Hi All,

Im moving to Australia in october,can anyone tell me if ill be able to get my cluster meds (imigran,verapamil, and o2) on medicare (the aussie nhs)? i do qualify for medicare but i want to make sure i can get treatment before i go.

My appologies if this is in the wrong section.

Many thanks

Simon.

Hey Simon,

Hope you love Australia - good luck with the move!!

You shouldn't have any problems getting these meds.  I use Verapamil - my bottle says ANPEC as the brand but listed as verap.

I also use the Imigran nasal spray - no drama at all getting it.  I get my 02 through BOC but I do often wonder if I could get it a little cheaper through some other outlet - needless to say you will probably need a script to get it.


Wishing you all the best,

Kate

Hi Kate,

Many thanks for your advice. ive just found clusterheadaches.com.au and saw something scarey...is it true you can only get 10 doses of imigran injections every 3 months? That really sucks if its true, I get through 2 injections (which i split into 4) every day when im in cycle. Im lucky enough to have FINALLY found a doctor who cares (a massive big up to Dr widowson at burntwood health centre!) whos put imigran injections on my repeat prescriptions (4 packs!!! what a star!)
   Is it costly being a clusterhead in oz? My wifes an aussie so i qualify for medicare when i get there but i understand you still have to pay for a lot? a prescription here is around £7.50 and O2 we get for free.

Thanks again,

Simon.

Hey Simon,

I have never used the imigran injections nor asked about them so I can't help you with that.  Also I'm on a disability pension (other chronic illness) so I pay less for my scripts.  As to the 02 as far as I know you will have to pay.  I pay around $40 a month.  It's not cheap but it's worth it.

Kate

Hi kate,

Thanks for the advice, my mother-in-law in oz has looked into the imigran injections and you can only get them by special order and theyre $160 per pack of 2 injections!!!! WOW!!!! Looks like im gonna have to try the nasal sprays again. Bugger!
   Hope youre well and PF. Im hoping (with all hope!) that my cycle is starting to come to an end now. Not the worst cycle ive ever had but can you ever say you had a good one?!?!

Simon.

Great to hear that you're coming to the end of a cycle - mine has just finished too  [smiley=sayyes.gif]

At that price I understand why my doc has never mentioned them, Ouch!!  The nasal spray (pkt of 2) are $19.78 (strange price?)

Fingers crossed your feeling great when you read this and the cycle is a thing of the past,

Kate

Hi,
        We live in Australia and have to pay for the O2 privately and also Imigran inj at $160 a box, neither of these are covered on the PBS for clusterheadaches. The imigran nasal sprays are on the PBS however the cost is still around $25 a box. I am aware that you can get 10 boxes of nasal sprays every 3 months on the PBS but not the injections. Will have to check this out! Hope this is helpful, probably not what you wanted to hear though.
                                      Regards Shell :)