I don't have ANY health insurance. My surgery is self pay and the medications will have to be entirely self pay. Since Walmart offers the following generics for $10 for a 3 month supply I wondered if anyone knows if any of these gastrointestinal medications would be an adequate replacement for Nexium mups? (yes, I know the mups are dissolveable and they aren't available in the U.S.)

30-day QTY

90-day QTY

Belladonna Alkaloid/PB tab

60

180

Cimetidine 800mg tab*

30

90

Cytra2 solution

180ml

540ml

Dicyclomine 10mg cap

90

270

Dicyclomine 20mg tab

60

180

Famotidine 20mg tab

60

180

Hyoscyamine drops*

15ml

45ml

Lactulose syrup

237ml

711ml

Metoclopramide 10mg tab

60

180

Metoclopramide syrup

60ml

180ml

Promethazine 25mg tab*

12

36

Promethazine plain syrup*

180ml

540ml

Ranitidine 150mg tab

60

180

Ranitidine 300mg tab

30

90

$4

$10

thank you!

Tracy

__________________
Revised from Lapband to VSG on 12/14/09
by Dr. Alberto Aceves, MD, FACS



Tracy

The generic name for the one I take (protonnix) is Pantoprazole and it costs me $10. I know it's comparable to Nexium .

__________________









band to sleeve surgery 4-29-09
Dr. Alberto Aceves

Hi -
Basically, none of these products are PPI's (proton pump inhibitors) like Nexium. Protonix is a PPI (available in generics, but not on the $4 lists at most pharmacies) and very comparable to Nexium. However, with that said, my Dr. put me on Pepcid (and H2 antagonist - generic is Famotidine). In effect, it does the same thing as PPI's (reduce stomach acid) but works in a different way. My doctor puts his cash customers on Pepcid 20mg to save them money (I got 90 tablets for $10) and he said it works fine for most patients. He will prescribe the a PPI if requested or if Pepcid 20mg is not effective for a patient. I did fine on the Pepcid and weened off of it completely at 12 weeks post op.
In my opinion, if an H2 antagonist will work for you, it is worth the cost savings. You won't know until you try it. If it doesn't work, I would definitely ask for Protonix since it is available in generic and would be cheaper than Nexium. I hope this helps.

__________________
Linda

VSG - 8/4/09
Dr. Nick Nicholson
HW - 251 SW - 227 CW - 153 Goal - 150

I love the generic Protonix. I took it before surgery as well. My dr. prescribes it for me to take it twice a day, but I only take it in the morning. That way, I get 60 for $10

__________________









band to sleeve surgery 4-29-09
Dr. Alberto Aceves