COSTS of Verapamil injections & related decisions

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MikeSmith

I had 1 verapamil injetion.  If I keep this up, I'm looking at $5000 and about 12 lost days over the next 12 months...for what has only worked for some people.

After reading what Old Man wrote and Brooks Bro, I am starting to question this kind of "investment"... but then again, I have had a hard time tolerating pentox (sleep issues) and I have to pay retail for viagra beyond 4/month at $35.  I am not averse to fast size (though it's not exactly fun), but the VED has been a lot of work for me to use & I never got it quite right for long enough (I admit I haven't been that dedicated due to other things I've been busy with lately).


LWillisjr

MikeSmith,

You raise very good questions. But I don't think any of us can provide you the answers you seek. I'm sure we all have opinions. And I'm not sure I would take for gospel anyone who did try to answer these. We all know that not one therapy or approach works for everyone. I do know that Levine will only do about 5-6 injections, and won't continue if you aren't seeing any improvment at that point. It is an investment, and at the same time a risk. It is certain that there is a lot of experience and wisdom of the people on this forum. And the best part..... a lot of support from those of us who have also been through it. But statistically we represent a small part of the total Peyronies population. You must pursue what you think is right for you. I took the path and risk of surgery because I knew I would never be satisifed if I didn't try anything possible to have a straight erection again.

Les
Developed peyronies 2007 - 70 degree dorsal curve
Traction/MEDs/Injections/Surgery 2008 16 years Peyronies free now
My History

charlie44

Health Insurance choice is coming up for me (for 2012) in a couple weeks. I have been getting high deductible, but might have to get Verapamil injections next year. Wanted to know if anyone knows the general cost of the injections so I can factor that into my insurance selection for 2012?

Thanks!

joel0711

 not sure of total cost but with insurance (best offered) my out of pocket is under 50 dollars per shot,,, never paid any out of pocket(except initial deductable) till obamacare came along-------  

charlie44

Thanks for the info, but I am trying to find the cost of the shot without any coverage (i.e...high deductible).

mike67

Charlie44
I don't know where you live Charlie . I am near Toronto . My Urologist at Mount Sinai Urology told me that it would cost $750 (that's Cdn) for a total of 6 injection sessions. They would be spaced by 2 weeks.
Our insurance does not cover these injections.
Mike67
Mikey

Woodman

When I got my bill for the VIs it said like $ 350.00 per injection and I had 12 injections over six months. So my total cost would of been about $ 4200.00 plus the testing Two Ultra sounds at about $ 400.00 each plus the two consultations one in the middle after 6 injections and one after the injections for follow up.

I had a copay at the time for $ 40.00 for specialist once I made my deductable they paid 80% and I was responsable for the 20%. As Joel0711 mentioned this was right before the health care reform. Now those benefits and coverage are no longer avalable due to cutting back of benefits mixed with huge premium hikes.


mike67

Charlie44
Reading yours I checked further here. I called Dr. Brock , Dept of Urology at St. Joseph's Health Care at Univ. of London Hospital , Ontario. He is also one of our top Peyronies specialists.
They advised that they also charge $750 - which is the cost of the medication , paid for by the patient. Our Health Care covers the cost of the injections . He also does a series of 6 injections , spaced every 2 weeks.
Let me get this clear Charlie.
Did you actually have the Verapamil injection therapy? If so - what was the outcome?
Thanks
Mike67
Mikey

charlie44

Guys, thanks for all the insight. Much appreciated!

Mike67...I have not had the injections yet. My next appointment is late November, at which time I will have been on Pentox for almost 4 months. My concern is that eventually in 2012 the Urologist might recommend the injections, and will I have coverage for them or not?....My insurance elections are coming up next week, and normally I do high deductible....but not sure if I go to regular insurance if these would be covered anyway?

mike67

Charlie44
I emailed my Uro this am with questions regarding the effacy of V I. He just said he will go into detail with me when I see him Nov. 9.
I plan to go deep here to come up with a solid list of questions so I get a good feeling about them. Anything that promotes a 60% success rate isn't quite what we are looking for . And what do you get if you are in the 60% category?
I'll get back to you if I have anything worthwhile to report after the appointment.
Our cost of $750 isn't prohibitive if there is a resulting benefit
Mike
Mikey

0x5555

Be careful.  There are some horror stories wrt to Verpamil injections.

KAC

I'm getting a second round of them. I had 3 today.  Oh joy.  

It's really hard to know if they are making a difference, but something is, so I'm continuing.  I'm not sure I would if insurance didn't cover them.  My guess is that most insurance does since it's one of the only "approved" treatments.  I just pay the co-pay for the visit.

fubar

Kac

Im curious are you a veteran? You stated that something is making differance! What is the differance?
I am a veteren and do not trust the VA to stick me or the medicine. What has led you to believe verapramil injections will relieve Peyronie's symptoms?

