I have a sample of tudorza. Do not particularly like it and it is the same cost on my insurance plan as spiriva. I take spiriva & advair only because I buy them at ADC, otherwise I would not be taking both of them due to the cost. For me ADC is a life saver (if, in deed, the meds are doing anything to help!!). That's why I like this group because this is where I found out about ADC among a lot of other great info, that I never got from docs.

I know how you feel about the shock of being told you've gone from moderate to severe. I do not think not being on spiriva was the cause for you. I had been taking it for years when I "crossed over."

My heart goes out to all the others on here that are in the stages worse than ours.

Think positive and take it one day at a time. :) We've got a long way to go and I still have a lot of beaches to walk (very slowly!)

Hugs.....
Joan

Contact the manufacturer of Spiriva. They may have a program to help offset the cost.

I also get a lot of my drugs from ADC (All Day Chemist) and have for years. I purchase my expensive ones from them and my cheap ones I use my insurance. I get Advair and it costs me about $45. In Europe Advair is called Seretide and in the USA it is called Advair but it is the same thing in the same diskette make by Glasco Kline. I just look and they have Spiriva there under the brand name Tiova for $13.86. It is an inhaler. I have not used their Spiriva, maybe others here have and can give you f/b. In my limited opinion it's worth the try. One thing about ADC is their shipping charge is $25.00 whether you order $25.00 or $5000.00.

I get the spiriva generic from All Day Chemist. It's the same drug as the brand Sprivia at a fraction of the cost. A 3 month supply is $33.67. I always get a 6 month supply ($67.34). There is a $25 flat rate shipping fee.

http://www.alldaychemist.com/tiova-rotacaps.html

I also get Symbicort and my rescue inhaler from ADC, both of which are dirt cheap compared to name brands available in US pharmacies.

Both my primary care doctor and pulmonologist know I buy meds from All Day Chemist, and they are fine with it. In fact, my pulmonologist helped me with my first order by telling me which meds to buy.

I have been using ADC for 4 years and I've been very satisfied with the meds and the service. I first heard about ADC on another copd support forum where many of the members had been using ADC for years.

Susan

The Spiriva (mist) inhaler KyleesNan mentioned above is only 9 mcg, so you would have to take two puffs to get the Spiriva equivalent of 18 mcg.

The Tiova Rotacaps 18 mcg (a powder) is the same as the Spiriva we get here in the US.

sending you healing energy and love

Regarding Tudorza, there was a post here on Saturday about it. Here it is:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/COPD_Emphysema/forum/18456291-tudorza-effectiveness

I get my meds free through GlaxoSmithKline's Bridges to Access Program, so you might want to check and see if the manufacture of Spiriva has a program like this. Praying that God's grace continue to keep you until you get the med's you need. Health and blessings to you and yours.

I get my spriva from All Day Chemist also. You can get the generic brand for really low cost. I couldn't afford it here either. They have been a life send for me. Hope you start to feeling better.
Hugs:)))))))))))))))))

i get mine directly from spiriva, sending you a PM
many medications that have not gotten a generic yet, the company's have programs to help those people like me that are too poor for the medicine but to rich to get state aid of medicaid.
the spiriva website has a program and after clicking the links it will bring up a form that you AND your dr need to fill out.
i have a couple of medicines that i have had to do that way.
once approved by the company it is good for a year and then i have to re-apply for the next year.
some medications get sent to the dr & the dr gives it to me, others send a 3 month supply straight to me in the mail.
remember, this is for many meds that don't have a generic yet. (once generic, most insurance covers them)

Thank you everyone for your response(s).

I applied online to Pfizer for a discount on Spireva, but they denied me saying that I made just over the financial requirements. My Pulm gave me two discount cards, one for Spireva and one for Tudorza. The discount for Spireva dropped from $309 to $236, but I still can't afford that. The other discount for Tudorza was only 10%, so that would only bring me down to $278.

I'm seriously considering ADC. Has anyone had any problems with the quality of the medicine or stealing your credit card number? I'm just so hesitant to use a company outside the USA.

Thanks!

I have never heard of anyone complain about the quality of the meds from ADC. And people with lung disease would know immediately if the meds were fake or substandard. I am very pleased with the meds I get from ADC.

In the past, ADC has been the target of hackers getting people's credit card information. However, I haven't heard any complaints about that in quite a while.

I use "virtual" credit card numbers for all my online purchases, not just at ADC. Virtual credit cards are practically fraud/hacker proof.

My virtual credit card service is with Bank of America's Visa card. It's called SafeShop. When you make an online purchase, you go online to Bank of America and generate a new "virtual" credit card number (with a security code and expiration date) that is associated with your real credit card. The virtual credit card number can only be used at one merchant and the merchant does not know what your real credit card number is.

Bank of America has a 3% fee for foreign transactions. That's the only downside to it, but it's worth it to me.

You can also pay ADC by check or money order (but you have to take into account for the time it takes to get to India). I believe you get a discount if you pay by check or money order.

Some people use a prepaid credit card with limit on how much can be charged.

You can also pay by e-check, but I am uncomfortable with that.

BTW, I believe the only credit card ADC takes is Visa. I know that used to be the case. I always use visa so I don't know if ADC added other credit cards.

I hope this helps.

Susan

Higginsp. I have been using Tudorza instead of Spriva for several months and I believe it does work better for me. Used to loose my voice when I was using Sprivia. Tudorza came on the market a year ago this past November so I'm not sure it's cheaper than Spriva but I do know there is a program the pharm company offers where you can have your doc fill out a form along with you to get a free 3 month supply at the very least. Not sure if the pharm company who puts out Sprivia offers any help on geeting it for free or discounted. You need to ask your doctor or maybe your pharmicist. Sorry to hear about your latest dx. Remember what everyone has said here. Just because you were told "severe emphysema dosen't mean you are near the end. I was dx a few years ago with "advanced emphysema". My latest pulmi doctor says I have level 3 emphysema. My primary doctor says I have copd but dosen't say what stage ect. I try not to let the doctors make me crazy. Just enjoy when I'm having a good day and go with the flow when I'm having a bad day. Hope you can do the same for yourself. I know dealing with emphysema at whatever stage is not easy!

Take care,

Lauren

Hey Hon,

Sorry to hear your diagnosis level changed, but as you know...we have TONS of people on here with severe stages, and they are kicking around just fine!

Just live your life, don't live your life by the diagnosis. Do what the Doc says, use whatever inhaler you can afford, and just know we're here for you, in good and bad!

Love ya my friend!!

Boo

Thank you everyone! I feel so much better today than I did yesterday when I heard the new diagnosis.

I'm so very glad you're my family! Thank you!