Looking for a specialty pharmacy that has Cosentyx

[Bobw]

I have been on Enbrel for over 10 years. When I developed malignant melonoma in April 2014, I had to get off Enbrel. After 2 thoracotomies, I was very concerned about recurrence of psoriasis, even if all the docs weren't.... I convinced my dermatologist to reconsider Enbrel. She came up with Cosentyx as an alternative.
We contacted CVS direct, and they have it in stock, with a starter kit of 300 mg per week(2-150mg shots) for 5 weeks, then maintenance of 300 mg once per month.
I start my first series next Wednesday. With bc/bs I pay co-pay of $126 US per shipment. About same as Enbrel.
Safer for cancer patients, fewer shots, and same dollars... If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger...only someone which has/had psoriasis can begin to understand our issues. Long sleeve shirts, long pants, and bleeding through clothes, and patches in hair that hurt, itch and bleed. If single, you will stay single, if married, you stay embarrassed.. I live on beach on East Coast US, and have been miserable for 50 years, until Enbrel, and now Cosentyx......

[jiml]

Hi Bobw, first a warm    to the forum as I'm sure you must have gathered we are a friendly group of psoriasis sufferers who know only too well the embarrassment you speak of ... It is a difficult disease that is not taken very seriously by many doctors who say it's just a rash.
More concerning is your Cancer are you being treated for it ?i wish you good luck dealing with that as I know from personal experience the worry of Cancer
What is good is the knowledge that Enbrel worked for 10 years for you. That will be encouraging for our members to read ....
I hope Cosentyx works well for you I have read of very good results in the trials
It will be interesting if when you start your treatment  you could start a thread here about your experience of it as a new drug it would be interesting to follow a users experience
Here's to a healthy future for you on Cosentyx and I look forward to seeing more of you on the forum. Feel free to join in the banter in the off topic section , and thanks for joining

[Bobw]

Thank you Jim....
First, I appreciate the warm welcome. It's great to know someone understands us "heartbreak" folks.
Next, my cancer metastasized to my lungs, so the concern over Enbrel was very large. I went to M D Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas where the cancer was surgically removed. It will return....but not today!
They, at first, told me Enbrel affected my immune system, thus I could not continue it. After I spent hundreds of hours researching, there is no empirical evidence linking Enbrel to incidence of cancer, nor making it worse. The doctors finally agreed , and my dermatologist finally agreed to go to Cosentyx, which also has no direct link to cancer.
This long statement is to suggest that we can know more than our doctors, and we have to weigh quality of life versus treatments, and make informed decisions. I do not ever want psoriasis to control my life.

I'm sorry if this belongs on another topic, but I'm pretty sure There are those who are concerned over side effects, as I am. But, don't depend on anyone but yourself to make your life decisions.

Thanks,
Bob

[Bill]

Hi Bob,

The BBC News site has an article on people who have spontaneously recovered from cancer. It suggests that suppressing the immune system is often not helpful, which could explain taking you off Etanercept.

Cheers,

Bill

[Fred]

I'm sorry if this belongs on another topic, but I'm pretty sure There are those who are concerned over side effects, as I am.  But, don't depend on anyone but yourself to make your life decisions.

Thanks,
Bob

Hello Bob   to Psoriasis Club.

No I think your post is best left here as it does give an answer to the original question.

But if you feel like it you are more than welcome to start your own thread in Prescribed Treatments For Psoriasis about your personal journey with Cosentyx and update it as you go, as your input could be a great help to others.

Regards.

Fred.

[Kat]

I have been on Enbrel for over 10 years.  When I developed malignant melonoma in April 2014, I had to get off Enbrel.  After 2 thoracotomies, I was very concerned about recurrence of psoriasis, even if all the docs weren't.... I convinced my dermatologist to reconsider Enbrel.  She came up with Cosentyx as an alternative.  
We contacted CVS direct, and they have it in stock, with a starter kit of 300 mg per week(2-150mg shots) for 5 weeks, then maintenance of 300 mg once per month.
I start my first series next Wednesday.   With bc/bs I pay co-pay of $126 US per shipment.  About same as Enbrel.
Safer for cancer patients, fewer shots, and same dollars...   If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger...only someone which has/had psoriasis can begin to understand our issues.   Long sleeve shirts, long pants, and bleeding through clothes, and patches in hair that hurt, itch and bleed.  If single, you will stay single, if married, you stay embarrassed..  I live on beach on East Coast US, and have been miserable for 50 years, until Enbrel, and now Cosentyx......

Welcome Bobw!

Good luck with Cosentyx, I wish you and others trying this out much success!

Hopefully you'll be out and enjoying the beach soon

[bradg29]

Worm tail I'm not sure if you received the cosentyx yet but I just started it a few days ago. It was sent directly from Novartis. Your doctor's office should have made all the arrangements as mine did. The first shot goes to your doc and the follow up goes to your house. Hope this helps

[jiml]

Worm tail I'm not sure if you received the cosentyx yet but I just started it a few days ago. It was sent directly from Novartis.  Your doctor's office should have made all the arrangements  as mine did. The first shot goes to your doc and the follow up goes to your house. Hope this helps

Hi Bradg welcome to the forum  and thanks for replying to this post..... I just jumped in to introduce myself and   you to the club. And I hope you are getting on well with cosentyx... It would be interesting to hear of you experience of the drug.....

[jiml]

Thank you Jim....
First, I appreciate the warm welcome.  It's great to know someone understands us "heartbreak" folks.
Next, my cancer metastasized to my lungs, so the concern over Enbrel was very large.  I went to M D Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas where the cancer was surgically removed.  It will return....but not today!
They, at first, told me Enbrel affected my immune system, thus I could not continue it.   After I spent hundreds of hours researching,  there is no empirical  evidence linking Enbrel to incidence of cancer, nor making it worse. The doctors finally agreed , and my dermatologist finally agreed to go to Cosentyx, which also has no direct link to cancer.
This long statement is to suggest that we can know more than our doctors, and we have to weigh quality of life versus treatments, and make informed decisions.  I do not ever want psoriasis to control my life.

I'm sorry if this belongs on another topic, but I'm pretty sure There are those who are concerned over side effects, as I am.  But, don't depend on anyone but yourself to make your life decisions.

Thanks,
Bob

Hi Bob
Sorry to hear your Cancer metastasized, but a positive you have had it removed and have some remission, long may it last.
Cosentyx should be good for your psoriasis and hopefully may help with the Cancer, I would be very interested in how the treatment is working for you as I have heard many good reports on the drug.
Jim

[Bobw]

Thank you Jim.... I have been working with my insurance carrier, Catamaran, and CVS for two weeks. Finally, we got approval, but CVS only open M-F. I worked out with insurance to get months supply of Enbrel until Cosentyx is shipped. I hate mixing live biologics with anti il-17 drugs, but doctors, insurance companies and drug companies are not interested in our issues....no wonder, we are frustrated.. All this plays hell with our psyche when we are concurrently in the midst of PET scans, MRI's and CT scans to see if we have other issues to worry about. I love looking at the forest....hate the trees.