Ambien/Ambien CR Equivalent Dose -- Anybody Know?

[[Buddie]]

Less? I paid $6.60 for 30 Ambien (5mg) at our local Costco Pharmacy. Or did you mean Ambien CR?

Sylvia

[[Buddie]]

My insurance doesn't cover Ambien or Ambien CR.   The compounded prescription from a small, reasonably-priced pharmacy costs me about 1/6 as much as Ambien CR out-of-pocket.

[[Buddie]]

Hi,

It should be kept in mind that a compounding pharmacy will use cheap generic Ambien (not the CR type) to make up the liquid. So, it should not be altogether surprising that a compounded Controlled Release liquid might work out less expensive than the Ambien CR capsules. However, it is surprising to me that so few doctors will use a compounding pharmacy. If they do not trust their own abilities to make such a prescription, it kind of begs the question if they are up to being a doctor. It is not rocket science after all.

[[Buddie]]

We have a $3000 deductible on our health insurance so I pay everything out of pocket until we reach that amount. 30 Ambien CR (12.5mg) cost $137.

Sylvia

[[Buddie]]

[...], you're 100% correct about the recipe:  regular Ambien in a CR liquid, so it is more affordable.

However, it is surprising to me that so few doctors will use a compounding pharmacy. If they do not trust their own abilities to make such a prescription, it kind of begs the question if they are up to being a doctor. It is not rocket science after all.

How strongly I agree with this statement!  It is among the most highly-compensated and highly-regarded professions and, silly me, I would expect it to require significant skill.  The irony of their concern about drug safety...  Words simply fail me.

And I further note that the "magic CR" formula (which adds $3-$4 to the price of each Sanofi-Aventis tablet) can be at least closely approximated at no cost by a pharmacist, in a flavor of your choice, from bubblegum to salmon.

I might be irritated by all this, except that my irritation receptors were burnt off years ago from overuse syndrome.

But in any case, I am pleased to have found my path forward.  Hopefully, someone else may discover this thread and be spared the same expense and delays I endured.