Has anyone been able to get the doc to perscribe a vial of imitrex as opposed to the pen injections. The insurance company is putting the brakes on our Imitrex amounts. They will only allow 2 injections per 11 days.
sometimes my wife will use 2 per day. We have been splitting the doses to 3 mg per injection. I was just wondering how much cheaper we could get the Imitrex in a vial and use syrenges. We may have to pay out of pocket because having no Imitrex is not an option. Also what is the cost difference of nasal spray instead of injections. We have nasal spray Imitrex to try for the first time. I hope its effective. Denise is getting really worn down and Im still trying to get o2 perscribed. I cant believe how difficult it is to get meds perscribed that can be helpful and cheap like oxygen. >:( Or medical system is so screwed up!!!! Hope you all have pain free days!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never even asked my doc for 02, I just went to a welding gas house and rented a tank of welding 02. Its the same damn 02!

You can get a regulator for cheap on Ebay!  ;)

I have considered that route , Have you had any issues with the welders 02 ? I have always worried about the purity of the tanks. Thanks for the input. Bryan

Denise wrote on Jul 14^th, 2008 at 9:12pm:

I have considered that route , Have you had any issues with the welders 02 ? I have always worried about the purity of the tanks. Thanks for the input. Bryan

If the 02 in a welding tank is not 100% and there are any inpurities then the 02 is useless.

Ive owned a welding company for the last 15 years and am really close with my gas guy (He knows I breath it).........I have never had a problem in all the years I have been using it.

There was once an old dude on here that said he has been using welding 02 for 30 years.

Lots of us use it....good luck, man!

Hi,

Sorry for the added stress of obtaining the meds you need. Many here
can relate. It makes fighting the beast that much harder and at the worst possible time. A few suggestions:

Your doc (neuro, I hope) may have samples, ASK for them.

Mine has coupons, again, there for the asking.

Some docs don't seem to realize the monetary hardship these drugs
become. Talk to him/her about it. There's no shame there. They are your advocate.

The manufacturer of Imitrex (Glaxo-SmithKlein) has a program of providing free or lowered cost product. Visit their website: gsk.com and look for patient assistance program.

If you are a AAA member, they have a prescription med discount program.

Have to say that this one is a lucky break and I haven't quite figured it out yet. That is, I took a script for Imitrex Stat-dose to the pharmacy (Costco). They gave me vials!!!! I was astounded and started asking questions. They said, well, it's the SAME thing, is there a problem? Ummmm....NOPE and I SHUT up! Same price but LOTS more med. Upon subsequent visit to neuro, I asked for a script for the vials. 'Well, sure, no problem..." ASK! Both your doc and the pharmacist.

Second only to the beast for obstinant glee in serving up pain, in my opinion, is health insurance companies. First we go to doctors that don't GET ch, then we have to deal with the insurance companies. They REALLY don't get CH. Closest they come is "oh, that's "like" migraine" and this is what we allow for that. It aint even close...

Be prepared to fight. For many years I tried it on my own. My particular insurance co regularly denied nearly every med (and even O2) for, as they put it, "this condition". The stress was enormous and the desire to just give up was nearly overwhelming. Well, CH made me stronger than I ever believed I could be. I DIDN'T give up. I started learning "the game". Hound 'em. Calls, letters, calls, letters, emails, calls, letters...and then the most important. Get your advocate (your doc) to join in.

In my case, for my insurance company, I FINALLY (my mistake, didn't know the game) got out of them, well, you need a "pre-authorization request" from your doc. When I told her of my problem and what I needed (O2), she was outraged and practically ran out of the office to write it for me. Later, when the SAME problem came up re Zomig Nasal Spray, she did the same. That and using the advocate for the Insurance broker (the one who sold the insurance policy to my co and therefore the ins co customer) got me what I needed. They still TRY to make things difficult, BUT I know the game now. Learn it, it is VERY satisfying...

We are rooting for BOTH of you, hang in, hang on. C'mon back cuz we got your back.

BTW, Jonny is WAY right. You would do well to listen...

Best,

Jon

Thanks for the very informative post!
I spent a day home from work and burned another sick day but I made some progress. Was able to get someone at the insurance company to listen. They faxed a form to the doc and said they see no problem with increasing the amount of vials since her cycle usually last 8-12 weeks. Its partly our fault ! normally we get meds all year even when off cycle and stock pile them. We still have to pay the copay every 11 days. If they increase the amount per script it will be cheaper for us all the way around. Thanks for the oxygen input ! I plan to get the o2 ASAP!  Anyone have a good source for the nonrebreather mask? You guys are the greatest and its nice to know were not alone because sometimes we really feel that way. Most people really dont understand how debillitating these things can be. My boss acts like its rediculous when I take a sick day to care for her. If he had one cluster attack he would have a different opinion. I hate to call these things headaches , They should be called Vascular brain conducted pain generators. Most people that have never experienced someone having one would call an ambulance thinking the person was dying. When I explain to the docs how she bangs her head and pulls her hair out they look at me like Im full of crap. We have an appointment with a new nuro on the 28th.  I couldnt believe they never heard of 02 treatment and was not interested in all the info I had printed out on the subject. I even had the url of chucks youtube video and they really didnt care. Pissed me off!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will talk to the new nuro about the vials and try the o2 again . I will get 02 regardless . We should be getting close to the end of this cycle I hope. Its such a merry go round dealing with the insurance, employers and doctors. I swear If I ever hit the lotto I would donate half my money to research and free meds.  Thanks for letting me vent. I just want to make the pain go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This site is priceless!   Picture below is denise pain free!
 

