How can I get cheaper generic Symbicort?

March 10, 2021 6:19 PM

I need to refill my steroid inhaler. It's a generic of Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol). The cheapest price I've found is $135 through GoodRx. I have Medicare and nothing else. My doctor doesn't have samples, and it'll take a while to apply for AstraZeneca assistance. I do have a prescription. Does anyone have a lead on where I can order one for less?
posted by mermaidcafe to Health & Fitness (11 answers total)

Is there anyway your Doc could write an Rx for a Canadian pharmacy , or refer you to one who can? I live in Maine, so it is probably more common here, but my Doc was authorized to write Rx's through Canada, and I saved tons of money by using generics. Symbicort's equivalent is Budesonide/Formoterol, and I would get them @ $50/each. There were some delivery timing issues after the PO debacle, and I was VA ( Veteran's administration, not Virginia :) ) eligible, so I went that route. Another bonus was that they shipped a 90 day supply. Good luck...breathing shouldn't be expensive !
posted by lobstah at 6:49 PM on March 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

Check the Costco pharmacy, if you have one in your area. You do not need to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy.
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:55 PM on March 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

I use a Canadian pharmacy for my dog's generic Flovent and they've been very easy to deal with. Paying was a breeze: I wrote them a check, then scanned and emailed it for my first order. Now they debit my checking account each time they ship an order. It takes several weeks to receive the order, though, and the time lag varies from order to order so it's best to place a new order well in advance. Here's a link to their Symbicort page so you can check prices. (Pro tip: the shipping charge is the same no matter how many you order, so doubling up will save you some money.)
posted by DrGail at 7:18 PM on March 10, 2021

Response by poster: Thanks so far!
Wanted to add that I’m open to Canadian pharmacies, but please give specific recs.
posted by mermaidcafe at 7:25 PM on March 10, 2021

The one I used was Big Mountain Drugs , located near Vancouver. Before Mark ( My Dr. )wrote the Rx he researched them, and the generics they were providing. I Googled a bunch of them before deciding on BMD, but I am sure there are tons of good pharmacies to choose from. One thing to keep in mind is that some of the drugs come from overseas, so due diligence is recommended. Because some of them come from places like India, the delivery time can be close to 30 days, so you order accordingly ( the pharmacy reps understand this fact), and as I said before , they offered 90 day supplies so once my 2nd month supply neared it's end I would place another order.
posted by lobstah at 7:42 PM on March 10, 2021

AZ claims that if you have Medicare Part D average out of pocket should be less than $35 per month, so I'd assume that you do NOT have part D.

Prices vary quite a bit, and also depending on your state, it seems. Based on my own GoodRX search (I'm in California), I am finding prices as low as $205 for 120 doses with coupon only. If you are willing to pay for GoodRX Gold, which is $6 a month, the prices can go down to $124 for 120 doses at CVS. So $130 a month.
posted by kschang at 7:43 PM on March 10, 2021

I have used Mark's Marine Pharmacy to order human inhalers for my cat; their website is a bit rustic but their outfit is quite professional.
posted by foxfirefey at 7:58 PM on March 10, 2021 [3 favorites]

^Seconding -- I know some US folks very happy w/insulin orders from Mark's Marine.
posted by Iris Gambol at 9:25 PM on March 10, 2021

i have used inhousepharmacy.vu with no problems, many times.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 6:36 AM on March 11, 2021

PAN FOUNDATION.

https://panapply.org

If you do have Medicare part D - this works with that, too (a lot of things don't).
posted by WaywardPlane at 6:46 AM on March 11, 2021

Also, it's not for everyone's comfort level (and your prescription is an essential; my purchases were not), but in the past I have ordered from All Day Chemist without problems.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:32 PM on March 11, 2021