OR, if you have a PICC line and your insurance company has told you it will no longer pay for your continued treatment, even though it's in your best interest to continue, this information may help you be able to afford to keep the treatment going while you have that PICC line in. I hear stories of the insurance stopping treatment too soon and a perfectly good PICC line has to be removed. Maybe this will help you continue treatment. I hope it helps someone!
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Okay, here we go…
FIRST, You will either need to get a PICC line or port put in with a surgeon, or have the infusions done daily with a doctor or nurse using one time use butterfly needles and/or 3 day iv catheter needles (peripheral IV's- if your doctor will allow this). If you are lucky enough to have an awesome nurse friend, and your doctor will allow the peripheral IV's this is the perfect option, especially if your spouse or a good friend is willing to learn the administer the IV treatment on the days in between seeing the nurse for a new IV. I had a best friend who was comfortable enough to administer my treatments on the off days and he would also take out the IV on the last day so that the next day I could go see my nurse friend to have a new IV placed and then he would also administer the treatment that day (I was just lucky enough to have a male nurse, ha ha! But he was great and that is more important!).
We also stretched the time frame on the 3 day catheters to 5 days with no issues except once it blew the vein in my hand but you know the instant something isn't right and that when whoever is administering daily for you should know how to pull the IV, just in case. It's not as big a deal as it sounds, I promise. And btw, when that vein blew, it was only the second day of that IV catheter so we never had one issue with going 5 days during my entire 8 months… and 5 days allowed us to get in 6 treatments with one catheter. You just have be VERY good about keeping the area clean and dry and protected with the tagaderm, which is challenging but an absolute MUST. You will find you will have to "replace" tagaderms- the best way to cut away parts that are lifting and the apply a new one over top of the original one. You may need to do this several times depending on where the iv is placed. And you must keep it clean and dry. If it has to be place very low on your hand, you are not doing dishes for that 5 day period… sorry! (wink!)
We also stretched the time frame on the 3 day catheters to 5 days with no issues except once it blew the vein in my hand but you know the instant something isn't right and that when whoever is administering daily for you should know how to pull the IV, just in case. It's not as big a deal as it sounds, I promise. And btw, when that vein blew, it was only the second day of that IV catheter so we never had one issue with going 5 days during my entire 8 months… and 5 days allowed us to get in 6 treatments with one catheter. You just have be VERY good about keeping the area clean and dry and protected with the tagaderm, which is challenging but an absolute MUST. You will find you will have to "replace" tagaderms- the best way to cut away parts that are lifting and the apply a new one over top of the original one. You may need to do this several times depending on where the iv is placed. And you must keep it clean and dry. If it has to be place very low on your hand, you are not doing dishes for that 5 day period… sorry! (wink!)
Here are the supplies you will need (per month) and where to get them:
I have provided NDC numbers on everything so you can research yourself as well. I would also go to your local non-chain pharmacy if you have one and ask them if it's possible for them to help you with obtaining these items at a good price.
I have provided NDC numbers on everything so you can research yourself as well. I would also go to your local non-chain pharmacy if you have one and ask them if it's possible for them to help you with obtaining these items at a good price.
(All pricing is as of December 2011)
60 grams IV Rocephin (Ceftriaxone) (Comes in 1 g and 2 g vials)
You will need 2 grams per day (1 gram the first day).
The Medicine Shoppe- $324.95 60 1 gram vials- NDC 64679-0983-02
Drugsdepot.com- $135.00 for 25 2 gram vials- NDC 25021-0107-20
http://tinyurl.com/cmzdxno
(Drugsdepot can only ship to addresses in CO, CA, FL, GA, KS, MA, MS, MT, NJ, NV, PA & TX)
(Drugsdepot can only ship to addresses in CO, CA, FL, GA, KS, MA, MS, MT, NJ, NV, PA & TX)
****Aliton's Pharmacy now matches Drugsdepot's price of $5.40 per vial for Rocephin 2 gr. That's $162 per month. They have become my one stop shop for all of my supplies and Travis is now helping many lyme patients that have found my information here. I believe he can ship anywhere. Call him! (SEE NOTE AT BOTTOM FOR CONTACT INFO) And tell him Tara sent you!*** ALITON’S PHARMACY, PORT JERVIS, NY 845-856-4120 (My contacts there are Travis and Peter)
30 100 ml Saline Bags-Sod Chloride .9% inj
Aliton’s Pharmacy $58.80 for 30 IV bags NDC 00409-7984-37
30 IV Administration Sets (IV tubing)
Aliton’s Pharmacy $68.88 for 30 sets NDC 00264-9083-50
ShopMedVet.com $1.00 each http://tinyurl.com/cjmsmsd
(***Yes, ShopMedVet is a veterinary supply company but the products are absolutely safe and good quality at a FRACTION of the price)
30 Mixing Syringes- Syringe 10cc
(These can be used multiple times for mixing meds)
Aliton’s Pharmacy $14.99 for 30 NDC 08290-3096-04
30 Mixing Needle- Yale Needles 18GX1”
(These will actually last about 3 days each for mixing meds)
Aliton’s Pharmacy $8.99 for 30 NDC-08290-3051-95
Alcohol Prep Pads- Box of 100
Aliton’s Pharmacy $3.99 NDC- 86227-0122-05
If you go with a PICC line, you will also need dressing kits- 4 per month and I believe Aliton's price on that was about $50.
If you are going the needle route instead of the PICC line/Port, here’s what else you need (one or the other, or both, depending on your treatment plan):
Single Use Needles:
Butterfly Infusion Set 23G x ¾” – Box of 50
ShopMedVet.com $15.99 http://tinyurl.com/ch9csx2
(Aliton’s Pharmacy has a similar/same needles for $93.00 for 100)
(***Yes, ShopMedVet is a veterinary supply company but the products are absolutely safe and good quality at a FRACTION of the price)
(***Yes, ShopMedVet is a veterinary supply company but the products are absolutely safe and good quality at a FRACTION of the price)
3 Day Indwelling Needles/Catheters and Supplies: (This is called a peripheral IV- the kind you get in the hospital and it stays in 3-5 days. Your doctor may or may not allow you do this but this was the answer for me.)
10 Protect IV Needle/Catheter (3 day)
Aliton’s Pharmacy $65.99 for 10
AND
AND
10 7” Smallbore Ext Set w/ Microcl (3 day tubing)
Aliton’s Pharmacy $49.99 for 10
OR
IV Catheter 24G x 3/4” (3 day) ***You must be a vet to order this item in some states and might need to order the ones above from Aliton's.
ShopMedVet.com $1.00 each http://tinyurl.com/cxt7thz
AND
AND
IV T-Connector 6" Microbore (3 day tubing)
ShopMedVet.com $1.95 each http://tinyurl.com/d44egys
AND when using the 3 day catheters you will also need:
30 Saline Syringes- Sod Chloride 10ml Flush
Aliton’s Pharmacy $48.99 for 60 NDC 08290-3065-47
100 Tegaderm 2x3 Occlusive Dressing
Aliton’s Pharmacy $78.66 box of 100 NDC 38514-9070-00
*** ALITON’S PHARMACY, PORT JERVIS, NY 845-856-4120 (My contact there is Travis or Peter)
NOTE: I know that all of this is confusing, especially if you are just starting out. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I'm happy to help! Just email me at tarabtl@ptd.net. I will even speak to you on the phone if you need help. I spent a lot of time figuring all this out and want to spare anyone I can of the hassle or not doing the treatment if they need it but can't afford it. This was still expensive but no where NEAR the pricing of the "one stop shop rocephin delivery services" or a private nurse. I truly hope this info helps people. ~Tara
