ordinarily they’re cutting
edge. (Just because I haven’t seen it doesn’t mean they don’t prescribe it,
of course.)
Is it difficult to get a prescription for it? I’ve checked with my
insurance carrier and they classify it as a tier 2 drug (which determines my
co pay) but the rep claims they have no problem with it as long as it’s for
diabetes and not just weight loss. Am I just imagining that there might be
trouble with this? If it is difficult, what strategies can I use to
convince them to do it?
Thanks for your input.
November 11th, 2003 at 8:44 am
Thanks, Pat
Actually I had heard of it some time ago, but only recently became
interested in it for myself. We’ve got a ton of endocrinologists (well,
several anyway) but still I don’t recall any of them referencing Byetta in
their documents. Kind of strange now that I think of it, really, these docs
really like new things. My insurance carrier indicates they will cover it
if it is prescribed; I know about the problems getting it covered if used
off label–that’s not the case here. Apparently I’m also going to be
meeting with a pharmacist, surely she will be reasonably knowledgeable about
it. If not, I guess I’ll insruct them.
I was just wondering what kind of reaction I was going to get when I brought
the subject up in the diabetes clinic on Monday. Thanks for your response.
Debbie
_____
Dedbbie, You may not have seen it because Byetta is a pretty new med. It
was just approved last June. It has been marketed primarily to
endocrinologists so far. For me, one of its biggest advantages over insulin
is that insulin contributes to weight gain and byetta does not. In fact,
clinical trials showed a small weight loss for most patients. It is
approved for use in combination with metformin or metformin and a sulfanurea
like Amaryl. Many insurance companies won’t pay for it unless patients have
been unsuccessful with controlling their glulcose levels with other oral
meds and are using the meds I mentioned. I have used it in combination with
insulin which is off-label, so my insurance company won’t pay. You might go
to www.byetta.com and print off the prescribing information that is
available there. It’s got a lot of detail for docs to look at. I doubt
there is any resistance to prescribing it–it’s just new. Pat in Idaho
November 11th, 2003 at 9:11 pm
Hi Debbie,
My doctor’s office was reluctant to prescribe byetta because they thought it
would not be covered by any insurance yet. I said, "get real" and called my
insurance company - which said, "sure we cover it, but it is no generic" - so I
have an $8 co-pay. The doctor cheerfully called in the prescription and the
rest, as they say, is history.
Marsha
Day two - third shot
Finally lost the remaining 2 pounds of Avandia water weight - back to 260 lb
Morning BG 177 - a heck of a lot better than the high 200’s or 300.
No nausea this morning post shot
Low carb smoothie - no fruit - seems to be an easy way to eat in the am.
November 13th, 2003 at 9:01 pm
Hi, Debbie, and welcome to our little corner of the ‘net. <s>
Byetta is still relatively new and some docs are just getting on board
with prescribing it. For three months, I took info about the spit to my
doc, who finally decided to let me give it a try. I’m happy I hung in
there and educated him, because it’s the best thing that’s ever happened
to me.
I’ve since changed doctors, and my current one wasn’t familiar with
Byetta, but because of my last two A1C’s, will probably prescribe it to
other patients. We are pioneers!