Bladder spasms help

[TheDuder]

I'm a quad with a SP catheter and for many years dealt with brutal dysreflexia on a regular basis. Well a drug finally helped big time when i tried Vesicare at 10mg a day, it was a life changer. After about a year on it, my insurance says they'll no longer cover it and instead had to choose from Detrol or two other bladder pills i forget right now.

I've been on the Detrol for about two weeks and it doesn't work nearly as well, i've had more dysreflexia in those weeks than i'd have over say 2-3 months on Vesicare. Are there any bladder drugs for those with catheters that others here use that work really good?

[Lola_wheelie]

i take 15 mg of enablex once a day and it works really well for my bladder spasms ( and my bladder is really spastic! ).

[RAFS]

I take one Detraol LA capsule 1 X a day. It helps me. Ask your doctor if you can take more then 1 capsule a day ex : 1 2 X a day or 2 1 X a day.
Maybe that will help you or does your insurance have a non-formulary drug program where you have to fail with several other drugs before you can go back on the Vesicare? That's what the VA does that I go to. My doctors have had to do that several times for me so I could take the preferred non-formulary drug after several others didn't work for me. If you havn't appealed to the insurance company I urge you to do so. Do you have a nurse case manager at your insurance that will go to bat for you to try & get you back on Vesicare? Good luck ! I hope you succeed getting back on what works best for you.

[thehipcrip]

I agree with RAFS that you (read: your doctor) should submit a request to your insurance company for coverage of a non-formulary drug. I've had success in the past in getting coverage for a non-covered medication once my doctor completed the right paperwork and documented that it was the only drug that worked for me. With any luck, it will get you back on the Vesicare at the covered medication co-pay rate.

[Sue Pendleton]

I just needed a one time letter from my doctor to the insurance company when I was switched from Ditropan XL to the generic. Talk about not working and nasty side effects. Last I saw my insurance company, BC/BS, had me down as allergic to the generic. And if you need to take more medicines for dysreflexia then it may not be the great deal your insurance thinks it is.

[SCI-Nurse]

Absolutely agree- have your doctor appeal the decision. If you have to try several drugs, I would do that only if the appeal doesn't work.
\CKF