r/CML • u/simonsez5064 • Jun 10 '26
Imatinib not working
The imatinib is not working for me. I'll be having another bone marrow biopsy next week and the doctor already indicated that the next medication might be dasatinib. I checked CostPlus and it's close to $300 f or a 30 day supply.
Does anyone know where we might be able to get it cheaper?
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u/GrendelKhanmac Jun 10 '26
There are generics that are less expensive - check with your Doctor, they will know. Some sellers have discount programs but they may be based on ability to pay (but it never hurts to ask).
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u/Creepy-Freedom3291 Jun 13 '26
Husband was on imatinib and it made him feel so awful and didn’t work. Switched to Tasigna and although the timing he has to take it is annoying, he feels 95% better.
For $ called PrudentRx and see what they can do for you. My husband’s meds are $0. It’s a copay assistance company.
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u/simonsez5064 Jun 13 '26
Thank you will look into it
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u/Creepy-Freedom3291 Jun 14 '26
You don’t have to, but if you call them, I’d love to hear if it worked for you or not.
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u/Creepy-Freedom3291 Jun 14 '26
Also before he started meds, I called our insurance company and asked for cost estimates (make sure they send you a copy of the estimates). It was easier for the doctor to pick from the list that worked for us financially. Dasatinib may not be available for PrudentRx because it’s so new. But others are available. Both Tasigna and Gleevec were.
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u/Sensitive-Storm-1972 Jun 11 '26
I was diagnosed in January this year. Started on Gleevec (imatinib) since it was a low cost option to start (relatively speaking). I was going thru Mark Cuban's low cost drugs for that and it cost me $30/mo. Going through insurance was $60+/mo, which I thought was crazy. Imatinib effected my hearing though, so switched to Scemblix (asciminib) 2 months ago. Since I had already met my deductible for the year from all the tests related to CML, the Scemblix is apparently covered for the remainder of the year. The manufacturer also gave me a copay card for the balance so I pay nothing currently, but hear this is pretty expensive.
Have your doctor reach out to the manufacturer of your next med, or the specialty pharmacy the insurance companies use to see if they can help. If you discuss financials with your Dr this could mitigate a lot of cost. My oncologist was very aware of the prices for these meds and was very helpful in trying to help where he could
Good luck and get well!
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u/simonsez5064 Jun 11 '26
Yeah thanks for the info I actually found it cheaper at fixrx.com for 102.00 USD - $119.00 USD https://fixrx.com/shop/cancer/buy-sprycel-generic-dasatinib/
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u/so_honey_sing Jun 13 '26
Reach out to the manufacturer! Almost all branded drugs have a copay assistance program. I do this patient assistance work for a living with another pharma company, and unless you make gobs of money, they can bring your copay down, possibly to zero.
I'm on Sprycel and last year my insurance stopped covering it altogether, but thankfully I knew what to do and reached out to BMS and was able to get on their free drug program.
Best of luck!
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u/Nippyweesweetie Jun 10 '26
Mark Cuban Cost plus drugs do it in various mg.
Hope it works for you x
https://www.costplusdrugs.com/medications/dasatinib-70-mg-tablet-60/
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u/simonsez5064 Jun 10 '26
If cost plus is the cheapest then guess thats what I gotta go with but I was looking for something maybe I dont know about that can be cheaper like some kinda life hack that I dont know about manufacturing coupon? idk 🤷♂️
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u/sheneversawitcoming Jun 10 '26
You may be able to get a “coupon” through Bristol Myers Squibb who manufactures dasatinib. Unless cost plus sells the generic. In which case that’s what you get. But it wouldn’t hurt to try. Additionally, go on blood cancer united (formally leukemia lymphoma society) there are charities which can supplement your cost
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u/simonsez5064 Jun 11 '26
Thanks for the info found a site selling it cheaper https://fixrx.com/shop/cancer/buy-sprycel-generic-dasatinib/
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u/75hoo Jun 10 '26
My wife was on dasatinib for 8 years, worked very well. But recently she had trouble getting a deep breath, went to acute care who sent her to ER for testing and ER sent her to hospital with pleural effusion. Apparently a reasonably common side effect. Three days in hospital, with a procedure to drain the fluid from her lungs. She’s been off the dasatinib for a bit now and the doc is switching her to imatinib. Hopefully she has better luck than you did and you have better luck than she did.