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  • Affordable Azasite options

    Hi All,

    I have been lurking here for a bit but didn't have anything to contribute until now. I have severe MGD where I have daily pain usually starting in the early afternoon. I have numerous drops and gels but those are not really effective (Lotemax works but must be used sparingly as it causes glaucoma and cataracts-per my specialist). Even 2.4 grams of Iburprofen does not work about 1/3rd of the time and I have to go to bed early-sometimes as early as 6pm.

    As you all know, one thing that works in combination with the above is Azasite. However, I have no RX coverage and at $100 a bottle cannot afford to use it daily (that would cost $4000 a year) little on multiple times a day (primarily December into April- the cold months).

    I do some traveling and while I was in Argentina I checked with a local pharmacy and discovered they have an Azasite substitute. The active ingredient exactly the same as in Azasite and the inactive ingredients are the same except for a couple: in Azasite there is sodium citrate and sodium chloride which are preservatives. In the brand in Argentina they use a different preservative which actually lasts 4 weeks rather then 2 as in Azasite.

    Azasite also contains Poloxamer 407 which the Argentine brand does not. From my research this appears to be what makes Azasite thick-it is to remove lipid film (the Argentine brand is not thick).

    I have been using the medicine (with my specialists' permission) for a year and have found it effective. One complaint I have with Azasite is that it is so think I believe some medicine always remains in the bottle. With the Argentine brand this isn't the case so it seems that while both are 2.5ml, Azasite actually does not last as long as some always remains in the bottle.

    The other benefit of the Argentine brand is that is cost $15 a bottle. yes, $15 rather than $100. I just returned with a years' supply (52 bottles) and can use it as needed without going bankrupt or destroying my kidneys with massive doses of Ibuprofen. It requires refrigeration so I found a special bag that keeps the medicine within the correct range for up to 26 hours or more.

    Wanted to post this so others know there are other options besides going bankrupt, living in terrible pain or destroying your kidneys.

    If anyone would like further information they can send me a PM.

    Sorry for the long post.

    BTW- there is a new device just being tested here (came from Japan) for MGD that has shown to be effective in 80% of test subjects after 3 months. So there is hope for us.

    Take care
    Bruce

  • #2
    Originally posted by brucemj View Post
    BTW- there is a new device just being tested here (came from Japan) for MGD that has shown to be effective in 80% of test subjects after 3 months. So there is hope for us.
    Please elaborate!!! What is it called? Where exactly is it being tested? Where are the results in print? etc.

    Comment


    • #3
      MGD device - Full Disclosure

      Originally posted by spmcc View Post
      Please elaborate!!! What is it called? Where exactly is it being tested? Where are the results in print? etc.
      The urls below provide information regarding testing being done on devices that seem to activate the glands in the lids for long periods of time after one or more 'sessions'. The first is the original I found a few months ago; the second is a .pdf recapping the test results; the last is a very recent test recap.


      The full disclosure part is that this device, if it is even found to be fully effective, is 5-10 years away from the general public-per my specialist.

      I gave the medical article to my specialist who glanced at it and told me she knew of numerous "local research facilities throughout the US" doing studies but that "things like this won't reach the MGD doctor's attention until the AMA validates and approves it. And even then if there is not a positive cost-benefit for it offices would not buy the device."

      I take that to mean that if the cost of the device is high and the insurance companies won't cover it, many offices will not offer the medical procedure.

      So while there is hope, it appears to be years away.

      Bruce

      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21281063

      http://optometry.csmu.edu.tw/ezcatfi...ion%5B1%5D.pdf

      http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern.../detail/741069

      Comment


      • #4
        That's LipiFlow. It's already available in Canada (I had a treatment in July). And it's FDA approved in the States. If you search "lipiflow" here on DEZ you'll see there are lots of threads on it.

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        • #5
          For people looking for affordable azasite in Australia, I am currently waiting on azasite to be ordered via my local public hospital pharmacy. This I think will only cost me $30 per script as they normally just charge a flat fee for every prescription.

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          • #6
            Do you need a prescription for the one in Argentina? Also, what is this "new device" that "came from Japan" called??

            Thanks,
            Shawna

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            • #7
              That's interesting poppy, I went to the "dry eye specialist" in Sydney and was hoping to get Azasite, but was issued with a script for Doxycycline 100mg and steroid drops in vials. Maybe my next visit he'll give me a go at it

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              • #8
                Hey Poppy
                i have PMd you but incase you miss it ( like i always do) how did u get its via hospital pharmacy ? And at such a great price ? Was it at a public hospital? I have just been prescribed azasitebut only know of a compounding pharmacy option which is very pricey. iam in Sydney . thank u.
                http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/a/l/l/t/allthings.htm

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                • #9
                  Hi,

                  Just a few details to add to the top post in case anyone living in or passing through Argentina wants to buy some affordable Azithromycin eye drops.

                  The drops are made by a company based in Buenos Aires - VISAG

                  Here is a link to a pdf detailing their composition. They are 1% Azithromycin ('Azitromincia in espanol)
                  http://www.poen.com.ar/uploads/produ...osp._Visag.pdf

                  Not many pharmacies seemed to stock them, but this one does (and probably all in this chain):

                  Farmacia America
                  Av Córdoba 1402, Buenos Aires, Capital Federal, Argentina
                  +54 11 4373-2191

                  The cost was 54 ARG pesos which is about US$9 per bottle.

                  Before being opened they need to be stored between 2 and 8 degrees C

                  If you don't speak espanol, just go to the counter and say "tienes usted gotas para los ojos de azitromycina?'', meaning "do you have azithromycin eye drops" in english.

                  Hopefully this saves someone from going around all the pharmacies in BA like I did

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