---

That bike is GORGEOUS!!  I am jealous!

And congrats on scoring with the ins. co.!  Definately not one that likes to deal with them myself.  So glad to hear it!

What Jon said.
thebb
nice bike, matches your smile.
thebb :)

For the imitrex...

Ask your Dr. to write a script for Imitrex SINGLE DOSE VIAL.  It must state single dose vial.  You will also need a script for the syringe.  If you can, get a [B-D] 1/2 cc U-100 insulin syringe #329461  These are great for delivery of the trex.  With the single dose vials I have found I can get 2-4 aborts from a single vial.  If you get on the hit fast enough you don't need as much trex.  With the smaller doses it takes a bit longer to act but will knock out the hit!

The pharmacy will most likely not have the single dose vial in stock so keep this in mind.  It may take a day or two to fill the script.

-P.

Get both the stat dose script and the vials. My insurance counts them as seperate prescriptions (go figure). You can get a lot more milage out of the vials. I have even gone so far as to inject the stat dose in into a empty vial, then draw about 2.5mg, with a syringe back out to increase the number of doses.

                                    Lee

lashultz wrote on Jul 15^th, 2008 at 6:37pm:

I have even gone so far as to inject the stat dose in into a empty vial, then draw about 2.5mg, with a syringe back out to increase the number of doses.

Wow bro, that is really important info for folks.......I never had a script for Trex (causes me rebounds), but thats info I would want if I had.

Thanks for throwing that out there!!!!  [smiley=thumb.gif]

lashultz wrote on Jul 15^th, 2008 at 6:37pm:

Get both the stat dose script and the vials. My insurance counts them as seperate prescriptions (go figure). Lee

OH YEAH! Forgot that one. Golden advice. I once got an Imitrex AND a Zomig NS filled at the same time. Just goes to show the cluelessness. They won't give you enough of one, but will allow multiples of "different". Sheesh!

WARNING...WARNING...WARNING...

If you chose to try this, do NOT mix triptans and wait AT LEAST 24 hrs between different triptans.

Regards,

Jon

Thanks for all the info !
I have been splitting the dose by using a q-tip and using half doses . I just thought if I could get a larger amount in a vial cheaper I would. We tried the Imitrex nasal over the last few days and it seems to be working as well as the injections so far. This will be great if the nasal continues to be effective , Denise cant give herself a shot and I usually have to go to where she is . Its not uncommon to have to come home multiple times a day when she is in cycle. Sometimes she is in pain for hours because she hates to call me at work to come home. We will see the  nuro on the 28th and discuss possible preventatives ? The nasal would be a great tool for her when Im not available to come home. I hate to leave her when she is in cycle , I call her every break and come home everyday at lunch. We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in august. Shes my best friend and I would do it all over again in a minute. Thanks for all the input !

Dude,

Think about this.....Zomig!

I have taken Trex shots many times and they cause rebounds! (for me)

I switched to Zomig nasal and they work as fast as a Trex shot, dont cause rebounds and they last twice as long if not longer......give it some real thought, ive been in this game for nearly 34 years and was chronic for 31 of them!

Good luck!

Thanks we will give it some thought! At this point I would piss on a sparkplug if I thought it would help. We have never tried the zomig and It does seem as if they increase in frequency when the trex is used. So far trex is the only med that has helped at all. Here a while back we tried maxalt ......No help........Frova ........No help not to mention the other 30 meds over the years. Thanks for the advice ! We have a new nuro apointment on the 28th.

Quote:

At this point I would piss on a sparkplug if I thought it would help.

Oh so true. Spoken like a true clusterhead.
Hoping things get better for ya.
thebb :)

Denise wrote on Jul 15^th, 2008 at 1:30am:

This site is priceless!   Picture below is denise pain free!

it's nice to see a CHer with a smile on their face ;)

I used to use the qtip for splitting the stat shots. Because a full stat shot will make me feel like crap.  See what the insurance will cover as far as different types of abortive meds.  I prefer the NS, they take about 15-20 mins to kick in, but then I dont have to give myself shots.  But when I was using the stat pens, I only needed about 1/3 to 1/2 of the full dose.  

Hopefully you get a good neuro who will listen to you.  Dont let them talk at you.  

Hopefully she is near the end of her cycle.

PF Blessings to you.
Tia