Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Rilutek


These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

Obtaining Rilutek [posted 1/14/99]
Question: My friend was diagnosed as having ALS. This retired old lady (73 years old) is a widow and has a pension of approximately $550.00 per month. Her physician has prescribed a medication called "Rilutek" (Rhone-Poulenc) two times a day. The cost of the medicine in Brazil is about $570 and she needs the medication in order to slow down the progress of the disease. She has a Medicare plan, but it doesn't cover the cost of medication. In Brazil there are no ALS centers sponsored by charitable organizations to help her with financial support. I would appreciate if you could verify the possibility for her to receive the medication either from Brazil or from abroad free of charge, or with a very special discount.

Answer: I would contact the company. In the US, there are indigent patient programs. Whether they exist in Brazil would be very company specific. Rhone-Poulenc: 610-454-8000.



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Last modified January 14, 1999