I had my first chemo A/C treatment yesterday and wanted Zofran IV and a counterpart. Old school stuff that works. They convinced me to take the Akynzeo. I tried it.
If you are taking it, beware....They run each pill separately to charge the highest charge, so I would have to pay four different copays of $150 each per my insurance (UHC). I told them they needed to credit those pills and write a script for 4 pills (30 day supply). Then make them go to
www.Akynzeo.com and pull off a provider $50.00 coupon. It will bring it down to $100.00 for the 4 pills (if you have commercial insurance, keeping in mind that pay tiers vary among policies).
This is considered non-formulary because it is new (within 3 years). There is no generic currently on the market. It is supposed to be a combo of Aloxi and another drug that works on the gut receptors. I took this with 12 mg of Decadron at (3:15 pm) and it was fun. You will have to wait one hour after you take the combo to start your chemo.
The experience I had with the drug is your head will start feeling full and your ears will seem like they are underwater. The sensation gets worse, as the time goes on. I was light headed when getting up for the restroom. I made the mistake of eating something about 6:30 p.m (just three hours from having the meds). Half way through my dinner, I was already breaking through with diarrhea and nausea. My salivary glands were on hyper mode throughout the night, preparing for vomiting to pursue. I never threw up. So, I was stuck in with the feeling you feel, right before you throw up, all night long.
*My biggest note to anyone who considers this drug. Once you take it, it will take you being able to take Zofran off the table for several days. So, I struggled through with phenergan, which does nothing for me except make me drunk, nauseated and with diarrhea. I will post how the effects might continue for the next week. Good luck and listen to your gut!
Monarch