Saving Green With Mitigare® (Colchicine) and the True Blue Savings Card

By: | | Topics : Colchicine, Gout Flare Prevention, Mitigare,

True Blue Savings Card

If you’re one of the more than eight million Americans who live with gout1, you’re probably familiar with the severe pain and discomfort flares can cause. Fortunately for adults with gout, there’s a prescription medication available that is exclusively indicated to prevent flares.2 This medication is called Mitigare® (colchicine) 0.6 mg capsules.

 

Preventing gout flares with Mitigare® 0.6 mg capsules

, the active ingredient in Mitigare®, has been used for centuries to prevent gout flares.3 Originally derived from a plant called the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), there is evidence that colchicine was used more than 2000 years ago in ancient Greece.3 Today, colchicine is one of the most frequently used drugs for preventing the inflammation associated with gout flares.4

The safety and effectiveness of Mitigare® for acute treatment of gout flares during prophylaxis has not been studied. Mitigare® is not an analgesic medication and should not be used to treat pain from other causes.

 

The colchicine crisis

Once affordable, colchicine became too costly for many patients when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first branded version of the drug in 2009.5 All other colchicine formulations, which had not gone through the FDA’s review process, were removed from the market at that time.5 The branded drug was offered by a pharmaceutical company that charged $5 per pill—50 times the price of previously available colchicine pills.5

 

An affordable flare prevention option emerges

In response, West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp. (now known as Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.) secured FDA approval for and introduced Mitigare® (colchicine) 0.6 mg capsules in 2014.6 West-Ward began offering their authorized generic, colchicine 0.6 mg capsules, shortly thereafter.6 West-Ward was the first colchicine manufacturer to provide an authorized generic, offering significant potential savings for patients.6

 

Now, qualified patients can save even more

The True Blue Savings Card helps qualified patients save even more on their colchicine therapy. With the Mitigare® True Blue Savings Card, eligible patients can receive Mitigare® (colchicine) 0.6 mg Capsules or Authorized Generic Colchicine 0.6 mg Capsules for as little as $0 for the first 30 days and get $5 refills.* Qualified patients also have access to a number of complimentary services.

*For all eligible patients 18 years or older who are legal residents of the United States or Puerto Rico. First 30 days are as little as $0 only for eligible patients. Maximum savings of $65 on the first fill and $50 on refills. Please see complete Terms and Conditions available at Mitigare.com.

 

How to get the True Blue Savings Card

Qualified patients can get a True Blue Savings Card in one of two ways:

Option 1

Visit your doctor and ask for the True Blue Savings Card when you are prescribed Mitigare® (colchicine) 0.6 mg Capsules or Authorized Generic Colchicine 0.6 mg Capsules.

Option 2

Download a True Blue Savings Card online at Mitigare.com. It takes just minutes. Once downloaded, the card is automatically activated and ready to use at the pharmacy.

 

How to use the True Blue Savings Card

With this savings card, eligible patients can receive their first fill for as little as $0 per month, up to a maximum value of $65. For refills, eligible patients can save on their out-of-pocket costs and pay as little as $5 per refill for their Mitigare® (colchicine) 0.6 mg Capsules or Authorized Generic Colchicine 0.6 mg Capsules prescription, up to a maximum value of $50 per 30-day supply (up to a maximum of 60 capsules).

Dispenses for 60-day supply (up to a maximum of 120 capsules) and 90-day supply (up to a maximum of 180 capsules) are permissible within the terms of the program, up to a total of a 12-month supply.

Find out if you are eligible for True Blue Savings now.

 

How to access complimentary services

The True Blue Savings Card also gives patients access to many complimentary services. Click on the links below to find out more.

  • Mitigare® Home Delivery—Sign up to have Mitigare® delivered to your door.
  • Automatic Refill Program—Get automatic refills when you sign up for Mitigare® Home Delivery.
  • Refill Reminders—Choose to receive Mitigare® refill reminders via your preferred method of communication—automated phone call, email or text message.
  • Find a Pharmacy—Discover three convenient options for filling your Mitigare® prescription.
  • Resources—View and/or download a variety of patient support and educational materials.

