Weekly Progesterone Shots

 I have a history of Premature Labor and with this Pregnancy my OB Dr. would like me to take progesterone shots weekly.  I received a call from the pharmacy that is going to supply the shots and they will not bill my insurance company.   They said I need to pay for these up front and then submit paperwork for reimbursement.  Does anyone have any experience with this??  

Trying getting the serum pre-certified. The docotr will need to fill out a form to do it, and then submit it to insurance for you. It usually takes a day to get done.

my dr also suggested them.. i did some research... i ended up refusing them... they are not proven to work... so they just monitred my cervix for changes... i have a history of premature labor and birth... also.. as soon as you stop them.. you are almost guaranteed to go into labor... my dr wanted me to stop them at 34 weeks.. no thank you.. i held my daughter in until 39 weeks

I started getting them at 18 weeks and got them weekly till 35 weeks.  I had my son at 34 weeks and stayed pregnant with Amber till exactly 37 weeks.  It was my opinion that it was worth the shot at trying to see if they could prolonge pregnancy rather than risk an earlier baby.  I had BCBS and the pharmacy I filled the prescription at did not take any insurance so I just paid $90 out of pocket for 10 weeks worth.  I could have submitted the bills but didn't bother to.  They shots overall are really not that bad but the serum is so thick and oily the needle they use is big.  After you get the shot be sure to massage the area to get it worked into the muscle.  The only real reaction I had was the feeling like I had a bruise at the injection site that would last a few days but never actually had a bruise and then I would be due for a new shot so it was good to switch sides each week.  The nurses at my doctors office were great about writing it all down because I was such a ditz I would never have been able to keep it straight. 

Hi there.. 

The best thing you can do is check your insurance policy. Since they are shots, they may perfer you to use a mail order, or a special pharmacy for those types of perscriptions.  At least that's how my insurance plan is set up!!!  Progesterone also comes in a suppository. 

Did the pharmacy say how much the rx will cost up front? 

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!  The shots always give me a sore behind!!!!  :-)

Renee*

 The one Pharmacy that did call said it was around $65 for 4 weeks worth of shots.  My insurance company will only send payments to a pharmacy for reimbursement not me.  Still wondering how this will work out.  My daughter was born at 25 weeks and only 1 pound 13 ounces, she spend the first 103 days in a NICU over 90+ miles from our home.  

Thank you for all the responses and input.

The pharmacy I used will ship UPS to any state.  Including shipping it would be $105 for 10 weeks which is cheaper.  With your baby having been such an early preemie your doctor should monitor your cervix length.  I think that is pretty standard.  My first was only 34 weeks which is a huge difference compared to 25 and my doctor made me feel like he wanted to help me go full term.  I got cervix checks at 18 weeks by vaginal u/s and a few more times as well as the weekly injections.  Also there are not a lot of pharmacies that can fill this because it is mixed by hand. 

Here is their info:

compounding solutions
8170 23 Mile Rd
Shelby Township, MI 48316
(586) 991-0131
 

 I had premature labor and pprom with my last pregnancy and lost her at 24 weeks. I started my progesterone shots at week 16 and had a cerclage put in at week 15. My cervix still was shortenening until 20 weeks and it's still stable. I was also put on strict bedrest. My high risk dr and also my other doctor say that without the combination I wouldn't be sitting at 36 weeks right now. I had to pay $45 for 3 months. The shots weren't prefilled. My husband had to put the serum in the needle and administer them. The first few were ok but you get use to them. I use to say that I didn't mind getting them because that's one week more that I made it. Good luck!

Lesley that is so great that you have made it to 36 weeks!!  I am impressed that your hubby administered the shots.  I went to the doc office each week and the nurses were always shocked at how thick and oily it was.  Some people are lucky and have a home nurse give them.  I felt it was totally worth it every week!

Good luck on the last few weeks!!

 I have wonderful nurses that work with my OB Dr.  They have been working with my insurance company the last couple of weeks to get Prior Authorization.  Now we find out the Pharmacy in MN won't sell the drug to anyone but the patient for cash.

Ellen, thank you so much for giving me the information to the Pharmacy you used.  We are in the process of finding out if my Clinic can purchase from the pharmacy you mentioned.

Thank you ladies for your response and well wishes.