Fubar

KAC

Not a veteran.  Just someone with Peyronie's.  Mine started suddenly, about 1 and a half years ago--a small pea size node.  I almost got VI injections at the start, but decided against it after reading this forum. My uro admitted he'd rarely seen the disease progress so rapidly--up to 90 degree curvature in a few months.  So I started the injections, mainly for the pain and out of desperation--and it did help (with pain).  Who knows--maybe it stopped the progression at about 90, but it also seemed like the  central nodule turned into two that moved in opposite directions.  I don't understand how it all works, but it seems like the inflamed areas move or spread and leave a rope-like scar tissue in their wake, which is the cause of the curve.  As it became a rope it went from an abrupt bend to a curve.

We re-evaluated after 6 injections and decided it wasn't helping, so I stopped.  But then over the course of the next 6 months things improved--down to about a 45 degree angle.  I've been using pentox and a VED (and ubiquinol, ACL, L-Arginine, plus some stress-reduction supplements; I even took over the counter PABA for a few months) so who knows what helped.  But still I have these two largish nodules, one at the tip, one at the base, which are still slightly painful...and they seemed fairly stable.  I asked my uro whether the VI injections could be the reason the initial nodules eventually responded... he just didn't know either.  He says about 50% seem to respond.  He thinks verapamil should induce a fairly quick response--but couldn't rule out them being part of a benefit months down the line.  So we decided to see what happens with more injections.  Unlike last time I'm not messing around with all kinds of new treatments--just sticking with what I've been using for the last 6 months...and the inflamed areas are more stable--they seemed to be growing very slowly, starting to stretch around the urethra.  The one at the base is about the size of a nickel. So I think if we see improvement this time (or none) we'll have a better idea if the injections are responsible.  He's been injecting both nodes--the one in the head and the base, and then yesterday put some in the central "rope-ish" tissue in the plaque.

I was just about to PM this, but then wondered if others might find it helpful.  I'm still a bit squeamish about the public nature of all this.  But then again, I've needed to let a doctor poke and prod me in a way I never imagined.

This is beside the point--but distressing and I've wondered if it's at all a shared experience:  but lately when the uro is trying to figure out the contours of the plaque at the base of my penis, he really has to manipulate me a lot and I start to get an erection.  This is especially disconcerting when I've been numbed and can't even feel my dick--and then look down to see what's happening.  We finally started to joke about it this week--he said at least we know the equipment is working.   I wouldn't have gone forward with the shots if I'd known that this would happen--but at this point I'm committed.  3 more sessions to go.  The humiliations are not a small part of this whole experience and my guess is that they play a big part in what kind of care we receive.    

I'm a bit rushed, so I'm writing quickly.  Hope this is helpful.

trevorrr

Hey mike Ive been working with Dr Brock in London now for about 6 months and hes REALLY against V injections. He hinted that the yanks sometimes are more interested in the financial benefits of VI. He also said the only Dr that's really for it is Levine and that lue isn't big on it either. Brocks got me on low dose Cialis and pentox.



Trevor

Woodman

trevorrr can you tell us why your doctor is against the VIs in more detail. I am curious to hear his input about the subject. I can see how they would like to just sell them for the financial benefit. In fact I had 12 injections witch didn't do anything positve. When I was finished with all 12 the doctor tryed to tell me that they could try another 6 injections making a total of 18. I told him no way it made no sense and the first 12 of them the side effects were bad.

I am also interested in the same sense with the Xiaflex injections are they gonna work for some but you have to go back yr after yr or so for more injections to try and keep the plaques at bay.

I look forward to hearing his outlook.

mike67

First I want to thank Charlie44 for initiating this thread. It has brought out a lot of new comment and information about Verapamil injections.

trevorrr
Interesting co-incidence you have told us you are seeing Dr. Brock. I was seeing ( still am actually) Dr. Casey in Oakville who refers his patients to Brock for Peyronies Disease surgeries- including VIs I was told. But he wouldn't put me on Pentox - hence my start up last year with Dr. Grober( 3 visits) at Mt. Sinai , who Rx s Pentox - and gives 3 or 4 Verapamil treatments weekly. This as per his office to me this week. I'll find out more next visit in November.
It was Brock's gal that disclosed the $$ cost at London . She wouldn't respond to any other detail questions.

Since we are neighbors and aware of the same Canuk Urologists , how about starting a PM with me so we can compare notes on treatment.
There are several Toronto area members that I have been in close contact with and we have been able to share some good things together. They are also patients at Mt. Sinai.
Mike67  
Mikey

charlie44

Mike67....glad the topic is of benefit. We are all learning with this disease on the best course for each one of us.

I will be calling my Urologists office in the next couple weeks to see if VI injections are covered. I have to then decide whether to stick with high deductibel or higher monthly cost insurance. I will post the info, and maybe it might be of benefit to someone else who is considering these and the costs, etc.  


LWillisjr

geeluvss,
Thanks for posting. It is always good to get other perspectives on this topic.
Developed peyronies 2007 - 70 degree dorsal curve
Traction/MEDs/Injections/Surgery 2008 16 years Peyronies free now
My History