 

Important Safety Information

Colchicine 0.6 mg capsules are contraindicated in patients with renal or hepatic impairment who are currently prescribed drugs that inhibit both P-gp and CYP3A4. Combining one of these dual inhibitors, or a medication that inhibits either P-gp or CYP3A4, with colchicine has resulted in life-threatening or fatal colchicine toxicity. 

Patients with both renal and hepatic impairment should not use Mitigare®.

Fatal overdoses have been reported with colchicine in adults and children. Keep Mitigare® out of the reach of children.

Blood dyscrasias such as myelosuppression, leukopenia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia and aplastic anemia have been reported with colchicine use.

Monitor for toxicity and if present consider temporary interruption or discontinuation of colchicine.

Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Mitigare® for complete product details.

 

Still have questions?

For answers to questions you may have about the True Blue Savings Card, click here. Or, click here to contact Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

 

NOTE: This article was not written by a medical professional and is not intended to substitute the guidance of a physician. These are not West-Ward’s recommendations for gout flare prevention, but rather facts and data collected from various reliable medical sources. For a full list of resources and their attributing links, see below.

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References

  1. Zhu Y et al. Prevalence of Gout and Hyperuricemia in the US General Population. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2008. Arthritis Rheum. 2011;63(10):3136–3141.
  2. Mitigare® (colchicine) capsules [prescribing Information]. Eatontown, NJ: West-Ward Pharmaceutical Corp; 2014.
  3. Nuki G, Simkin PA. A concise history of gout and hyperuricemia and their treatment. Arthritis Res Ther. 2006;8(Suppl 1):S1.
  4. Latourte A, Bardin T, Richette P. Prophylaxis for acute gout flares after initiation of urate-lowering therapy. Rheumatology. 2014;53:1920–1926.
  5. Kesselheim AS, et al. Reductions in Use of Colchicine after FDA Enforcement of Market Exclusivity in a Commercially Insured Population. J Gen Intern Med. 2015 Nov;30(11):1633–1638.
  6. Court allows generic colchicine to enter market. Rheumatology News. January 28, 2015. . Accessed January 1, 2018.

Important Safety Information for Mitigare® (colchicine) 0.6 mg capsules

  • Colchicine 0.6 mg capsules are contraindicated in patients with renal or hepatic impairment who are currently prescribed drugs that inhibit both P-gp and CYP3A4. Combining these dual inhibitors with colchicine in patients with renal or hepatic impairment has resulted in life-threatening or fatal colchicine toxicity. Patients with both renal and hepatic impairment should not be given Mitigare®.
  • Fatal overdoses have been reported with colchicine in adults and children. Keep Mitigare® out of the reach of children.
  • Blood dyscrasias such as myelosuppression, leukopenia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and aplastic anemia have been reported with colchicine used in therapeutic doses.
  • Monitor for toxicity and if present consider temporary interruption or discontinuation of colchicine.
  • Drug interaction with dual P-gp and CYP3A4 inhibitors: Co-administration of colchicine with dual P-gp and CYP3A4 inhibitors has resulted in life-threatening interactions and death.
  • Neuromuscular toxicity and rhabdomyolysis may occur with chronic treatment with colchicine in therapeutic doses, especially in combination with other drugs known to cause this effect. Patients with impaired renal function and elderly patients (including those with normal renal and hepatic function) are at increased risk. Consider temporary interruption or discontinuation of Mitigare®.
  • The most commonly reported adverse reactions with colchicine are gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Indication

Mitigare® is indicated for prophylaxis of gout flares in adults. The safety and effectiveness of Mitigare for acute treatment of gout flares during prophylaxis has not been studied.

Mitigare® is not an analgesic medication and should not be used to treat pain from other causes.

For Full Prescribing Information please CLICK HERE and for Medication Guide CLICK HERE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Manufactured by: West-Ward Columbus Inc., Columbus, OH 43228

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Important Safety Information for Mitigare® (colchicine) 0.6 mg capsules

  • Colchicine 0.6 mg capsules are contraindicated in patients with renal or hepatic impairment who are currently prescribed drugs that inhibit both P-gp and CYP3A4.