The Medications Most Commonly Prescribed to Treat Crohn's Disease and Colitis

As a chronic condition Crohn's disease and colitis typically require long term care, making the financial burden of expensive medications even worse for Americans. Inflammatory bowel diseases can also cause quality of life problems and additional health issues which may also require medical treatment and medication including:

IBD is a complicated condition that can affect more systems of the body than just the digestive system. Often, those with IBD are on multiple medications — and often, they have to switch medications throughout their life to find one that works effectively for them.

Since IBD is a chronic condition, the goal is not to "cure" the person, but rather to introduce remission. Remission is a state where the symptoms of the disease are either mild or nonexistent — although there's an understanding that it could come back at any time.

The Cost of Pentasa and Other Brand Name Mesalamine Prescriptions

Here is an example of some of the most commonly prescribed IBD drugs and what they typically cost:

Pentasa (Mesalamine) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescribed for people suffering from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (often of the terminal ileum). (Other brand name versions of mesalamine include Delzicol, Apriso, Lialda, Asacol, Rowasa, and Canasa).

Like many prescription medications in the United States, the cost of a Pentasa prescription can vary wildly depending on a number of factors such as whether you have insurance and prescription drug coverage, coupons and discounts, co-pays, and where you fill your prescriptions, among other factors.

However, even by American standards, the cost of Pentasa in the United States is shockingly high. The estimated retail price for Pentasa can be as high as $1,900 at corporate chain pharmacies like Walgreens. Even with a discount, a prescription for 240 capsules retails for over $1,500.

Pentasa is the most commonly prescribed version of mesalamine, which means that other brand name versions of the drug are even more expensive. Here's a breakdown of the average retail costs of the IBD drugs most commonly prescribed to ease the symptoms of Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis in the USA:

Even with prescription drug coverage, the average person suffering from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can expect to spend hundreds of dollars or more out of pocket every month to cover the costs of their prescriptions. According to healthcare industry data, the average American spends at least $1,200 every year on out of pocket prescription drug costs alone. For those with IBD, those costs are much, much higher.

Why do IBD Drugs Cost So Much in the United States?

Prescription drugs tend to be astronomically expensive in the United States for a number of reasons, from lack of government regulation and price controls, to pharmaceutical industry profiteering. In addition to the high cost of IBD medication, people with Crohn's disease and colitis suffer from a number of health and quality of life problems that can make it difficult to work, therefore affecting their earnings as well.

In addition to the cost of medications, Crohn's and colitis sufferers regularly go to the emergency room, urgent care, and the doctor's office for flare ups, which pile on the costs on top of the prescription drug bills. Despite it not being a rare disease, IBD is rarely diagnosed quickly. For over half of IBD patients, it took more than two years to get a diagnosis — and visits to more than 3 separate physicians.

Those costs quickly add up for Americans with IBD.

Likewise, if first-line treatments don't work, often the next step is stronger immunosuppressants and biologics. While biologics are quite literally a lifesaver for many with IBD, they are incredibly expensive. Infliximab, also known as Remicade, is a biologic often used for Crohn's disease — and it can cost $16,000 per month.

Tips for Lowering the Costs of IBD Prescriptions and Medication

For the millions of Americans suffering from chronic health problems like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, skipping or putting off treatment isn't an option. In fact, many IBD sufferers experience their first flare up in adolescence or early adulthood, requiring long term, lifelong care. If left untreated, IBD flare ups can become more severe and more frequent, with a risk of permanent damage to the bowels. Other possible side effects of untreated IBD include:

Some people are more susceptible to IBD than others due to factors like genetics and family history, autoimmune disorders that cause inflammation in the digestive system, ethnicity, gender, and even geography.

Likewise, IBD means different things for different people. For some, a first-line treatment like mesalamine will bring them into remission. For others, getting to remission means taking an extremely expensive cocktail of biologics.

While many claim through anecdotal experiences that diet, exercise, and mindfulness can help maintain remission, there's very little scientific evidence to support this. Ultimately, for information on how to manage your IBD, your best bet is to talk to your doctor.

Ask Your Doctor About Generic Prescription Options

Unfortunately, less expensive generic versions of brand name drugs are not always available or even the best option to treat a particular condition. However, there are many generic alternatives available of certain drugs that can be significantly cheaper and just as effective as the brand name version. This is especially important when it comes to chronic illnesses like IBD that require long term care and management.

Even a $50 price difference can add up to significant savings over a single year, especially for the millions of Americans that are already struggling to afford the basics, let alone a medical emergency. Whether you've been newly diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis or have been in treatment for years, ask your doctor about all of the options available to you and whether there's a less expensive version of your medication available that will deliver the same results.

What IBD Drugs Cost in Canada

Many Americans are shocked to learn that the same medications are hundreds or even thousands of dollars cheaper in a Canadian pharmacy or international drugstore than they are in the U.S. — with or without health insurance and prescription drug coverage.

How much cheaper are IBD drugs in Canada or internationally from NorthWestPharmacy.com? Here's a comparison:

Even with insurance, the price differences can be difficult if not impossible to justify, especially for medications prescribed to treat long term, chronic illnesses. The Canadian market and other ones from where NorthWestPharmacy.com supplies medicines from have stringent security and safety protocols for medications, making NorthWestPharmacy.com the ideal partner for Americans who can't afford or don't want to pay exorbitant prices for their prescription medications.