Veterinary Clomipramine is impossible to get for my crazy dog! (barking, rescued)

[Tracysherm]

Dawn! You don't have to do anything about this--but thank you for looking. No, please don't bother your new vet (we want to keep her Artie-friendly).

Yes, very frustrating, to be sure. I wonder how many very disturbed dogs are in need if this older, very inexpensive, very safe medicine, and can't get it? She can't function even close to normally without it. She's just barely manageable with it!

[suzy_q2010]

Just read your previous thread on Winnie.

It looks like one of the alternatives originally considered was Prozac. Have you thought about trying that until the clomipramine is available again, as it surely will be?

The shortage is due to problems at Novartis plants that got them in hot water with the FDA.

This article is from March of last year.

Veterinarians frustrated by Novartis backorders - VIN

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by Suzzie526

you won't be able to do this much longer.

I went in to Walgreen's today to refill my dog's 25mg clomipramine prescription (been taking for years). Last month it was $15. This month, it was over $400. Better call your vet and tell him you need a new medication and switch over while you still have some left. I am COMPLETELY out of pills. My vet said Walgreen's was the last place they knew that had clomipramine for the normal price. I have three dogs due for shots/vists this month so $400 isn't going to happen. It's despicable how they jack up prices when things are scarce. I'm waiting on a return call to see what we're going to do about this....

The main manufacturer who made clomipramine stopped making it. THAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.

It costs money for the OTHER companies to ramp up their production - IF they decide to make it at all. When the OTHER company was the primary supplier the OTHER companies didn't need to invest so many operational dollars into it. Yes there may be some scalpers just like concert tickets but for a different reason.

A friend of mine does quality control for a medical device company. They just got a contract to purchase a large amount of a device and they had to hire about 50 new people AND start working extra shifts, AND more equipment etc.

The alternative is to not use the drug. You can't force a company to produce something cheap just because it's "fair".

[kansas sky]

Clomipramine Information | Wedgewood Pharmacy | Wedgewood Pharmacy

Sometimes compounding pharmacies will have medicines on hand that other pharmacies are running out of. The link is to one that we've used with good results. I don't know for sure that they have clomipramine at a reasonable price but it's possible.

[Skyeyedgal]

My girl Guinness has been on Clomipramine since 2008 and I have been scrambling as well. Today I found NorthwestPharmacy.com while I was looking for a Vancouver source. I found my 50mg in an 84 pkg for $31. I called and confirmed availability which they had in stock. They will ship up to a a 12 month supply. I had already scheduled a vet appointment in an attempt to figure out what to do as Guinnness is 12+ years and switching would really be difficult. Thankfully I was able to have a script written in this form and I called it in immediately. I bought a full years supply.

My vet was also interested in the source as everyone is having issues. Canada may have not had the issues we've had but it may not be far behind. I'll post again when the shipment comes.

[Dog Geek]

I just talked to my pharmacist so this is the real deal. The shortage has nothing to do with Obama care or Big Government. The drug was once widely used in humans. The vets started to use it under the name clonicalm. It was available as a fairly inexpensive generic. Over the past 5 or so years many manufacturers have stopped making the drug because it is not widely used in humans. Fewer companies making it means less of the medication. Supply and demand, the price goes up astronomically. People still on the drug are getting it from pet sites because it is cheaper and exactly the same drug. This accounts for the shortage on the pet med sites. I started getting it as a $5.00 generic, then the price went up to $30.00, today I went to pick up a prescription and I was quoted a price of over $1200.00. My pharmacist even checked other stores for me. After doing some research she found the supply and demand issue. Her advice was to work with my vet to try another drug in this particular class of drugs and to ween my dog off the clomipramine.

[TracyMoon]

You're not crazy - I have run into the same problem and it's still happening in October. I have found it, but at about $10/pill (try HealthWarehose.com)...and even then I wonder if they really have it. This should be illegal! I am using Clomicalm, but I am going to start rationing it down for my dog in case it becomes permanently unavailable. If anyone can tell us what is up with Novartis, there are a lot of us who would appreciate it.

[TracyMoon]

The compounding pharmacies were super expensive as well...I am resigned to paying a bit more for Clomicalm as it seems to at least work. I was able to buy some 20 mg tabs at Drs. Foster and Smith. Good luck - I hope Novartis handles this soon.

[Tracysherm]

We have a vet appointment tomorrow morning, and I'm asking to switch Winnie to fluoxetine (Prozac). I like the effects of the clomipramine, but I can't deal with these shortages, and the stress of worrying "will I get it?" every month. (Wait, that sounded more like the worries of a not-so-careful sexually active college student).

Anyway, I'll post on how the transition goes. That is, if I still have all my limbs after the vet appt tomorrow.

[Mjjaxx]

You can get clomipramine (human generic) at CVS, Walgreens etc. Go to [url=http://www.goodrx.com]Prices, Coupons and Information - GoodRx[/url] and print the coupon. I just got 60 -50mg capsules at CVS for $34.07 rater than the $520 cash price. My vet told me about the website and all her patients that were on Clomocalm are using it.
Hope this helps...