Can you trust meds filled by your insurance company's pharmacy?

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minxie
minxie Member Posts: 484
edited August 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

My insurance just told me my Xeloda prescription must be filled through their Specialty Pharmacy. Which will be a pain in the butt because my doctor has to fax the prescription and then I have to wait for them to fill and ship it. But given my distrustful nature, I was thinking, what would be stopping them from giving me a diluted version of the drug or a placebo so they could save money? I remember hearing of a pharmacist a few years back who did just that, diluted chemo drugs so he could make a profit, and he killed people. With the way insurance companies nickel and dime everything, how can I be sure I'm getting the real thing?

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited August 2017

    I remember that story. The pharmacist only got away with it because the meds were in liquid form, so he did what teenagers throughout the land have done with their parent's hard liquor: siphon some off and replace it with water (in his case, saline or dextrose solution).

    Xeloda is in pill form, so it's hard to dilute. When you get the pills, you can confirm that they look like they are supposed to by checking online. Just google "Xeloda images".

    Even then, there is a microscopic chance that the pills could be some arcane chinese or indian forgery. You see, my brain works just like yours. There are many systems in place at reputable specialty pharmacies to make sure that they are dispensing the real deal. There is no way that they want to risk dispensing forgeries. Can you imagine the negative publicity and the liability risk?

    If it comforts you, call the specialty pharmacy and ask them how they protect you from forgery. If their customer service doesn't know, it's time they did, so you'll be doing them a favor.

    Xeloda is a great drug, and did the job for me for quite a while. I wish you all the best on it.

    Jennifer

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited August 2017

    OK, this is super disturbing!!! I didn't hear about that pharmacist story. It is definitely possible but I suppose any pharmacist could do that (and sell on the black market), not just the insurance company's pharmacy. I am in the same boat - I have Caremark insurance for pharmacy benefits and they make me go through their Specialty Pharmacy. It is so annoying and can be inconvenient.

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited August 2017

    Does ins own the pharmacy or is just that have a contract with them? I am thinking they use the pharmacy that gives them the best deal, just like the contracts they have with physicians and hospitals. I don't think I would worry too much.

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited August 2017

    They have contracts with specialty pharmacies. Those pharmacies handle drugs that are super expensive and require special handling, so they practically own the cancer drug business.

    I rather like knowing that my drugs are being handled by folk who are very aware of those drug's needs: cool environment, fast shipping, etc. I've also been pestered by nurses from those pharmacies to acknowledge delivery, my compliance, and any side effects, in the two times I've used drugs from specialty pharmacies (Xeloda, and Ibrance).

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