I agree with Paul …. this is Gilead propaganda and fits well with their general behavior pattern. Notice the Gilead spokesperson is implying rather than directly stating a risk difference between led and dac.

I’ve made two comments on the page …. when I left a link for this site it went to moderation and then disappeared … so I rewrote it with “dot” in the address. More of us should do the same.

NO!

Branding is one thing, but any hint of profit would run this service afoul of the law. In no way, shape or form should we be suggesting that this site should make profit.

I don’t know all the technicalities of prescription form.

I do know that the old way of scribbling on a script pad and handing you the paper seems to be getting uncommon. Most offices send the script electronically to your choice of pharmacies now. However, my doctor in Thailand wrote it in letter form, on hospital letterhead, and provided to me electronically. Therefore I can simply print it out as needed, or forward electronically.

If you’re ordering from overseas I see no need to get separate scripts or two scripts for 12 weeks each. Third world sources aren’t likely to be that particular, and if you’re ordering two shipments of a drug from the same source, just explain why and they’ll understand. Just tell them what you want done and when to fill the order.

The more important part is the inclusion of shipping documents:

You want a clear explanation of what is in the package, a copy of your prescription, and if you’re getting APIs you’ll want MSDS sheets and a paper from the manufacturer again explaining what the powder is. These should also be available to the shipper in electronic form so that the shipper and customs can inspect your paperwork without opening the package.

Greg Jefferys explains it more fully on his blog.
http://hepatitisctreatment.homestead.com/index.html#
Both Greg and Mesochem have been doing this and should be able to do it without your needing to explain anything.

There are two separate issues …. getting the prescription and sourcing the meds. Some people have imported the meds into the US without a prescription, but I wasn’t ready to try that.

I’ve said elsewhere that the clearest, simplest method is to come to Australia, and I still believe that, but it’s certainly not your only option.
As for the length of time necessary, if your trip was properly planned it shouldn’t take that much time anywhere you go. If you have the prescription in hand, good paperwork on the source and nature of the meds, and you’ve already started treatment outside the country, I can’t imagine customs not allowing you to bring back your meds.

The Australian part of my trip was not planned. I intended originally to either get my meds in Thailand or travel to the source. Then questions arose about Mesochem selling to individuals followed by a lack of response from the Bangladeshi sources. When my Thai doctor wrote my script for Led rather than Dac I started considering coming here to get a different script. Also, I was concerned about bringing powders (APIs) back through customs and the compounding here means the meds are packaged in a standard pharmacy bottle with a proper label. But not warning Dr. Freeman I was coming means that the arrival of my meds has taken time. With proper communication this should not be so time consuming.

But again, there are other options. As for getting the prescription in the US, it almost comes down to doctor shopping. My insurance company would never have paid for that and the nature of my job didn’t give me the time. If you want to try that, I’d suggest either an alternative medicine clinic or looking for a doctor that is presently prescribing medical marijuana as both are willing to think outside the box and defy traditional protocol.

I decided to just go where getting tests and a prescription would be easy and inexpensive. There are many such places. Depending on where you are, various places would be more workable. From the west coast Thailand is currently rather reasonable. From the mid-west or east coast you might prefer going to the medical tourism hospitals in Medellin, Colombia. Just look through this site to see many options. Look for gastroenterologists.

https://www.health-tourism.com/

Once you have the prescription from a US doctor you can either ship directly or travel to get the meds. Either way people are currently successfully getting their meds through customs.

If you do have to travel to get the prescription, I would suggest sourcing the drugs there as well and starting treatment before your return. It just makes it less likely they’d try to challenge the meds.

My take on this is that it’s a result of Gilead machinations.

Gilead has been unwilling to participate with Bristol-Myers Squibb to get approval of the Sof/Dac combo in the US except on treating G3 … not in their financial interest, as Ledipasvir is a Gilead product. Gilead has been spending heavily on Harvoni ads, and most of the press and awareness in the US is all about Gilead’s products. Many doctors in other countries are following the US standard recommendations, for example my hepatologist in Thailand.

Therefore the Chinese entities such as Mesochem likely perceive a greater demand and price inelasticity with the ledipasvir … and they simply price accordingly.

When the Indian companies get approved with their Harvoni generic equivalents expect a price crash on the Led from China.

But I still think it’s crazy to wait.

And I personally think the Dac is better and have chosen accordingly …. BUT I’M NOT A DOCTOR.